Southport/Oak Island – August 2025
TJ, of Dutchman Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that surf anglers are seeing the typical mid-summer mixed bag of whiting, croakers, stingrays, and sharks.
Inshore fishing has been really good, especially for red drum. The red drum are scattered throughout the waterways, and they’re hitting any variety of cut bait, live bait, or artificials.
A few big speckled trout have been landed, with live shrimp or artificials being the top choices for targeting the trout.
Focusing on inshore hard structure and using shrimp or crabs has produced bites from black drum and sheepshead.
A bunch of flounder are around as well.
Josh, of Oak Island Sporting Goods, reports that speckled trout fishing has been really good in the area, with anglers catching the specks anywhere from the creeks out into the surf zone and from the local piers. Live shrimp or a shrimp imitation lures have been the top baits in any area.
Red drum fishing has been strong inside, with creeks and oyster beds along the waterway being the main target areas.
Black drum and sheepshead are being caught around structure, and live shrimp or fiddler crabs are best for both species.
Out in the surf, those bottom fishing are seeing that croakers, black drum, and sharks are making up most of the catch.
A few tarpon have been caught off the piers, with live bait such as menhaden, mullet, or bluefish doing the trick.
Hunter, of Dockside Fishing Charters, reports that inshore fishing overall has been pretty consistent, but slot red drum have been the top target. A Carolina-rigged menhaden with the tail cut off is the most productive strategy in the heat of summer. For the best chances, target the oyster banks and points outside of feeder creeks along the ICW.
Anglers are finding some speckled trout on the mid to rising tides. Deeper water (8-10’+) has been best for drifting live shrimp under slip cork setups. Look around rocks and oysters, as areas with some structure in general is key. Getting out as early in the morning as possible has also been important for generating a trout bite.
Off the beach, nearshore structures are holding gray trout, smaller king mackerel, and spanish mackerel.
Heather Zanzig, of Asheville, caught this 25″ speckled trout off the point in Oak Island using a topwater lure.
Steve, of Reel Em Up Charters, reports that the area is seeing a mix of red drum and speckled trout in the deeper areas of creeks. The better bite for both has been on the falling tides. These deeper creek areas (6-10’ depths) have slightly cooler water, and even a small relief from high temps really helps in getting fish to feed. With the influx of mullet into the system, the mullet have become the top bait choice.
Black drum are also staged in the deeper holes in creeks, and these fish are mostly around hard structures such as pilings or oysters. Shrimp is best for the black drum, and shrimp can also tempt any sheepshead in the area.
Wally, of Oak Island Fishing Charters, reports that this summer has been all about fighting the southwest winds and looking for those rare opportunities to get offshore. When a window opens up, grabbing some live menhaden and targeting the deeper offshore structures is the best strategy, and the most common target species include African pompano, cobia, and king mackerel.
On those days when it’s smart to stay inside, thankfully there has been a great red drum and flounder bite when targeting structure in the creeks.
Robert, of Reelin’ Pelican Fishing Charters, reports that bait is plentiful in the area, with finger mullet and tons of menhaden around, as well as plenty of shrimp.
All of the bait has the red drum in the area fired up. In typical summer patterns, they are scattered about in smaller groups and feeding on live bait.
Some speckled trout are in the mix. Most of the trout have been caught on live shrimp, and early mornings are seeing the best action.
Live fiddler crabs continue to entice sheepshead to bite when targeting hard structure such as bridges and older/deeper docks.
Off the beach, the spanish mackerel have finally made a better showing, and schools of tarpon are moving down the beach off Bald Head Island.
Offshore, hot water temperatures have trolling action on top scattered, but bottom fishing out near Frying Pan Tower is a great option. A bunch of barracuda are around, but if your baits get past them, the opportunity to catch cobia and African pompano is present.
Mike Mosur, of Wilmington, caught this red drum in a marsh behind Bald Head Island on a chartreuse shrimp fly.
Ryan, of Fugitive Charters, reports that running out to bottom fish in the 80-150’+ areas will generate the most reliable bite. Anglers have been successfully targeting vermilion snapper, triggerfish, and the keeper grouper species (scamp and strawberry).
This same depth range has also been producing some cobia, and keep an eye out for mahi that can show up around the boat.
King mackerel fishing has been fairly scattered with all the hot water. The kings that have cooperated have been caught anywhere from the beach out to 20+ miles.
Along the beach, anglers are finding that spanish mackerel, sharks, and bluefish are the main targets.
Sharon, of Oak Island Pier, reports that the pier has seen a decent mixed bag of fish being caught. Black drum, sheepshead, speckled trout, and sharks are all part of the bottom fishing action.
Spanish mackerel are around at times, and these spanish are mostly hitting Gotcha plugs when fish are spotted feeding on the surface.
Troy, of Ocean Crest Pier, reports that speckled trout have made a better showing, with the early mornings and evenings seeing the best bite.
Bottom fishing action has been providing the typical summer fare of croakers, sharks, and flounder.
