OBX/Northern Beaches – May 2025
Kyle, of TW’s Bait and Tackle, reports that sea mullet, puppy drum, and bluefish have all become fairly common catches.
A decent run on over-slot red drum has been happening off a few of the local piers. Down on Hatteras Island, the bigger red drum bite has been a lot more consistent, with the occasional pompano mixed in.
The soundside anglers are starting to find bluefish, speckled trout, red drum, and a few sheepshead.
Offshore boats have been productive, with yellowfins, blackfins, and scattered bluefins hitting the docks.
Aaron, of Carolina Sunrise Charters, reports that soundside anglers are seeing some speckled trout moving in from their wintering areas.
Nearshore action is close to firing off. Schools of large red drum are moving up around the Point and will be running the beachfronts on their northern migration.
The first cobia of the year will be tailing right behind them.
Ben, of Salty Waters OBX, reports that bluefish are now showing up both in the sounds and along the ocean fronts.
The blues are joining the red drum that have been available in numbers and getting better each week.
When targeting the bluefish and red drum, soft plastics on jig heads or spoons have had good success. If the conditions are not favorable, cut mullet on a Carolina rig usually entices a bite.
A few speckled trout have been caught with artificials, although there’s no major activity to focus on just yet.
For anglers properly rigged, some scattered bluefin tuna are holding tight to the beaches.
Vincent, of Stick Em Fishing Adventures, reports that speckled trout are back in full force, with anglers finding fish staging up over grass flats.
Some puppy drum are on the flats around the inlet. For both trout and red drum, a good choice has been Outer Banks Lure Company Ball Tail baits or Z-Man soft plastics under Four Horseman popping corks. Colors such as white, purple, and gold flake patterns have been the best producers.
Off the beach, an epic bluefin tuna bite keeps going on for those pulling ballyhoo. Anglers are catching these fish (to 70”) from the inlet up towards Nags Head.
While heading out and along the beaches, you can spot schools of bluefish moving around. They can be caught by casting Stingsilvers.
Les, of Fishing Unlimited, reports that surf anglers are seeing catches that include sea mullet, blow toads, shad, scattered puppy drum, and bluefish.
Pier anglers saw a run of over-slot red drum.
At the Bonner Bridge Pier, anglers are finding bluefish, a few red drum, and some sheepshead.
The Little Bridge remains slow, with a few puppy drum and catfish making up the action.
Hatteras Island is similar, except both slot and over-slot red drum are biting.
John, of Drumbeat Charters, reports that bluefin tuna action along the beach has remained stellar, with fish caught in water as shallow as 18’. Though these fish are expected to move on anytime, they need to be mentioned as the bite continues for a species that smaller boats don’t get a lot of opportunity to target.
Offshore anglers are focusing on yellowfin tuna, which only get better as June approaches.
Soundside action is starting to pick up, with speckled trout now showing back up from their wintering creek areas.
Plenty of bluefish are setting up around the inlet.
It’s not a major target species, but anglers looking to catch dinner are finding a bunch of catfish up towards Kitty Hawk Bay.
Surf anglers on the northern beaches are catching mostly sea mullet.
South of the inlet, the surf zone has been producing more consistent catches of puppy drum, bluefish, and even some pompano (south of the Point).
Curtis Gum hooked this bluefin tuna one mile out of Oregon Inlet in 50′ of water using a ballyhoo on a BWC pink jag. He was fishing with Capt. Vincent Santullo with Stick Em Fishing Adventures.
Jack, of Afishionado Charters, reports that anglers are seeing limits of yellowfin tuna, a showing of bigeyes, and scattered late season bluefins.
The tactic is pretty simple—troll spots with sea witches and ballyhoo. An 8/0 to 10/0 recurve Mustad hook has been the top choice for most of the charter fleet. Satellite shots determine where to go each trip, but in general, anywhere from the Point and a touch south has been the most reliable.
McKayla, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports significant yellowfin tuna action. Other catches on offshore trips include large bigeyes and the occasional bluefin.
Anglers have been surprised by early season mahi and king mackerel, which is hopefully a good sign of action to come moving through May.
Soundside anglers are catching red drum on the flats, and bluefish are being found throughout the inlet and in deeper channels.
Meredith, of Pirate’s Cove Marina, reports that the spring tuna bite has turned on. Boats are returning with quick limits of good-sized yellowfins and the occasional bluefin.
Inshore trips are seeing better numbers of red drum, with bluefish also showing up.
Brian, of Nags Head Pier, reports that fishing is slow, with sea mullet and bluefish on cut shrimp being the main catches since opening.
Joe, of Avalon Pier, reports slow action given current water temperatures, with catches of sea mullet and a few bluefish.
John, of Bob’s Bait and Tackle, reports cooler water temperatures in the area have anglers still seeing quite a few skates and dogfish around.
Fishing smaller pieces of cut shrimp on double-drop rigs is producing sea mullet and croakers.
The occasional red drum is being caught, too.
Soundside anglers are catching puppy drum and seeing a few speckled trout show up, with both species holding better closer to the inlet.
Offshore trips are producing yellowfin tuna and some bluefin.
