Morehead/Atlantic Beach – November 2026
Rick, of Chasin’ Tails, reports that surf anglers have been catching spot and sea mullet.
Inshore, speckled trout are starting to show up. A lot of little fish are around, but hopefully some bigger fish will mix in as the water temps continue to cool.
The red drum bite inshore has been scattered, but late fall is typically when these fish begin to school back up.
Off the beach, a lot of big bluefish are around, especially out near the shoals.
Some spanish mackerel are still being caught, but they will be gone any day.
King mackerel fishing has started to get good, but it remains unpredictable.
Offshore, wahoo and blackfin tuna are going to be the main targets in November.
Joe, of Carolina Traditions Guide Co., reports that the higher end of the tide cycles has been the better time to target false albacore. The bite has been spotty, likely due to the large amount of bait around.
When winds allow a run to the east side, anglers are finding kings, big red drum, and false albacore.
The sea mullet will be stacking up on those 12-20’ ledges from the inlet back up into the Turning Basin. Sam’s Gitter Rigs with Fishbites are all that’s needed to get on this bite.
Pufferfish and gray trout will be moving in in November.
For the early season trout, focus efforts on areas around bigger structures, such as rocks and bridges. Some trout will also be up in the creeks and moving down from the river.
Slot red drum fishing has been tough, with most of the reds being caught off the beach.
Sheepshead and black drum will be working their way out of the inlets, and then those nearshore areas (such as ARs and the Cape Lookout jetties) are the better target areas.
Mason Thomas, of Hickory, with a 46.4 lb. king mackerel caught using a pink Ilander with a ballyhoo. He was fishing offshore of Morehead City with Capt. Jason Temple of Ali-Kat Sportfishing.
Daniel, of On Deck Fishing Charters, reports that speckled trout will be working their way back into the creeks in November. When you can get it, live shrimp under a cork will be the top option, or break out your favorite soft plastics and rig them on 1/8-1/4 oz. jig heads.
Red drum will be mixed in, with no real difference in the types of areas to focus on.
Bluefish and false albacore are the main nearshore targets off the beach. Look for schools of fish to be busting on baitfish as they migrate their way south.
Gray trout will be moving in on any type of structure, from inshore docks to the nearshore ARs. Blue Water Candy Thingama jigs and bottom rigs with shrimp or cut bait will be the best way to get a bite.
Sea mullet and spot will be pushing into the Turning Basin. For both, bloodworms or Fishbites in the shrimp flavor are best for getting a bite.
Chris, of Mount Maker Charters, reports that steady numbers of spanish mackerel, bluefish, and false albacore have been off the beach or around the inlets.
King mackerel have been biting well over nearshore ARs, live bottoms, and around the inlets. The best tactic has been to slow troll or drift live bait with either shad or bluefish rigged on the appropriate wire leaders.
In November, expect a gray and speckled trout bite to kick off in the ocean, with slot reds mixed in. All this action off the beach will be centered around the jetties, ARs, and in the surf.
Keep an eye out when running nearshore, as the false albacore, large bluefish, old drum, and even some bluefin tuna might be hanging around.
Justin, of Breakday Charters, reports that November is a great time to target false albacore out along the beaches by sight casting metal jigs at surface-feeding action. Bluefish should also be thick, and the blues can be caught with the same casting jigs.
Further off the beach, the king mackerel bite has been good. Anglers targeting kings with live baits also have a chance at the occasional big blackfin tuna that pops up nearshore this time of year.
Further out, bottom fishing in the 85-100’ areas should produce good black sea bass action. Anglers looking for triggerfish and vermilion snapper will find the bite more consistent out around 100-120’.
Inshore trips will be focused on finding speckled trout and red drum.
Wolfi Acree and his dad, Brantley Acree, of Atlantic Beach, NC, with a barracuda that hit a cedar plug trolled a few miles offshore of Salter Path.
Lee, of Top Gun Fishing, reports that the finger mullet migration triggered a feeding frenzy of big bluefish, false albacore, and mid-sized king mackerel off the beaches.
These cooler water temps also get the red drum (both slot and over-slot) to start moving back into larger schools. Anglers can find these schools around hard structures, such as bridges, pilings, or deep water structure. For the reds, it’s hard to beat a live finger mullet.
Speckled trout are showing up in the backs of creeks. For the trout, live shrimp or Gulp swim baits are best to produce action.
Byron, of Going Bogue Outdoors, reports that the cooler temperatures have turned on the offshore trolling bite for wahoo and blackfin tuna.
The nearshore king mackerel action has been steady.
Bottom fishing remains a reliable option, with a mixed bag that includes black sea bass, vermilion snapper, and triggerfish.
Cody, of Reel Time Charters, reports that plenty of kings are within sight of the beach. Spanish mackerel fishing is basically over, but bluefish are thick on the beach, as well as false albacore. Wahoo and blackfin tuna fishing should be good out around the break when the water cleans up. Maybe a few sailfish will be lingering, and bottom fishing should be productive as usual.
Brett, of Oceanana Pier, reports that bottom fishing has remained a decent option, with a mixed bag of spot, croakers, sheepshead, and some sea mullet.
Anglers holding out for sight-casting action are having some success throwing to schools of bluefish and false albacore.
