Pamlico/Neuse River – May 2025
Donald, of Custom Marine Fabrication, reports that bluefish are moving into the river, and their presence should pick up as more bait shows up and warmer waters prevail.
Red drum have also made a showing, as anglers are finding many over-slot fish mixed in. Both cut baits and topwater plugs have been best.
Speckled trout have been moving their way out of the creeks and are headed downriver to spawn. Most anglers catching them are doing so with Paul Brown lures, topwater plugs, and MirrOlures.
Throwing topwaters will also entice the occasional striped bass.
Brad, of Gunny B Outdoors, reports good speckled trout fishing, but swinging wind directions have anglers really working for success. For the most part, paddle tail soft plastics and MirrOlures are producing most of the action, and topwaters are pulling in some bigger fish. Pink or purple color patterns are working best.
Some puppy drum are moving into the river system, and they’re setting up in the same creek mouths where anglers are targeting trout.
Bluefish (2-4 lb. class) have started showing up from the ferry line up to New Bern.
Dave, of Pamlico Pirate Charters, reports that the area is enjoying some extraordinary speckled trout fishing. The class of fish varies, with many 14-18” fish broken up by the occasional giant. The trout are being found about 3/4 of the way out of the creeks, and they’re still staged around flats and nearby ledges. Some trout have moved into the main river and are near docks and structure on the shoreline.
Soft plastics (such as D.O.A. paddle tails or shrimp imitations) have worked well both on jig heads and under popping corks. The color of the baits are “water clarity” dependent, but overall, gold flake or chartreuse have had the most success.
The occasional slot-sized red drum is being found with the same tactics.
Bluefish have been showing up in the main river.
Paul Engelholm, of Louisburg, with a striped bass caught on the Neuse River using a D.O.A. Bait Buster. He was fishing with Capt. Dave Hegel of Pamlico Pirate Fishing Charters.
Gary, of Spec Fever Guide Service, reports that speckled trout are working their way out of the creeks and are setting up on main river shorelines. Depending on water levels, the trout are either up on flats or pushed down on ledges (as the water drops).
Some red drum are moving in and are staging up along the shorelines. Success with both trout and reds is primarily coming from soft plastics under popping corks.
A 2-5 lb. class of bluefish are showing up in the river, and they’re hitting the topwaters that anglers are using for other species.
Josh, of Pamlico Point Guide Service, reports that anglers are finding most of the trout at the fronts of creeks or along shorelines from creek to creek. Artificials that create some noise, such as topwater plugs and popping corks, have been best with all the natural bait around to compete with. Z-Man PaddlerZ or Prawn StarZ have been some of the favorite plastics under corks.
These same areas are holding bluefish and red drum.
Anglers could also be surprised by a random bull red drum (to 50”) when targeting the other species.
Alan, of East Side Bait and Tackle, reports that speckled trout remain the top target as water temperatures have these fish moving out of their wintering creeks and ready to push down towards the sound. MHC Lures or Z-Man soft plastics have been a couple of the most popular options.
A few puppy drum are working their way in. As warmer water prevails, more bait arrives along with better numbers of reds.
Bluefish are being found on the Neuse, so Pamlico anglers can expect to see them mixed in the action any day now.
Zach, of UFO Fishing Charters, reports seeing good numbers of a “would-be” keeper class of 18-22” speckled trout. Anglers are having success with topwaters, and the popping cork action is picking up. Anglers should focus on grassy areas in the creeks as these fish get ready to spawn.
Some red drum are mixed in, and they’re mostly in areas of stumps and woods.
Bluefish (4-5 lbs.) have shown up as temperatures warm up and ocean species start moving in.
Bruce Galbrith and friend caught these red drum in the Pamlico Sound using gold spoons. They were fishing with Capt. Grey Davis of Hyde Guides.
Gaston, of Kingfisher Charters, reports that speckled trout anglers are having success with topwater plugs, especially for the larger fish. The trout are moving out of the creeks and pushing down towards the sound, so anywhere from the creeks mouths down the river shorelines will hold action. When topwaters are not working, 2” Vudu shrimp or 3” Z-Man paddle tails under corks or on jig heads will entice strikes.
Red drum are being caught using these same tactics.
Some flounder have been caught with soft plastics fished along the bottom.
The first bluefish of the year have shown up (while targeting trout).
Grey, of Hyde Guides, reports that gray trout fishing has been epic over rocks and wrecks in the sound. A 1/2 oz. jig head and Gulp soft plastic or double-drop rig with shrimp will entice strikes.
The speckled trout action has been picking up as more fish move into the area. Topwater plugs work great early, with shrimp imitations such as Vudu, D.O.A., or Z-Man under a popping cork or on a jig head having success as the day moves on.
Bluefish are starting to show up.
Anglers look forward to the red drum moving in from the ocean in May. That migration, paired with calmer conditions, will set the area up for some great sight-fishing action.
