Pamlico/Neuse River – September 2026
Donald, of Custom Marine Fabrication, reports that bluefish are showing up in the river, and tarpon are still far up the river.
Anglers working the main river shorelines are catching slot-sized red drum on a variety of artificials.
Fishing shrimp or crabs around hard structure has been producing black drum and sheepshead.
Big red drum can already be found in areas up above the ferry line. The favorite way to target them is with a variety of artificials such as large soft plastics (either on jig heads or under popping corks), topwater plugs, or hard baits fished around bait and ledges.
Tom, of Carolina Bay Outfitters, reports that the best old red drum bite has been out in the sound, and fishing shallower has been the key. During the day, anglers are seeing most of the action in less than 10’ depths, and at night, the action moves down to 5’ or less.
Slot red drum are scattered in the shallower areas of the river, with the occasional speckled trout mixed in.
Spanish mackerel are around the mouth of the river.
Kaydon Evans, of Wilson’s Mills, NC, with a 31” red drum caught in the Neuse River on a Z-Man DieZel Minnow in the Beer Run color under a popping cork. He was fishing with Capt. Josh Sutton of Pamlico Point Guide Service.
Brad, of Gunny B Outdoors, reports that the area from the ferry line on out into the sound has been the main target area for big red drum. Bait is scattered all over, and the fish are as well. Edges of flats, oyster reefs, and ledges anywhere from 2-15’+ can be areas to target while looking for birds or surface action.
When out in the sound, big bluefish (5-10+ lbs.) are blowing up on bait.
Black drum can be found around the deeper oyster structure, reefs in the sound, and shoreline stump areas.
The striped bass bite remains relatively consistent from the ferry line up past New Bern. The key is being around bait and structure in combination.
Dave, of Pamlico Pirate Charters, reports that efforts have turned fully to old drum. Both cut bait and artificials will have success. The main artificial setup has been a D.O.A. cork and a D.O.A. Cal Swimbait with some sort of glow in the color pattern, and being on the water early or late is important. The fish are scattered anywhere from the sound up to New Bern.
Gary, of Spec Fever Guide Service, reports that with water temperatures up into the 87-90 degree range, getting out on the water early is the key to finding big red drum action. The classic popping cork setup is outproducing any other tactic, and focus on finding some space away from other boats.
Some tarpon are still around, so keep an eye out around bait balls.
Schools of big bluefish are in the river.
Anglers working smaller popping cork setups along the shorelines are catching slot-sized red drum and the occasional speckled trout.
Coye Ennis, of Stumpy Point, landed this 46” red drum on cut bait in the Stumpy Point Bay.
Josh, of Pamlico Point Guide Service, reports that the best success with citation-class red drum has come from throwing topwater plugs, popping corks, and many other soft and hard bait options, especially if the fish are found busting on the surface. Cut bait fishing is working best when soaked on channel edges that are holding bait.
Slot-sized red drum and a few lone speckled trout are along grass bank lines, docks, and stumps.
Sheepshead and black drum are staged up on bridges, channel markers, and some ARs in the lower river.
Kent, of East Side Bait and Tackle, reports that those fishing the grass banks towards and in the sounds are hooking a couple speckled trout.
Anglers can find flounder scattered on sandy bottoms near docks or points. Live bait can have success, but Gulp shrimp or Z-Man soft plastics are best when scouting.
Slot-sized red drum can be found with these same tactics of bouncing soft plastics or dragging live baits.
Some tarpon are still roaming around in both the Pamlico and Neuse rivers.
Anglers are targeting old drum mostly in the sound, and the more productive areas are ledges, points, and oyster rocks. Fresh bait has been the best option.
Hugh, of Pungo Charters, reports that slot-sized red drum are scattered throughout the Pungo River and some of the bigger creeks. Anglers are finding action by scouting banks with topwaters in the morning, and then staying on the bite as the sun gets higher up by targeting the deeper banks, ledges, or points with soft plastics rigged on jig heads or under popping corks.
Flounder fishing has picked up. A 5” Gulp swimming mullet has been the top producing bait.
Zach, of UFO Fishing Charters, reports that anglers looking for big red drum are focusing efforts toward the mouth of the Pamlico River and out into the sound.
The bottom fishing bait bite seems to be the main producing tactic for the old drum, with most anglers fishing late evenings into that first hour of dark.
Speckled trout efforts have slowed.
Anglers fishing bottom structures and wrecks in the sound can find black drum, gray trout, and flounder.
Flounder fishing in general has been picking up in the lower part of the river.
Grey, of Hyde Guide, reports that the big red drum bite has been spotty. The feeling is that a bunch of the fish are still on the other side of the sound. Anglers looking to fish artificials will likely only see action early (if you can find bait). Otherwise, soaking bait is the way to go.
Flounder fishing has been ridiculously good, and rigging a finger mullet on a jig head is the favorite way.
Running out to deeper structure in the sound is producing black drum and sheepshead.
Some gray trout are out there, too.
