Ocean Isle/Holden Beach – May 2026
Jeff, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that anglers have been targeting whiting since their first push into the area. Smaller cut baits fished in deeper holes are the way to find the whiting.
Those looking to target red drum will do best working docks along the waterways. These fish are just moving out of their winter patterns, and the bite can be pretty hit or miss overall during this transition period.
Some flounder are starting to move in, with docks holding the most.
Brant, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that offshore anglers will do best targeting wahoo and blackfin tuna around structure in the 130-250’ range.
For the incoming mahi, some fish may be encountered in those same 130-250’ depths, but the main body typically holds along the edge of the true Gulf Stream (in the 600’ areas). Keep an eye out anywhere in this range for floating debris.
May is also one of the best months for blue marlin, so don’t be surprised to get a visit in the spread.
Nearshore, king mackerel will be moving in closer to the beaches, alongside the spanish mackerel. Both species will be as shallow as the 20-40’ range, where anglers should look for schools of menhaden that the action typically centers around. As a bonus, if you’re around this bait, there’s a good chance of running across a cobia, so keep a heavier spinning rod ready with a 1-2 oz. bucktail jig for sight‑casting.
Savannah Gable, of Leland, caught this 6 lb. sheepshead near Lockwood Folly Inlet on a fiddler crab.
Tim, of Tideline Charters, reports that red drum fishing is still the top option inshore. The fish have spread out, and while that doesn’t necessarily mean more fish, it does mean fish in more places. With the menhaden showing up, both live and cut bait has been working, and low tide has been better when working docks and flats along the ICW.
Throwing topwaters for redfish hasn’t become truly productive just yet, but once water temperatures get into the 70s and fish start pushing onto the flats, it’s on.
Black drum are starting to pick up in the ICW, with fish being found around docks and oyster beds. A lightly weighted Carolina rig with dead shrimp works great.
Nearshore anglers are finding some quality sheepshead when fishing structure in the 30-40’ range. A bunch of Atlantic bonito are out there as well, and trolling Yo‑Zuri deep divers is a good way to get strikes.
Tripp, of Capt’n Hook Outdoors, reports that sheepshead are showing up in good numbers on docks along the ICW and near bridges. Most of these have been shorts (12-13”), but a few keeper fish are mixed in. Fiddler crabs on bottom‑sweeper jigs have been the most productive tactic.
The red drum bite has been slow, but anglers are picking at a few fish along docks in the ICW while fishing Carolina‑rigged cut or live menhaden.
Black drum fishing has been steady, with most fish in the 19-22” range. Rigging a dead shrimp on a jig head and tossing it under docks or around deep structure closer to high tide has yielded the best results.
Off the beach, trolling deep diving lures around the reefs has been the best way to target the Atlantic bonito.
Spanish mackerel are mixed in nearshore, and they’re hitting Clarkspoons along the beach in the 20-30’ range.
The king mackerel bite is good right now in the 20‑mile range, with the most success coming on slow‑trolled live menhaden.
The bottom‑fishing action is producing a good mix of triggerfish, black sea bass, and vermilion snapper in the 100’ range on cut squid.
Dylan Comer, of Brunswick County, landed this spanish mackerel on a Yo-Zuri deep diver plug offshore of Oak Island.
Stewart, of Rigged and Ready Charters, reports that Atlantic bonito are being found from the beach out to structure in the 10‑mile range. The spanish mackerel have also been showing up in this same range, a great sign as water temperatures keep moving up.
Surf anglers are catching a bunch of good‑sized whiting, and a few flounder are also starting to show up in the bottom‑fishing action.
Back in the ICW and rivers, sheepshead and red drum are the main targets. Neither bite is “on fire” right now, as both species are transitioning out of winter patterns and scattering through the area, but efforts are producing fish.
Wahoo remain the top target for those trolling offshore.
Anthony, of Salt Fever Guide Service, reports that anglers getting offshore are starting to find some gaffer‑sized mahi (8-15 lbs.) showing up. The best way to target them as the spring migration arrives is simply running-and-gunning and fishing weed lines with live and cut baits. If trolling, blackfin tuna and wahoo are around, though both have been a bit hit or miss.
Bottom fishing remains a strong option. Big black sea bass (to 4 lbs.) are in the 85-120’ range, with plenty of vermilion snapper mixed in when deeper than 100’.
Grouper season opens in May, and the plan is to target scamps and gags in the 180-250’ range with dead cigar minnows. Live bait (menhaden and pinfish) can also have a lot of success, but they will attract the other reef‑predator species. There are grouper to be found shallower than 180’, but American red snapper are so prevalent in the 85-110’ areas that getting a bait past them is very difficult.
Philip, of Rod and Reel Shop, reports that Atlantic bonito is the main nearshore target. Spanish mackerel have also been showing up in the 20’ depth range. Trolling with Clarkspoons or Yo‑Zuri Crystal Minnows has been the best tactic for both species.
A bunch of bluefish are off the beach.
The nearshore wrecks continue to produce some good catches of black sea bass for the bottom‑fishing crowd.
King mackerel haven’t quite pushed onto the beaches yet, with most hookups coming from farther offshore.
Inshore, anglers are catching red drum and some scattered flounder while targeting docks and grass banks along the waterway. A few speckled trout are mixed in as well.
Some black drum are being caught around structure, with fresh shrimp on the bottom being best.
Tyson, of Ocean Isle Beach Fishing Pier, reports that spanish mackerel are showing up, a great bonus for anglers out doing some sight‑casting, and some bluefish are mixed in when throwing plugs.
