Ocean Isle/Holden Beach – July 2026
Jeff, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that inshore fishing is seeing a mix of red drum, black drum, bluefish, tons of flounder, and even the occasional speckled trout.
For all the species, Carolina rigs with 1/2-3/4 oz. weights and #2 hooks are a good all-around setup.
Brant, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that there are still mahi to be caught, but they are scattered anywhere from 80’+ on out. Finding weed mats, in particular in the 150’ depth range, has been the top place to find summer mahi.
Wahoo and blackfin tuna fishing typically slows down during the summer, but there are always scattered fish in the 120-250’ range.
The grouper species are in tet 80-100’+ depth range, but it is often difficult to get down to them due to the red snapper which seem to swarm any bait.
King mackerel are scattered anywhere from right along the beachfront out to 100’ of water.
Nearshore anglers have enjoyed a good spanish mackerel bite as the water has stayed very clear due to the lack of rain. Fishing anywhere from 20-40’, or around schools of menhaden, are typically the best places to find the spanish.
Tim, of Tideline Charters, reports that red drum fishing is the predominant action moving into these hot summer months. The menhaden have been a little more scattered about than usual, so finger mullet have been the top producing bait. Placing a bait right up against the grass banks in the 3-5’ range has been the top tactic, but expect to do a lot of moving around to find the fish.
Out on the jetties, some anglers are starting to float shrimp down the rocks for speckled trout. This is typically best during a rising tide.
Flounder are all over the place inside, and they can also be found off the beach around reefs in 45-50’. A cobia or two may also be holding in this same range.
Brayden Whitford, of Little River, caught this gag grouper on a live pogie in 85’ of water offshore of Ocean Isle Beach. He was fishing with his dad, Capt. Anthony Whitford of Salt Fever Guide Service.
Tripp, of Capt’n Hook Outdoors, reports that the offshore bottom fishing action has been excellent in 50-200’. Anglers are catching a good mix of black sea bass, grouper, and vermilion snapper.
Some cobia are hanging around nearshore reefs in the 3-10 mile range. For this bite, drift live menhaden under a ballon or put a bait on the bottom.
The mahi bite has been really good out in the Gulf Stream. The mahi are starting to scatter and move inshore as they do in summertime.
Inshore anglers are finding that the sheepshead are now a more reliable bite. These fish can be found in numbers when targeting hard structure with fiddler crabs or mud crabs on bottom sweeper jigs. The lower tides have given up a better bite as it congregates the fish.
Black drum are also following this same pattern, with the deeper docks and bridges holding most of the fish. For them, dead shrimp on a Carolina rig is a good setup to entice bites.
Red drum are scattered across docks in the ICW and around bridge structure. A Carolina-rigged live or cut menhaden is the best bait option for the reds.
Todd, of Rigged and Ready Charters, reports that the dolphin action is starting to slow down offshore after a great start last month. These fish aren’t all going to be gone, but the hotter water temperatures will scatter fish out and push them nearshore.
Grouper is the top target for many bottom fishing anglers, with live bait producing a majority of the fish.
King mackerel are mostly out in the 10-15+ mile range, and summertime fishing for them is almost exclusively a live bait bite.
Some cobia have been caught in the same 10-15+ mile range.
Inshore anglers have seen an increase in sheepshead action, with fiddler crabs being the top bait choice.
Red drum fishing has been steady. These fish are scattered, but some cut bait (mullet or menhaden) is the best way to get strikes.
Anglers on the water early with topwater plugs are not only catching some red drum as well, but also the occasional speckled trout.
Flounder are everywhere and plentiful. Just about any live bait or soft plastic fished on the bottom should eventually find a strike.
Surf anglers are seeing their typical summertime mix of bottom fish, with cut shrimp being the bait of choice. Catches include whiting, pompano, and bluefish.
Some scattered red drum are on the beaches as well, and they’re mostly being caught with cut mullet.
Zach Hood, of Supply, caught (and released) this 30″ flounder on a Z-Man paddle tail in the Shallotte River.
Anthony, of Salt Fever Guide Service, reports that the mahi bite is slowing down and scattering. Anglers can still find fish around, with most under weed mats or any kind of floating debris in the 100-300’ range.
Bottom fishing spots in 85-130’ are producing gag grouper (25-30”), vermilion snapper, and large black sea bass.
Cobia are showing up over live bottom areas in the 50-100’ depths, and some king mackerel are in a similar area (85-120’).
Further offshore, bottom fishing at the break (180-250’) is producing some big gag grouper (to 30+ lbs.), scamp grouper, triggerfish, and a few mutton snapper.
Teresa, of Rod and Reel Shop, reports that inshore anglers have been picking away at red drum and finding a few speckled trout mixed in.
Tons of flounder are around, and they will hit just about any live bait or soft plastic dragged along the bottom.
Out in the surf, anglers are finding a mixed bag of bluefish, whiting, croakers, a few speckled trout, and a bunch of baby sharks.
Off the beach, schools of spanish mackerel are scattered around for anglers both trolling and casting small metal jigs.
King mackerel are mostly out in the 10-mile range.
Tyson, of Ocean Isle Beach Fishing Pier, reports that in these hot summer months, bottom fishing produces a mix of croakers, black drum, whiting, spots, and bluefish.
Anglers sight-casting with Gotcha plugs or other metal jig are catching some spanish mackerel and bluefish.
