Ocean Isle/Holden Beach – July 2025
Jeff, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that anglers are catching red drum (to 35”) while fishing menhaden or mullet along grass lines.
Flounder are everywhere and aggressively hitting baits on the bottom.
Speckled trout (to 2.5 lbs.) are around areas of structure in either early or late hours when the temperatures are slightly cooler.
Black drum (to 5 lbs.) are biting for anglers willing to work through bait stealers with Carolina-rigged live or cut shrimp.
Nearshore runs are producing spanish mackerel.
Brant, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that gag grouper season is now closed, but there is still plenty of great bottom fishing in the 90-120’ range. Scamp grouper, vermilion snapper, and triggerfish make up the majority of the targets.
Gulf Stream trolling has slowed with mahi moving on, but there are scattered wahoo, blackfin tuna, larger mahi, and the occasional billfish.
Nearshore, schools of menhaden typically attract a mix of cobia, king mackerel, and spanish mackerel.
King mackerel have moved into the 50-70’ range. Slow-trolling dead cigar minnows is the most effective summer strategy.
Tim, of Tideline Charters, reports a wide variety of tactics have been getting action on red drum. One simple approach is cut menhaden fished up on a grass bank, but dirty water and bait stealers mean changing baits often. Even though reds bite all day long, lower tides produce more bites, and moving every 15 minutes when not getting a strike will increase success rates.
Topwater plugs along flats in the ICW are seeing strikes during early morning hours.
Speckled trout (to 29”) are popping up around creeks while targeting reds. It’s a good sign to see these bigger fish active in the hot water temps.
Flounder are everywhere, and they will readily take the same baits as the reds.
Tripp, of Capt’n Hook Outdoors, reports that the inshore waters have been fairly churned up between the rain, winds, and traffic. Fishing has been good despite those negative factors, though. Having a variety of live bait on board (shrimp, crabs, or menhaden) allows flexibility for a variety of target species.
Red drum is the favorite inshore target. They have been found mostly along grass banks and around docks, especially on lower tides as they push into the shallows.
Sheepshead are being caught around deeper docks with live crabs. A little current is important, but too much current makes it hard to react to the bites.
Flounder are readily hitting baits fished along the bottom.
Nearshore anglers are hooking bull red drum, gray trout, and flounder that are hanging around the reefs.
The occasional cobia can be found cruising around nearshore structures.
King mackerel anglers are finding fish scattered on the beaches, but the 10+ mile area is likely to hold better numbers.
Dylan Johnson, of Ohio, caught this 39″ red drum off a dock in the ICW of Holden Beach with a live pinfish.
Anthony, of Salt Fever Guide Service, reports that bottom fishing is the best and most reliable way to put meat in the boat. There is plenty of action in shallow, although getting into 180-250’ depths is best for fish size and less pressure on the bite. Large scamp grouper (to 20 lbs.), gag grouper, and a mixed bag of exotic species (such as mutton snapper, hog snapper, and African pompano) all hold in this range.
While there are some American red snapper out deep, the area around 100’ is loaded.
The 100’ bottom structures are also holding amberjacks.
Anglers should be on the watch for cobia or mahi that may pop up while floating over structure in this area.
Mahi will be scattered around the 35-mile range. Anglers can catch them with lightweight setups, or by trolling small lures with feathers.
Will, of Ocean Isle Beach Fishing Pier, reports that bottom fishing is producing catches of spots, croakers, whiting, and some ladyfish.
Plenty of smaller sharks are around and feeding on cut bait.
When the water is stirred up, there is not much action from bluefish or spanish mackerel.
