Morehead/Atlantic Beach – June 2025
Nick, of Chasin’ Tails, reports red drum action is getting better as water temperatures warm and groups scatter. Popping cork setups with live or cut baits and topwater plugs are the top setups.
Bluefish (both smaller and large “choppers”) are being hooked in high numbers on some of the same flats as reds.
Some speckled trout are being caught early morning with topwater plugs. Later, the action is better if transitioning to live bait under a cork.
Nearshore anglers are moving from Atlantic bonito to spanish mackerel. The better numbers are still a little deeper and the beachfront spanish bite a little slower.
Although the bite is still slow, this is also the time for cobia.
Offshore results are improving, with some boats finding gaffer mahi and wahoo, along with billfish, in the trips to deeper water.
Offshore bottom fishing has been excellent, with catches of grouper, triggerfish, and vermilion snapper.
Joe, of Carolina Traditions Guide Co., reports that spanish mackerel fishing has been steady, but the Atlantic bonito have mostly moved on.
Nearshore gag grouper catches have picked up in the 60-80’ range, and king mackerel are in this same 60-100’ area (and even shallower) for trolling anglers.
Anglers heading off the beach should have a cobia rod set up, as it’s definitely possible to run across some fish either cruising just off the beach or out on the wrecks. Most of the cobia action has come from the crowd soaking bait around Cape Lookout and the inlet. Check around bait balls, rays, and turtles, as many times the cobia swim along with them.
June is when anglers see the first schools of tarpon off the beach.
Inshore anglers are finding some speckled trout. The usual spring topwater bite has been a little slower than usual, but bait anglers have done well.
Red drum fishing is best when targeting areas with visible bait.
Bluefish are striking topwater plugs and spoons.
Flounder are plentiful for anglers fishing soft plastics and bouncing bucktails off the bottom.
Daniel, of On Deck Fishing Charters, reports that the local ARs (315, 320, and 330) and over to Cape Lookout are seeing the last push (and the largest, to 7 lbs.) of Atlantic bonito in the area. Live bait is the key to the bite this late in the season.
Bottom jigging the nearshore reefs is producing gray trout and plenty of flounder.
Spanish mackerel seem to be lagging behind schedule as they move slowly up from the south, but sight-casting for spanish should pick up in the coming weeks.
Bluefish, in a wide variety of sizes (2-12 lbs.), are all over the shoals.
Cobia are starting to trickle in, and anglers will do well fishing both larger live menhaden around the Cape or casting bucktails around bait balls off the beach.
Inshore, increasing menhaden should pick up the red drum action. Anglers are working the banks with topwater plugs and gold spoons, but if that’s not working, cut bait could be the trick.
Nate Willett, of Atlantic Beach, with a 10.27 lb. chopper bluefish caught from the surf at Fort Macon on a finger mullet.
Chris, of Mount Maker Charters, reports that it’s time for cobia fishing in the area. The bite has been slower, but anglers are optimistic that hookups will pick up. The best action has come from bottom fishing with live menhaden around Cape Lookout, while some have been caught with live menhaden drifted under a balloon.
Gag grouper action should do well around structure in the 70-115’ depth range. When the gag season closes, push further offshore for scamp grouper, red grouper, hind, triggerfish, and vermilion snapper.
Lee, of Top Gun Fishing, reports that a few Atlantic bonito are still being caught on some of the local ARs. Trolling spoons and live bait are bringing in the best results.
Most of the first cobia are in the 25-40 lb. range, and they’re being caught while bottom fishing with live or fresh caught dead baits. The Cape Lookout area tends to be a prime spot to target.
Some small schools of sea mullet and gray trout are staged around the deeper nearshore and inshore holes, and they’re providing a consistent bite.
Huge “chopper” bluefish (to 10+ lbs.) are in the area. This bite can be found all along the surf zone over to Cape Lookout.
This is the welcome period for mahi in the region. The first schools will mostly be out deeper (30-40 mile range) until the water temperatures warm up.
One bonus to the cooler water temperatures taking their time to warm up is the bottom fishing bite has been great. Anglers have found catches of triggerfish and vermilion snapper accessible in less than 100’ of water.
Byron, of Going Bogue Outdoors, reports that mahi are slowly arriving, with most fish caught trolling out towards the Gulf Stream. As water temperatures rise, these fish will scatter and move in closer.
Wahoo and blackfin tuna are mixed in on offshore trolling trips.
Bottom fishing has been excellent, with catches of triggerfish, grouper, and vermilion snapper all being found best in the 120’+ range.
Jason, of Ali-Kat Sportfishing, reports that Gulf Stream action has improved. Mahi have shown up and are joined by the occasional wahoo.
Billfish are being caught starting at the 100-fathom line, and they’re hitting bigger baits.
Closer to the beach, amberjack are moving in over wrecks and reefs in the 10-mile range.
Spanish mackerel fishing has been excellent, with some king mackerel mixed in along the beachfronts.
Cody, of Reel Time Charters, reports that spring dolphin fishing is in full swing. Anglers are finding gaffer-sized fish around temperature changes, current edges, and grass lines. Both ballyhoo and artificial lures are getting strikes.
A few wahoo and blackfin tuna are mixed in.
Blue marlin fishing is picking up, with most of this action out in the 600’ area. Other billfish species (sailfish and white marlin) are also starting to show up.
Sean, of Oceanana Pier, reports strong bottom fishing action that includes croakers, hogfish, and loads of spots.
As water conditions clean up, bluefish and more spanish mackerel should be striking at casting jigs and Gotcha plugs thrown towards the surface feeding schools.
