OBX/Northern Beaches – May 2026
Ward, of TW’s Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers on the local piers have been enjoying productive sea mullet action while bottom fishing with Fishbites or bait shrimp.
With water temperatures coming up, those bottom efforts will start seeing blowtoads, black drum, red drum, and bluefish mixed in.
The inshore fishing has begun to improve. Catfish remain a staple, but bluefish have started to move in.
Striped bass are being found in the more inland areas of the sounds.
The offshore fleet is beginning to do well with yellowfin tuna and mahi.
Chris, of First Light Charters, reports that down around the inlet, good numbers of bluefish (mostly in the 15-20 inch range) have been pushing in. The best success is coming from a variety of topwaters, with popper-style plugs getting the bluefish the most riled up.
Some slot-sized red drum are moving onto the inshore flats, but the speckled trout remain pretty elusive so far.
Sheepshead fishing is starting to pick up as these fish begin to push back inside.
The nearshore bite is on the verge of firing off. Anglers will be targeting schools of citation-class red drum by sight casting bucktails, and a couple of big black drum are likely to be mixed in.
Not far behind, the first few cobia will start to arrive.
John, of Drumbeat Charters, reports that surf anglers on the northern beaches are seeing better numbers of sea mullet moving in.
The first couple of citation-class red drum have been caught by anglers out of Oregon Inlet, and this action should only pick up as these fish move their way north toward the Chesapeake Bay.
Anglers fishing the inlet and just inside have been finding some big bluefish with topwater plugs.
Further north in the sound, anglers are doing great catching good-sized catfish.
Offshore boats have just started to get going for the year, with trips producing yellowfin tuna and a couple of smaller mahi.
Capt. Aaron Beatson, of Cobia Killer Fishing, caught this yellowfin tuna in the Gulf Stream on a Sea Witch. He was fishing out of Oregon Inlet.
Aaron, of Carolina Sunrise Charters, reports that inshore anglers are seeing some bigger bluefish showing up on the flats. Topwater plugs have been the best option for getting blowups in as little as one foot of water.
The schools of citation-class red drum are getting thick around Hatteras, and any day now they will be moving up the beach. For these fish, sight casting bucktails will draw strikes.
The area should also see the first cobia showing up sometime in early May. Anglers scouting for fish should have bucktail jigs rigged and begin by heading south out of the inlet and focusing on the 30-foot range.
Ben, of Salty Waters OBX, reports that the red drum fishing has started kicking off at the regular spots inside the inlet. Some bigger bull reds are mixed in on the same flats. Soft plastics have been the bait of choice, with both the popping cork setups and lighter jig heads enticing strikes.
Some good-sized bluefish (up to 6 lbs. and better) are also moving in. The Halco topwater poppers have been producing especially well.
The first cobia are likely to show up soon off the beach and south of the inlet. Looking back at last year’s notes, the first fish arrived in early May.
The schools of big red drum that move up the beach will be arriving around that same time. For sight casting to both species, Whisker bucktails are a great option.
Vincent, of Stick Em Fishing Adventures, reports that inshore anglers have been seeing bluefish up to 28-inches showing up.
The red drum, mostly slot-sized, are moving up the coast. As these fish push into the inlets, anglers will catch them on a variety of gold spoons, popping cork setups, and soft plastics rigged on jig heads and spinnerbaits. You can find fish in the inlets, but most of the success will come from drifting the grass flats inside.
Les, of Fishing Unlimited, reports that anglers getting out on the local piers and fishing from the surf are catching a mixed bag of shad, sea mullet, croakers, speckled trout, puppy drum, bluefish, spots, and pufferfish.
The action is improving on the Little Bridge, with anglers catching puppy drum, speckled trout, bigger bluefish, and a few striped bass.
Jack, of Afishionado Charters, reports that the fleet is starting to see the first trickle of yellowfin tuna showing up. Pulling both spreader bars and ballyhoo rigs has been working best. Gear color depends heavily on water color, with brighter options performing better in green water and lighter, more natural colors working best in blue water.
There have been reports of mahi to the south, and that mass of fish is pushing up the coast. When they arrive, the mahi don’t care much about color, though something pink in the spread tends to always produce.
Taz Cozart, of Wilmington, landed this striper in the Albermarle Sound on a swimbait. He was fishing with Capt. Grey Davis of Hyde Guides LLC.
McKayla, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that boats have started to see good numbers of yellowfin and scattered blackfin tuna showing up.
There has also been a nice splash of color at the docks, with some mahi mixing into the offshore action.
A few boats have found blue marlin out deep.
Meredith, of Pirate’s Cove Marina, reports that yellowfin tuna have been making a good showing. Also mixed into the offshore action are some early schools of mahi.
Kenny, of Avalon Pier, reports that bottom fishing has been producing sea mullet and the occasional speckled trout.
Plenty of skates are around, and bluefish and puppy drum should be arriving soon.
John, of Bob’s Bait and Tackle, reports that surf anglers are having some success fishing cut shrimp or Fishbites bait strips on the bottom for sea mullet.
Bluefish have started to move in. No real big ones have arrived yet, but sizes should improve in the coming weeks. Mixed into the action are a few puppy drum.
In the sounds, some bluefish and puppy drum are around the inlet.
