OBX/Northern Beaches – June 2026
Ward, of TW’s Bait and Tackle, reports that cobia have started to show up in the area. This is the best time of year for those looking for some great sight-casting action with a variety of bucktails right off the beaches.
Anglers running offshore have found the tuna bite to be a little spotty, but the mahi have been showing up in good numbers to fill the void.
In the sound, tons of bluefish are around, and they’re being caught with casting jigs or a variety of topwater lures.
These large numbers of bluefish may be having an effect on the slower start to our trout fishery.
Red drum are showing up in better numbers each day.
Some sheepshead are being caught from around the bridges.
Out in the surf, anglers fishing bottom rigs are catching a mixed bag of puppy drum, sea mullet, and bluefish.
In addition to the same surf species, anglers on the piers are finding casting action for spanish mackerel and bluefish.
Aaron, of Carolina Sunrise Charters, reports that there’s been been a nice run on schools of giant black drum off the beach, with bucktails in a variety of patterns working best.
Schools of big red drum are down around Hatteras, and they should be moving up this way.
Some smaller cobia have been caught, but anglers haven’t seen that big push yet.
Bluefish schools have been found off the beach and inside the inlet.
Brandon Pridgen, of La Grange, NC, caught this black drum from the Nags Head surf on a live crab.
Ben, of Salty Waters OBX, reports that trophy red drum fishing had been excellent down in Hatteras, but cobia are showing up locally so it’s time to start fishing more towards home. Anglers are throwing a variety of bucktails to get strikes from these fish as they migrate into the area.
Inshore, the bluefish action has been nonstop.
With each week, more drum are to moving in, with good numbers of these fish being over-slot. The best bite has been on cut bait.
Vincent, of Stick Em Fishing Adventures, reports that big black drum are off the beach in schools, and they can be coaxed to hit a bucktail.
Cobia are starting to move in.
Some spanish mackerel are off the beach, with trolling the best way to get action. Clarkspoons behind #1 or #2 planers have been working great.
Inshore, both bluefish and red drum have been fairly consistent.
Les, of Fishing Unlimited, reports that nearshore anglers are starting to find cobia showing up.
Surf and pier anglers on the northern beaches are seeing a mix of bluefish, sheepshead, sea mullet, a few spanish mackerel, and even the occasional striped bass.
Little Bridge anglers are catching bluefish and a few speckled trout, with the early morning hours being best.
John, of Drumbeat Charters, reports that cobia have started to show up. Anglers will find them by cruising the beachfronts and watching for fish up top as they migrate north through the area.
Inshore, a bunch of big bluefish are around.
Red drum fishing should be picking up as these fish (both slots and big drum) start to move back into the inlet from down south. The big drum are still down south, but slot and over-slot fish are being caught on flats inside the inlet.
Surf fishing on the northern beaches is still mostly about sea mullet, bluefish, and the occasional red drum.
Chris, of First Flight Charters, reports that off the beach, spanish mackerel numbers are slowly starting to ramp up.
Cobia are beginning to move in. Anglers targeting them should be rigging up their favorite bucktails and riding the coastline searching for sight-casting opportunities.
Inshore, there’s been a really good bite on bigger bluefish.
Red drum fishing is picking up, with some over-slot and slot red drum up on the flats. The cut bait bite has been best.
Shane and Brad, of Texas, doubled up on red drum on the flats around Oregon Inlet. They were fishing cut bait with Capt. Ben Morris of Salty Waters OBX.
Jack, of Afishionado Charters, reports that the yellowfin tuna continue to show up, with fluctuating weather making their arrival seemingly slow.
A few mahi are offshore. The numbers will pick up, and they will be arriving hungry and will hit just about any color skirt in your spread.
McKayla, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that the mahi are moving in, with gaffers to 40 lbs. in the mix. Also in the offshore action are wahoo, yellowfin tuna, sailfish, and blue marlin.
The nearshore boats are finding cobia.
Inshore has been picking up, with some great bluefish action on top and both slot and over-slot red drum around.
Meredith, of Pirate’s Cove Marina, reports that the offshore fleet is returning to the docks with yellowfin tuna, blackfin tuna, mahi, barracuda, tilefish, and black sea bass.
Some blue marlin (to 419 lbs.) are also cooperating.
The cobia migration is on, and fish are showing up for the sight-casting crowd.
Inshore, there are tons of bluefish and some red drum, and spanish mackerel are just off the beach.
Joe, of Avalon Pier, reports that bottom fishing has been producing mixed bags of black drum (to 7 lbs.), sea mullet, spots, and croakers.
The sight casting bite is improving, with bluefish (some choppers mixed in) being the main target for those rigged with Gotcha plugs or metal jigs.
John, of Bob’s Bait and Tackle, reports that bluefish, sea mullet, and some red drum are all coming from the surf. Sand fleas are on the beach, so the best bait options jump between sand fleas, shrimp, bloodworms, and Fishbites.
Anglers getting off the beach are finding a bunch of bluefish and some spanish mackerel, and cobia have started showing up.
