OBX/Northern Beaches – August 2025
Ward, of TW’s Bait and Tackle, reports that surf and pier anglers have been seeing most of their bottom fishing action come in the form of spot, sea mullet, or croakers.
Some schools of spanish mackerel are just off the beach, with pier anglers especially having a bunch of success sight-casting to them.
Plenty of sharks are feeding, both from the surf and piers.
The inshore action includes speckled trout, puppy drum, and bluefish.
Targeting structure is still producing sheepshead.
Off the beach, anglers have been sight-casting to schools of large red drum, as well as spanish mackerel.
Offshore trips are seeing strong numbers of mahi, with scattered tuna catches and billfish releases in the mix.
Aaron, of Carolina Sunrise Charters, reports that anglers have had a great time targeting speckled trout. The trout are hitting live croakers dropped in deep water areas in the sound.
Puppy drum are around in good numbers, and they’re hitting fresh cut baits in areas that have some current.
Some bigger red drum are in and near the inlet, and these reds are also hitting cut bait.
Off the beach, sight-casting action has been strong when throwing bucktails to schools of big bull drum and a few scattered cobia.
Ben, of Salty Waters OBX, reports that speckled trout have been one of the best targets, with fish staged up over the grass flats. The trout will hit artificials, but live baits (baby croakers, pinfish, and finger mullet) have seen better action.
The red drum fishing inshore has been a little more hit or miss. Cut bait has been best for targeting reds, and the flats have been the most productive.
Anglers are enjoying sight-casting to schools of over-slot red drum off the beach. Either bucktail jigs or bigger swimbaits can get reaction strikes.
Vincent, of Stick Em Fishing Adventures, reports that the flats around the inlet have been producing red drum and limits of speckled trout.
When targeting speckled trout, focus on a little deeper water (3-5’ range) on the edges of grass flats and lower parts of ledges along channels.
For red drum, drift over the flats throwing gold spoons or popping corks with soft plastics, or anchor up and cast out cut bait and let the fish come to you.
Big red drum (to 52”) are being caught both sight-casting around the shoals or bait fishing in the evenings.
Off the beach, spanish mackerel are on the beaches, though the action has been sporadic.
The towers and shipwrecks have a bunch of black sea bass, amberjacks, and scattered mahi.
Anglers can also run out into the 3-7 mile range and find scattered mahi under floating grass or debris.
Les, of Fishing Unlimited, reports that surf anglers have been catching a mixed bag of croakers, sea mullet, spot, sheepshead, bluefish, and a few yearling drum.
Little bridge anglers are finding speckled trout, spot, and croakers, with the early and late hours being best.
Soundside, the speckled trout bite has been strong. Soft plastics and live bait under popping corks has been the best bet.
The Bonner Bridge Pier has been producing bluefish and scattered sheepshead.
Michael W., of VA, landed this 7.2 lb. sheepshead in the Pamlico Sound on a sand flea. He was fishing with Capt. Mark McGuire of Reel Em In Charters.
John, of Drumbeat Charters, reports that some yellowfin tuna are still around (though slowing some), along with pretty good numbers of mahi.
A bunch of amberjacks pushed in over nearshore structure and out around the towers.
Bottom fishing off the beach is producing triggerfish and black sea bass.
Right off the beach, there has been good action sight-casting to schools of over-slot red drum.
Trolling off the beach is producing a bunch of spanish mackerel and bluefish.
Sheepshead fishing is strong for anglers targeting hard structure and bridge pilings in the inlet.
Soundside, speckled trout are being caught, and scattered slot red drum are in the mix.
Jack, of Afishionado Charters, reports that the area’s great run of yellowfin tuna fishing has been starting to dwindle down as these fish are moving north. A few yellowfins are still around, but the mahi bite is better.
Filling in has been good billfish action, with both blue marlin and sailfish in the mix. Both smaller “dink” ballyhoo or large ballyhoo on circle hook rigs have been the best choices, and running a couple teasers and a dredge or two can also help create commotion behind the boat.
McKayla, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that the offshore fleet is finding quite the mixed bag, with catches of mahi, yellowfin tuna, blackfin tuna, amberjack, and tilefish.
Scattered blue marlin releases have occurred over the past few weeks.
Nearshore and inshore anglers are catching speckled trout, puppy drum, bigger red drum, bluefish, spanish, and plenty of croakers.
Meredith, of Pirate’s Cove Marina, reports that trips are seeing a bunch of billfish releases (sailfish and blue marlin).
Offshore boats are also finding mahi, yellowfin tuna, blackfin tuna, and the occasional wahoo.
Nearshore trips are catching spanish mackerel, bluefish, sharpnose sharks, some big red drum, and a few bonus cobia.
Some amberjacks and scattered mahi are in close with the warm water temperatures.
Brian, of Nags Head Pier, reports that anglers out bottom fishing have been catching spot, croakers, and sea mullet.
Some bluefish are also around.
Joe, of Avalon Pier, reports that bottom fishing has been producing croaker, sea mullet, and smaller flounder.
Paul, of Bob’s Bait and Tackle, reports that bottom fishing action in the surf has been strong, with catches of spot, sea mullet, and plenty of croakers.
Being on the sand either early or late is also producing plenty of bluefish and spanish mackerel.
The scattered, bigger red drum are mixed in the surf action.
Inshore anglers down around the inlet are catching a ton of speckled trout, with some slot red drum sprinkled in.
