Morehead/Atlantic Beach – May 2026
Steve, of Chasin’ Tails, reports that anglers off the beach have seen some action on schools of bull red drum out around the Cape Lookout shoals.
Plenty of good‑sized bluefish are off the beaches.
Atlantic bonito are being caught, though the bite hasn’t been on fire yet as the fish continue to move in and out depending on the wind.
Spanish mackerel have been moving up the coast, so it shouldn’t be long before the first ones show up.
Gulf Stream anglers are finding wahoo and the first few mahi of the year.
The Port area remains pretty good for anglers targeting gray trout and sea mullet with cut shrimp on Sam’s Gitter rigs.
Sheepshead action is picking up, as these fish are moving back in from their nearshore winter reef spots and beginning to set up around bridges and pilings.
Anglers are picking away at red drum from the marshes back up into the river.
Surf anglers are seeing the action improve as well, with sea mullet now pretty consistent and bluefish plentiful.
Joe, of Carolina Traditions Guide Co., reports that Atlantic bonito have been showing up, with some big false albacore also mixed in. These species are being landed on both trolling and casting tactics.
Anglers are finding better schools of bluefish, though none have reached that 10 lb. class yet.
A nice bonus has been schools of old drum nearshore and out around the shoals.
Further off the beach, the 80-100 foot range is holding plenty of big black sea bass.
Inshore, the backwater red drum bite is finally starting to come alive, with some decent action on topwater plugs.
Daniel, of On Deck Fishing Charters, reports that water temperatures have now climbed consistently over 60 degrees, and inshore bottom fishing for sea mullet has been great. Bottom rigs with Fishbites bait strips have been the favorite setup.
Trolling Yo‑Zuri deep divers has been a great way to locate schools of bonito. Both trolling and casting tactics will remain effective until the menhaden show up. The bonito will then switch over and prefer live bait.
Inshore, red drum fishing is getting better throughout the marshes. With the water warming up, topwater plugs and soft plastics have been the go‑to choices.
Jake Mendenhall, with Evan and Lee Shick, from Midway, reeled in this 48″ red drum from the Cape Lookout surf. The fish bit a fresh mullet.
Chris, of Mount Maker Charters, reports that bonito anglers are typically doing best while trolling, whether that is deep diver plugs or Clarkspoon and planer combos. Casting smaller metal jigs with plenty of flash will also put fish in the boat, and vertical jigging can help entice a bite when the fish are less fired up.
The nearshore structures are holding sheepshead and larger gray trout (18-26 inch range), but these sheepshead will start pushing inshore soon. Some gray trout are already inside, with most of these fish running 12-20 inches.
Bluefish are all over the place and in a wide range of sizes. Areas around the inlet are seeing the biggest numbers, with plenty also holding on the nearshore wrecks or along the rocks as they move inside.
Off the beach (70-125 foot range), bottom fishing remains good for black sea bass, with vermilion snapper, grunts, and triggerfish also moving a little closer.
Offshore, blackfin tuna fishing is picking up, with the occasional wahoo and a few dolphin already showing.
Justin, of Breakday Charters, reports that Atlantic bonito have started to arrive over the ARs, with most being caught by anglers throwing casting jigs. When jigging the higher‑relief structure on these same reefs, some gray trout are around.
Structure farther off the beach is still holding a bunch of black sea bass.
Anglers should be able to find keeper grouper in water as shallow as 60-80 feet. Target the less‑pressured ledges or natural live bottom areas with whole cigar minnows or live pinfish. Good numbers of vermilion snapper and some triggerfish can be found on the deeper end of that range.
Inside, the Port area is seeing plenty of bottom action for sea mullet and smaller gray trout on hi‑low rigs.
Lee, of Top Gun Fishing, reports that the Atlantic bonito have finally started to show up in the area. AR-315 remains a reliable spot each year to target these fish with casting jigs. After a while, the bonito will turn to live bait as the only thing they will hit.
Some gray trout are stacked up on the local ARs and will hit a metal jig fished vertically around the structure.
Anglers have had plenty of success catching big sheepshead (in the 5-7 lb. range) while using mud crabs around structure off the beach.
Offshore, vermilion snapper are getting thick, and triggerfish are mixed in when fishing deeper.
With the cooler water still offshore, trolling is producing some quality wahoo.
Sea mullet and gray trout fishing throughout the Turning Basin has been excellent. Good numbers and quality fish are coming from the deeper holes (over 40-feet) mostly on cut baits.
Garrett Spivey, of VA, pulled this sheepshead off a rock pile offshore of Atlantic Beach using a sand flea. He was fishing with Capt. Dale Rich of Bubba Thing Charters.
Byron, of Going Bogue Outdoors, reports that fishing at the break continues to improve, with better numbers of blackfin tuna along with scattered wahoo.
There are reports of the first few mahi showing up, but the main push has not arrived yet.
Bottom fishing remains a great year‑round option, with plenty of jumbo black sea bass and vermilion snapper around.
Grouper anglers should begin their primary search in the 120-foot range, which typically holds more quality fish than the shallower spots.
Cody, of Reel Time Charters, reports that Atlantic bonito are starting to move into the area, with anglers putting fish in the boat both by trolling spoons and using casting tactics. These fish are mostly hanging around the nearshore reefs and ledges.
Bluefish have begun moving along the beaches, and it won’t be long before spanish mackerel arrive.
Black sea bass fishing remains very productive in the 10-20 mile range.
Out on the break, big blackfin tuna have been showing up, with good‑sized wahoo mixed in.
Bri, of Oceanana Pier, reports that anglers have had a lot of success catching sea mullet, with bluefish now moving through in good numbers as well.
The pier had its first spanish mackerel catch of the season, which is a great sign that the action is about to turn on.
