Morehead/Atlantic Beach – May 2025
Frank, of Chasin’ Tails, reports that Atlantic bonito have moved in over nearshore structures and ARs in numbers. Trolling Clarkspoons behind planers or deep divers are both producing bites, and casting metal glass minnow style jigs is another fun tactic.
Schools of bluefish can be found off the beaches, and the first few spanish mackerel of the season are trickling in.
Boats running offshore should expect to see blackfin tuna and wahoo.
Anglers fishing just inside the inlet and around the Port are catching sea mullet and gray trout.
Red drum are throughout the marshes and up towards the river. Most of these fish are moving out of their winter patterns and being caught with cut baits.
Surf anglers are having success catching sea mullet and black drum with cut shrimp.
Joe, of Carolina Traditions Guide Co., reports that schools of bait are starting to move around inshore, although muddy water conditions have made the backwater red drum action more difficult.
The Atlantic bonito bite has been on fire, with success everywhere from the inlet out to the local ARs. Trolling has been the top tactic, with 15-20 lb. leaders being best for enticing more strikes, and casting 3/4 to 1 oz. jigs are getting increased action when the schools feed on the surface.
Schools of old drum are around, with anglers trolling for bonito having a nice surprise when one hits their Clarkspoon or deep diver plug.
Plenty of 3-6 lb. bluefish are hitting topwaters around the shoals. Be sure to use heavier (80 lb. test) leaders.
Spanish mackerel are being caught just to the south.
Tony Calabria, of Raleigh, caught this bluefish offshore of Cape Lookout using a jig.
Daniel, of On Deck Fishing Charters, reports that Atlantic bonito have been the top target, with schools all over the AR-315 and AR-320 areas. Casting or jigging to marked or surface-feeding schools with Bluewater Candy Thingama jigs is the favorite tactic. If looking to just put fish in the boat, trolling deep diver plugs or Christmas tree rigs will produce fish.
Anglers jigging metal over these structures will hook into gray trout and bluefish.
Towards Cape Lookout, anglers are finding a fun class of bluefish (3+ lbs.) feeding under birds. The blues are being caught by casting jigs into surface-feeding schools.
The Cape Lookout jetties are holding some black drum and sheepshead.
Inside the inlet, anglers are catching sea mullet, gray trout, and bluefish around the Coast Guard Station.
Chris, of Mount Maker Charters, reports that black sea bass action remains strong over the nearshore wrecks for anglers rigged with bucktails or metal jigs.
Atlantic bonito fishing has been great for anglers trolling or casting their typical spanish mackerel setups on 20 lb. fluorocarbon leaders around the ARs, live bottoms, or bait schools on the beach.
Some schools of old drum have been found from the shoals to the east side.
Inshore trips are finding some red drum, mostly around docks in the ICW or back in the marshes. Cut baits and Z-Man soft plastics are the two go-to options for the reds.
Deeper areas around the inlet are holding sea mullet and pufferfish for those set up with cut shrimp or Fishbites, and plenty of gray trout are being hooked in this area when jigging casting metals.
Jason, of Ali-Kat Sportfishing, reports that nearshore fishing has been hot, with Atlantic bonito being the big star. Trolling can help locate the fish when they’re not on top, though anglers have had the most fun sight-casting 3/4 oz. Precious Metals jigs into surface-feeding fish.
Spanish mackerel have started to show up, and they can be enticed by the same tactics being used for bonito.
Lee, of Top Gun Fishing, reports that Atlantic bonito action has been consistently strong. Anglers are doing best trolling smaller Clarkspoons behind #2 planers, with the occasional opportunity to cast metal jigs at surface-feeding schools. Anything with silver or pink has been working, and this tactic should remain hot until live bait moves into the area.
Some smaller spanish mackerel are showing up while targeting the bonito.
Ashley Wright, of Newport, landed this bonito in the vicinity of AR-320 using a live menhaden. She was fishing with Capt. Daniel Griffee of Chasin’ Tails Outdoors.
Byron, of Going Bogue Outdoors, reports that trolling is producing blackfin tuna and a good number of wahoo. Ballyhoo under sea witches is the top option for tuna, with Ilander lures and ballyhoo being best for wahoo.
Running fluorocarbon is a wise choice. Anglers risk losing a few wahoo to bite-offs, but the potential to catch blackfin or yellowfin tuna is worth it.
Bottom fishing action is producing a decent mix of vermilion snapper and triggerfish out on the break. Looking into May, anglers should expect to see some good catches of blueline tilefish, red porgies, and snowy grouper.
Cody, of Reel Time Charters, reports that the nearshore water temperatures remain cold, leaving a well-defined temperature break out on the continental shelf.
Fishing the break has been producing plenty of blackfin tuna, wahoo, and a handful of early mahi. The best tuna fishing has been coming from green machines and cedar plugs, with sea witches and Ilander lures on wire leaders getting the wahoo.
A couple of blue marlin have been caught around the blackfins.
Bri, of Oceanana Pier, reports that pier anglers are enjoying catches of sea mullet (1.5-2 lb. range), with most of the action being at night. Some black drum (4-5 lbs.) are being caught closer to the surf zone. Both species are hitting shrimp.
When the surf was churned up, anglers saw several hookups on over-slot red drum from anglers fishing cut mullet.
