OBX/Northern Beaches – November 2025
Allie, of TW’s Bait and Tackle, reports that red drum and bluefish are leading the action from the beach, with October producing excellent catches of big reds from the piers and surf on fresh cut bait. Bluefish are widespread, and they’re hitting both cut baits and plugs. Bottom rigs are producing sea mullet and small croaker.
Inshore anglers are seeing a strong speckled trout bite. At the Little Bridge, trout are being targeted at sunrise, with efforts shifting to drum and bluefish throughout the day. Down around the inlet, red drum are being caught on cut bait.
Offshore boats have finally had more chances to get out, with recent trips producing mahi and wahoo.
Aaron, of Carolina Sunrise Charters, reports that it has been all about the red drum action. A long run of strong northeast winds fired up the big bull drum (to 45”+), with great numbers of fish caught by surf and pier anglers, as well as by those fishing in and around the inlet (and even outside the inlet on the days conditions allowed).
Bait fishing has been the more reliable option in these muddied waters, with fresh cut mullet being key. Anglers will be taking advantage of this action for a bit longer until the redfish move on, at which point the focus becomes almost entirely speckled trout.
Ben, of Salty Waters OBX, reports that despite a month of tough, windy conditions, red drum fishing has remained productive. Most of the action is concentrated around the inlet, with cut bait producing slot-sized fish. Some big reds up to 46” are still in the mix, too, in this area.
Red drum of various sizes are being found on the shallow inshore banks from Oregon Inlet up to Kitty Hawk.
Speckled trout fishing is picking up, with the best action coming from the northern stretches away from the inlet. Productive areas include grass banks and ledges from Manns Harbor to Kitty Hawk, with most strikes coming on Z-Man or Bass Assassin soft plastics and suspending hard plugs.
Vincent, of Stick Em Fishing Adventures, reports that persistent northeast winds had anglers focusing more on fishable areas than ideal ones, which occasionally led to finding fish in unexpected spots.
Thatcher Bass, of Edenton, found this 65 lb. cobia offshore of Oregon Inlet using a bucktail. He was fishing with Capt. Aaron Beatson of Carolina Sunrise Charters.
Speckled trout have been the primary target on inshore trips, with most of the trout falling in the 14-19”+ range. Productive areas include grass banks (3-5’), shoreline points, and deeper bridge pilings. In shallower zones, popping corks paired with Outer Banks Lures paddle tails or Z-Man soft plastics have worked well, while heavier jig heads are best for fishing deeper water around bridges.
Red drum are being caught on cut bait over grass flats, with early and late hours producing the best bites. On calmer days, topwater plugs and gold spoons have delivered success.
Drum anglers are also hooking into big bluefish (to 30”).
Nearshore fishing is starting to pick up as conditions improve, with expected catches of king mackerel, false albacore, bluefish, big red drum, and the occasional cobia.
Les, of Fishing Unlimited, reports that anglers on the northern beaches are catching red drum (of all sizes), black drum, spot, pompano, croakers, bluefish, and sea mullet. At the Little Bridge, speckled trout and bluefish are keeping rods bent, and the trout bite throughout the sound is picking up as expected for fall.
Jack, of Afishionado Charters, reports that fall fishing has taken a hit due to persistent high winds and dirty water. As conditions stabilize heading into November, improving water clarity should help kickstart the late fall yellowfin tuna bite.
One advantage this time of year is reduced boat traffic, which tends to make the tuna less selective and more cooperative. Anglers will do well deploying ballyhoo under sea witches. In greener water, bright colors are more effective, while blue water calls for more subtle or blue-toned skirts. Don’t overlook alternative setups either—dropping a planer with a spoon or pink sea witch can be a productive change-up.
McKayla, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that offshore anglers are landing good numbers of mahi, blackfin tuna, and some king mackerel.
Inshore trips have enjoyed solid catches of red drum and black drum.
Donny Brooks, of Jamesville, NC, landed this sheepshead on a fiddler crab near Oregon Inlet.
Meredith, of Pirate’s Cove Marina, reports that offshore anglers have been rewarded with solid catches of mahi, wahoo, and blackfin tuna. Some billfish are still in the mix, with boats returning to the docks flying blue marlin and sailfish release flags.
Inshore anglers are finding good action on red drum around the inlet, and the speckled trout fishing is picking up moving into November. Bluefish continue to be thick throughout the area.
Brian, of Nags Head Pier, reports that fall fishing has been excellent, with anglers landing plenty of citation-class red drum. Bottom fishing has produced black drum, spot, and sea mullet.
Joe, of Avalon Pier, reports that red drum action has been strong this month, with anglers landing plenty of big fish on fresh cut bait. Smaller bottom rig setups are producing bluefish, sea mullet, and spot.
Paul, of Bob’s Bait and Tackle, reports that surf anglers are seeing decent action now that the long stretch of wind has finally settled. Red drum, black drum, sea mullet, bluefish, and the occasional speckled trout are all in the mix.
In the sound, the speckled trout bite is beginning to pick up, while red drum are being caught by anglers fishing closer to the inlet.
