Ocean Isle/Holden Beach – April 2026
Jeff, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that red drum will be among the first to get more active as temperatures warm. As the reds break out of their winter patterns, anglers will do best targeting them around structure—docks, oysters, and similar spots in the ICW and creeks. Soft plastics will eventually come into play, but natural baits like cut shrimp or live mud minnows will out‑fish most other options this early in the year.
Black drum are another great early‑season target. Look for them staged around oyster beds, with dead shrimp being their preferred bait.
Brant, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that the much‑anticipated Atlantic bonito have begun to show, with nearshore structure in the 40-60’ range being the most consistent area to target. With bonito preferring water in the low‑ to mid‑60s, the best bite is still ahead.
Black sea bass remain plentiful in the 60-90’ range.
Along the break, wahoo and blackfin tuna action will only continue to improve as water temperatures rise.
Tim, of Tideline Charters, reports that as we come out of winter, it has been all about targeting red drum. With the colder water, the window around an hour on each side of low tide has been the most productive. This time of year, it’s worth using the other hours to scout areas where the fish are likely to filter in. Smaller paddletail soft plastics or Z‑Man Trout Tricks have been the best offerings for these reds.
A good sign is that a little bait has started to move around, and that’s typically when the redfish really begin to get active.
Speckled trout should start mixing in over the next few weeks as warming water pulls them out of their wintering areas.
Off the beach, anglers are waiting on Atlantic bonito to slide in. Big Nic Spanish Candy lures are hard to beat when sight‑casting to surface‑feeding schools.
Nearshore reefs are holding good numbers of sheepshead, and farther out, the black sea bass action remains strong.
John McArthur, of Ocean Isle, with a 30″ striper caught while floating a cut mullet down the Little River jetties. He was fishing with Capt. Tripp Hooks of Capt’n Hook Outdoors.
Tripp, of Capt’n Hook Outdoors, reports that the most consistent red drum action has come from bouncing around docks during lower‑tide periods with cut mullet or shrimp. Schools of reds are also back in the creeks and along the sides of the ICW, though these groups of fish have been tough to entice. Having a wide variety of bait options on board is key to figuring out what will convince them to strike.
Black drum are holding on some of the deeper docks and just inside the inlet. Carolina rigs baited with crabs, shrimp, or clams are the best setup, and anglers should make sure they’re fishing structure with good water movement.
One of the main targets has been the big sheepshead staged on the nearshore reefs. Fiddler crabs or mud crabs rigged on bottom‑sweeper jigs are the ticket for working these larger pieces of structure in the 30-50’ range. The same baits will also draw bites from scattered black drum and red drum in the area.
Offshore, the king mackerel bite is starting to get consistent around the Tower. Anywhere holding 66‑degree water or warmer is worth a look, with Drone spoons and dead cigar minnows being the top trolling options.
Black sea bass action remains strong in the 50-80’ range.
Anglers pushing out deep (150-190’+) are seeing the bite pick up for wahoo and blackfin tuna. Look for temperature breaks and current eddies when deploying skirted ballyhoo, and pulling them around 7 knots has been the sweet spot.
Jamie, of Rigged and Ready Charters, reports that sheepshead fishing has been picking up. Some quality fish are coming off the nearshore reefs, with a few starting to trickle inshore as well.
Black sea bass action has also been strong on the nearshore reefs.
Crews heading offshore are finding a few wahoo.
Inshore, working hard structure and shell bottoms has been producing black drum, speckled trout, and the occasional sheepshead.
The surf bite is still quiet, though activity from farther south suggests that whiting will show soon.
Steve Rolan, of Murrells Inlet, caught this hogfish offshore of Murrells Inlet on a live shrimp.
Anthony, of Salt Fever Guide Service, reports that wahoo and blackfin tuna remain the top targets in the Gulf Stream. With water temperatures still on the cool side, the approach won’t change much—ballyhoo fished under skirts or Ilanders continues to be the go‑to trolling spread.
Black sea bass are still a reliable way to load the cooler, with the best action out 20+ miles. Plenty of American red snapper are holding in that same range.
Once you push out past 100-110’, vermilion snapper and triggerfish start mixing in.
Philip, of Rod and Reel Shop, reports that the black sea bass bite remains solid when folks can make it out to the 20‑mile range.
Some good bottom‑fishing action is coming from the nearshore ARs, with quality sheepshead and scattered red drum holding around the medium‑sized debris—reef balls and similar structure—in the 30’+ depths.
Jerry, of Ocean Isle Beach Fishing Pier, reports that pier anglers have been picking away at dogfish sharks and skates.
No whiting have shown just yet, but with water temperatures on the rise, that first push of fish could slide in any day.
