Pamlico/Neuse River – November 2026
Donald, of Custom Marine Fabrication, reports that the speckled trout fishing is starting to kick off as the winds have made a big shift in temperatures. Anglers have been seeing a lot of smaller fish, but the smaller ones are typically the first ones to move in. These first fish start by staging up around larger structures such as bridges, and then some bigger fish will be showing up in the coming weeks.
Anglers are having success on many different lures right now, with hard baits such as the HPD MirrOlures, MR-17s, MR-18s, MR-27s, and really just about any of your favorite series enticing a bite. Color patterns don’t seem to be trending any one way, with a wide variety of patterns having success. If fishing soft plastics, Z-Man baits (swim baits or shrimp imitations) seem to be really popular when fished either under corks or on lightly weighted jig heads.
If fishing around heavy structure, striped bass could also be in the mix.
Downriver, a few big drum are still being caught, though most of this bite has been on its way out.
Brad, of Gunny B Outdoors, reports that anglers are seeing a ton of smaller trout around, which is a good sign overall after a tough couple winters. Some bigger trout are in the mix, though, and they should become more prominent as the water temperatures keep coming down. There isn’t one specific area to find the trout just yet, with fish anywhere from the main river to about a third of the way back into creeks. Popping corks with soft plastics thrown up around bank lines or ledges in 4-6’ of water make for a good place to start.
Some bull drum are around even as these NE winds draw them out.
Slot-sized reds (mostly upper-slots) are starting to school up a little better. A ton of smaller menhaden (2-3”) are around and keeping the reds active.
Anglers are catching some striped bass while trout fishing, especially when up around structure above the ferry line.
Bluefish are mixed in just about everywhere but look for them to be pushing downriver any day.
Hugh Schrowang, of Southbury, CT, caught this 46” red drum in the Neuse River on a Four Horsemen gold spoon. He was fishing with Capt. Allen Jernigan of Breadman Ventures.
Tom, of Carolina Bay Outfitters, reports that the speckled trout fishing has been on fire. A bunch of smaller “dink” fish are around, with maybe one out of every ten a keeper. Anglers are having success with the scented Z-Man soft plastics rigged on Z-Man branded jig heads. A chartreuse color pattern has been the top option, especially with the greentail shrimp still around.
Some lingering big red drum are being caught by anglers fishing cut baits, but this bite has been very slow as these fish work their way out.
Bluefish are around, but they, too, will be slowing down.
Gaston, of Kingfisher Charters, reports that this run of winds has dropped water temperatures below 65 degrees and has fired up the speckled trout bite. Anglers are catching a lot of fish, which is great sign after some hard winters, but not many of the trout are keepers.
Success with the trout is coming from a variety of lures, with topwater plugs, jerk baits, and MirrOlures working best to find the larger fish. For numbers of fish, a Vudu shrimp rigged under a popping cork is hard to beat.
Kent, of East Side Bait and Tackle, reports that with temperatures coming down, speckled trout fishing is the main action. Plenty of smaller fish are around, with most of the action in the main river and larger creek mouths. The trout will be moving their way into the creeks in November. Deeper shorelines and ledges have been the main spots to target casting efforts.
These early season trout aren’t too picky, so a wide variety of baits and colors will get them to strike. Hard suspending baits, such as MirrOlures or Paul Browns, are favorites year in and year out.
Some striped bass are mixed in the same areas as the trout, especially if fishing structure.
The big red drum bite is mostly done, with maybe a couple random fish out towards the sound.
Smaller reds are scattered and more of a bycatch if anything now that the fall trout season is here.
Luke Durney and Richard Goeres, of Wilmington, NC, caught this 20 lb. cobia in the Neuse River on menhaden.
Zach, of UFO Fishing Charters, reports that bait is in just about every creek from Washington out to the sound, so the action has really kicked off.
Most anglers are speckled trout fishing, with slot drum (to 30”) and striped bass (to 8 lbs.) occasionally in the mix. Some bigger trout (to 5 lbs.) are showing up, which is a good sign this early into the season, but the smaller fish still make up the majority of strikes. On cloudy days, topwaters, soft plastic jerk baits, and hard suspending lures are all having their moments of success.
A few big drum are still being caught in the river, but the NE winds have them mostly gone.
Grey, of Hyde Guide, reports that the speckled trout suddenly showed up in good numbers. There are a few keepers, but the smaller “dinks” are all over the place. Throwing soft plastics under popping corks is the best method in this early part of the season.
Some big drum are around, but the bite is basically finished unless stumbling across one.
Striped bass (6-7 lbs.) in the Albemarle have already been active. Many have been caught with topwater plugs early in the morning, but a wide variety of artificial swim baits will also get the stripers to strike. Be sure to target heavier structure such as bridges or stumps.
Anglers can find gray trout stacked up on the nearshore reefs, and anything from Gulp shrimp to cut shrimp or squid works well.
