Morehead/Atlantic Beach – September 2025
Hunter, of Chasin’ Tails, reports that red drum are holding in summer patterns even with temperatures starting to cool down. The finger mullet moving in will get the reds to group up a bit more.
Anglers will be using the live mullet to target inshore structure and around nearshore ARs to entice a keeper flatfish.
Speckled trout have been scattered, with most catches coming from anglers on the water really early.
Fishing around the inlets and shoals has been producing a bunch of bluefish and some spanish mackerel. The spanish mackerel, both along the beaches and over nearshore wrecks, are responding better to the bigger live baits.
Fishing a little deeper, the king mackerel bite remains quiet and the false albacore have yet to show up.
Those anglers that found a small window to go offshore have caught wahoo and a couple sailfish.
Joe, of Carolina Traditions Guide Co., reports that anglers are still seeing a strong spanish mackerel bite around Beaufort Inlet, especially during the incoming tides. Spanish can also be found while running the beach and sight-casting or trolling.
A few of the bigger bluefish are offshore around the shoals and up the river.
Boats have been seeing groups of tarpon running down the beach. The tarpon rarely want to eat, but it’s cool to see these large fish (to 120 lbs.) running by. Also keep an eye out for red drum schools that could pop up just off the beach.
Flounder continue to be just about everywhere.
In the backwaters, puppy drum have been the most plentiful catches, with speckled trout also mixed in.
Anglers in the area have begun running up Adams Creek and into the lower Neuse to target the citation-class red drum.
Dane Roberts and Cane Hunnings, of Carteret County, landed this 40″ red drum near Cedar Island on a chunk of mullet.
Daniel, of On Deck Fishing Charters, reports that spanish mackerel, bluefish, and jacks are off the beaches in anywhere from 6-40’ of water. Watching for birds is the best way to locate any feeding frenzies.
Some smaller “rat” kings are showing up for anglers fishing live baits. The live baits will soon produce the bigger kings.
Flounder are all over the nearshore wrecks.
Inshore, the red drum are scattered, so the action is largely hit or miss. Shrimp are seemingly everywhere in the sound, so they make a great bait choice for targeting the reds, as do cut crabs and artificials.
Speckled trout and black drum are being caught around ICW docks with live shrimp. Having current is important, but if it’s ripping, move and return when the current is a little slower.
Chris, of Mount Maker Charters, reports that nearshore anglers have been sight-casting for bluefish and spanish mackerel. There’s been an above average showing of 3-5 lb. spanish, and they’re mainly hitting 3/4-1.25 oz. casting jigs. The best color patterns are pink/white, white/white, and white/chartreuse. If the spanish are showing well but won’t bite, downsize your lure and leader.
In the backwaters, a decent number of slot-sized red drum are cooperating when casting topwater plugs or soft plastics. Cut bait (mullet or menhaden) on popping corks or bottom rigs has also been enticing bites.
The focus is starting to shift to the Neuse River and Pamlico Sound for bull red drum.
Lee, of Top Gun Fishing, reports that anglers on inshore trips have been catching a great class of flounder, with releases into the 9 lb. range. Structure is key when flounder fishing.
The red drum have been scattered. Mullet movements have begun, and this likely plays into the redfish starting to switch patterns. Carolina-rigged live mullet fished around structure, especially deeper structure, has been best.
Around the inlet and off the beach, spanish mackerel fishing has been good. This action keeps picking up as the mullet start pushing out of the inlets in bigger numbers.
Offshore trolling efforts have been producing some wahoo.
Bottom fishing has seen vermilion snapper and triggerfish in the 120’+ range.
Nick Davies, of Raleigh, caught this cobia around AR-305 on live bait.
Byron, of Going Bogue Outdoors, reports that bottom fishing is producing black sea bass and a bunch of vermilion snapper in the 100’ range.
Trolling has been finding scattered wahoo and tuna, and the wahoo action will really pick up when the offshore water temperatures start to cool down.
Cody, of Reel Time Charters, reports that wahoo fishing has been slowly picking up out along the break. Mixed with the wahoo are a decent handful of blackfin tuna.
Some good sailfish action has been happening out on the deeper side of the break.
Anglers are still finding groups of bailer-sized dolphin inside of the break, especially if finding some good grass.
Bottom fishing is another good option this time of year, with most of the success being found in 90-130’ of water. Catches include triggerfish, vermilion snapper, and black sea bass.
Some larger king mackerel are popping up in the 15-25 mile range. The king bite should only continue to grow as cold fronts move through.
Out along the beaches, good numbers of spanish mackerel and bluefish are around.
Oceanana Pier is closed for damage assessment.
