Pamlico/Neuse River – June 2025
Donald, of Custom Marine Fabrication, reports that anglers are seeing a lot of large bluefish (to 30”).
Those fishing live bait or bouncing soft plastics on the bottom are catching the first flounder of the year. These flatfish are showing up in fair numbers along the main river shorelines.
Speckled trout are occasionally mixed in, although most of the specks have moved down into the sound to spawn.
Anglers targeting stumps and other shoreline structure are catching striped bass (to 36”). Most of this action has been from the ferry line up to New Bern.
Red drum catches are picking up as more fish move in from the sound. Anglers are mostly fishing a variety of hard baits and soft plastics on flats off the main river shorelines.
It can’t be kept secret anymore…there have been a lot of larger red drum (to 40”) being caught on these shoreline areas.
Brad, of Gunny B Outdoors, reports that red drum fishing has been steady while working the main shoreline flats, but anglers have needed to stay on the move to keep on fish as the red drum transition into the area. The recent heavy rains have kept them more downriver, or at least in deeper waters, until weather stabilizes and the salinity upriver comes back up.
Bluefish are around, though recent weather threw off the bite. All the bait they are feeding on are still around, and anglers expect to see the bluefish bite pick up in the coming weeks.
Plenty of speckled trout are in the area from the ferry line down to the sound. Paddle tail soft plastics under popping corks has been producing a class of 18-25” fish.
Quality black drum have started to show up around docks, bridges, and some of the artificial reefs.
These same areas closer to the sound will also have sheepshead.
Striped bass (to 30”) action around New Bern has been excellent for those looking to throw topwater plugs tight to structures such as stump fields or docks.
Parker Hinson, of Holly Ridge, hooked this speckled trout on a finger mullet in the Neuse River. He was wishing with Capt. Jack Jackson of Fin Chasers USA Charters.
Dave, of Pamlico Pirate Charters, reports that menhaden have arrived in the main river. As a result, good numbers of slot-sized red drum have also come in. Anglers are doing best by targeting windy points and shoreline areas where baitfish are schooling.
“Match the hatch” has been key, with Carolina-rigged live menhaden or finger mullet and Lupton-rigged cut baits having the most success. Popping cork setups with soft plastics, live baits, or cut baits also work well.
A handful of old drum have already been caught in the Neuse.
Larger speckled trout (to 27”) are being found staged up in deeper water around docks.
Huge “chopper” bluefish are all over the river system. Anglers have had success watching them blow up on spoons or “whopper plopper” style topwater plugs.
Kent, of East Side Bait and Tackle, reports that red drum action has picked up as these fish push up the river and creeks from the sound. Topwater plugs have been on fire recently, with plenty of action also being found with popping cork setups or simply soft plastics on lightly weighted jig heads. Anglers are finding a wide variety of color patterns having success. Overall, soft plastics that have a little gold flake are a good option.
A lot of massive bluefish (6-8 lb. range) are being caught by anglers fishing topwater plugs and popping cork setups.
Down in the sound, some schools of spanish mackerel are showing up for those casting metals.
Speckled trout fishing has been a bit slower as they push down the river and in their spring spawning patterns.
Zach, of UFO Fishing Charters, reports that speckled trout fishing has been steady with the water temperatures now warmed up. Target the trout on shallower banks and flats (2’+) early with popping cork setups, then as the sun gets higher, start working deeper holes and ledges (in 10-12’+) with soft plastics on jig heads.
Black drum and sheepshead are around now with more consistency as they push in from the ocean. Targeting deeper hard structures and rocks with cut shrimp is the top tactic for both species.
Kaylin Pull, of Oriental, with a slot red drum caught in the Pamlico Sound on a live shad pinned to a Carolina rig. She was fishing with Capt. Jennings Rose of North State Guide Service.
Gaston, of Kingfisher Charters, reports that with water temperatures now above 75 degrees, speckled trout are becoming really active in their feeding patterns. Anglers have been finding them staged up on points along the main river and around creek mouths (especially closer to or on the edges of the sound). The target depth range has been between 3-6’. Popping corks rigged with larger paddle tails or Gulp baits have been producing well. For both styles of baits, white and chartreuse color patterns have been some of the go-to favorites.
Red drum are showing up in numbers. Anglers are finding them tucked back in creeks while using the same popping cork setups.
Loads of bluefish are around. With water temperatures coming up quickly, it won’t be long before the area sees some spanish mackerel in the river as well.
Grey, of Hyde Guide, reports that red drum fishing has been unbelievable for this early in the year, with anglers seeing more over-slot fish than expected. Popping corks fished tight to the grass or along banks has been the strategy to entice bites.
Speckled trout action has been great. The smaller fish may be around in less numbers, but the quality trout are still active. Hard ledges off points with 4-7’ depths have been the main target areas for them. As the trout move into spawn, they should be pushing into the grass. Topwater fishing has been the best tactic overall, with both the better numbers and larger fish hitting them. With temperatures where they are, topwater plugs will work all day long.
A bunch of bluefish are around, and they will happily strike at the topwater plugs as well.
Flounder have been showing up in good numbers.
