Ocean Isle/Holden Beach – October 2025
Jeff, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that most flounder catches are coming from inshore ledges (in the 3’ range) and grass banks while casting Carolina-rigged live mullet.
Red drum are mixed in the action while targeting these same areas, and they will continue to actively feed with all the bait moving around.
Outside the inlet, spanish mackerel catches are picking up, which correlates with the plentiful bait balls around.
Nearshore king mackerel should be scattered along the beach, but running out over ledges and ARs to slow-troll live baits is still the most productive tactic.
Bull red drum are arriving around the jetties and under bait balls off the beach. The big reds should be mostly moving through in the 6-15’+ areas, and they’re hitting Carolina-rigged live bait with a slightly longer (18”) 50 lb. fluorocarbon leader.
Brant, of Ocean Isle Fishing Center, reports that offshore, the wahoo fishing is picking up around the edge of the 30-fathom break. The bite was excellent just before the last full moon, and the action should continue into October and November.
A healthy mix of blackfin tuna and mahi are around, and the same offshore range can also produce a sailfish or two.
King mackerel are moving onto the beach where they will hold in depths less than 60’. This usually continues through October.
Schools of spanish mackerel and bluefish are prevalent on the beachfronts. Anglers will do best looking for these fish around schools of glass minnows or menhaden.
Bull red drum are working their way down the beach, and they typically hold around structure in the 10-30’ range.
Tom Janke, of Supply, hooked this 7.5 lb. strawberry grouper and 16 lb. yellowmouth grouper in 150’ of water offshore of Shallotte Inlet using live cigar minnows.
Greg, of Daves Outpost, reports that good numbers of red drum are out at the jetties, with both slot and over-slot fish hitting live or cut bait. The bigger citation-class drum will begin to show up in better numbers soon.
Flounder are active, and live mullet has been the top producer.
Scattered speckled trout are being caught with a variety of baits, from topwater plugs and artificials to live shrimp under corks.
Nearshore, spanish mackerel fishing is a good option, especially while trolling spoons, and king mackerel are starting to show up closer to the beach.
Tim, of Tideline Charters, reports that flounder are most active on the larger live baits.
While off the beach, big red drum are hitting menhaden or bigger mullet fished on the bottom around the inlet, around nearshore structure, or under bait balls. Anglers should use heavier tackle and land these fish quickly to keep from tiring them out and allowing them to get sharked.
Spanish mackerel are plentiful from the beach to nearshore reefs, with live bait yielding the best catches.
King mackerel are showing up on the piers, and this usually means they will also be hanging just off the beach.
Speckled trout (15-16”) are being caught at the end of the rising tide or on the high-end of a falling tide.
Slot-sized red drum have been all over the place. Moving into fall, look for smaller groups to concentrate and gather in larger schools. This usually means working a couple spots to find a bite versus picking away at scattered fish.
Tripp, of Capt’n Hook Outdoors, reports that the bull red drum bite has fired up around the inlet and along bait pods up and down the beach. Anglers are having success casting live or cut menhaden on Carolina rigs with 2-3 oz. of weight.
Inshore, speckled trout are showing up and biting on live shrimp floated under slip corks close to the bottom of deep holes and over oyster beds and similar structure.
The slot red drum action has slowed, with most being caught by anglers fishing Carolina-rigged bait around docks.
Offshore anglers are starting to see the bite ramp up, with catches of wahoo, blackfin tuna, and the occasional mahi. Skirted ballyhoo pulled at 7 knots or high-speed trolling tactics have both produced strikes. Look for temperature edges or a current eddy before setting up the spread.
Bottom fishing is another great option. The deep-water structures are holding yelloweye snapper, pink snapper, and scamp grouper.
Finn Clark and Tony Prevatte, of Ocean Isle, caught these flounder near Tubb’s Inlet using live mullet.
Philip, of Rod and Reel Shop, reports that surf anglers are finding red drum showing up in numbers. A few bull reds have been caught, too.
Whiting and croakers are abundant from the sand when casting out bottom rigs with artificial bait strips or shrimp. Bluefish are mixed in all over, and they’re hitting natural baits and casting jigs. When conditions settle, the pompano have been active.
Nearshore, spanish mackerel and some kings are being caught while trolling.
On the bottom, the better-sized black sea bass should be moving back into shallower waters.
Inshore anglers are catching slot red drum, with groups of fish scattered all over and being very active with any bait movement.
Black drum and sheepshead anglers are getting strikes when targeting structure with shrimp or crabs, and the speckled trout bite should only be picking up as temperatures cool down in the area.
Jerry, of Ocean Isle Beach Fishing Pier, reports that bottom fishing tight to the pilings has been producing sheepshead and black drum.
Some red drum, flounder, and a few spots are hanging around as well.
Anglers casting plugs are catching a few bluefish.
