Southport/Oak Island – June 2025
Angie, of Dutchman Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that inshore anglers have been doing well catching red drum with both live baits and artificials.
Some speckled trout are being hooked by anglers targeting reds with artificials.
Flounder have started to show up inside, and they’re being caught on live baits fished on the bottom.
Sheepshead and black drum action has been good for those focusing on hard structure such as docks or bridges.
Nearshore anglers are finding decent numbers of spanish mackerel while trolling spoons over structure, and this same structure is holding bunches of black sea bass.
Surf fishing is picking up, with pompano and a few pufferfish being caught.
Josh, of Oak Island Sporting Goods, reports that surf anglers are seeing good numbers of pompano alongside whiting and black drum.
There has been the opportunity to cast metals to spanish mackerel and bluefish for anglers out on the beach early.
The local piers have seen some king mackerel, along with better catches of spanish mackerel and bluefish.
Inshore anglers are targeting docks and structure with crabs or shrimp for sheepshead, red drum, and black drum.
Off the beach, trolling has been producing plenty of spanish mackerel and some king mackerel.
Some over-slot red drum have been caught by those targeting fish under the schools of menhaden.
Hunter, of Dockside Fishing Charters, reports that water temperatures in the area have been pushing into the upper 60s and lower 70s, and this has the red drum fired up. Anglers are mainly sticking to fishing live shrimp under slip cork rigs around structure.
Sheepshead fishing is improving daily as more fish move inshore over hard structure. Live fiddler crabs on a jig head is a simple and effective setup.
Speckled trout should start to pick up. The same slip cork with live shrimp works great for the trout.
Tom Janke, of Supply, caught this 18 lb. scamp grouper in 180′ of water out of the Shallotte Inlet using a live cigar minnow.
Zane, of Falling Tide Fishing Adventures, reports that inshore anglers have been catching a load of sheepshead (in the 3-5 lb. range) as these fish push in in better numbers.
Red drum are now spread out in smaller schools. Live menhaden works great, as does topwater plugs when conditions are right.
Speckled trout are mixed in the action, with most coming from artificial baits such as topwater plugs or D.O.A. soft plastics.
Steve, of Reel Em Up Charters, reports that red drum have dispersed a little more into their summer patterns and are actively hitting live baits fished on the bottom. Both peanut menhaden and finger mullet are the top baits when fishing structure around creek mouths and in the backs of creeks as the tide rises.
Black drum and a few speckled trout are being enticed by live shrimp.
Sheepshead have been moving inside in better numbers, and they’re staging up around the deeper hard structures.
Off the beach, spanish mackerel are schooling up.
The first showing of king mackerel have arrived, and the kings are scattered along the beaches for anglers live bait fishing.
Those bottom fishing at the nearshore reefs are finding some good-sized gray trout.
Wally, of Oak Island Fishing Charters, reports that anglers are having success catching king mackerel and the bigger spanish mackerel by slow-trolling live menhaden from the beach on out to 10 miles.
Some great grouper fishing can be found in the 100’ areas.
The mahi are starting to show up and will slowly be working their way in.
Inshore trips are producing red drum and black drum while fishing live shrimp or menhaden around creek structures.
Cameron Spencer, of Thomasville, caught (and released) this flounder around the point of Oak Island using a mud minnow.
Ryan, of Fugitive Charters, reports that nearshore anglers have found solid numbers of spanish mackerel moving in alongside the bunches of bluefish. Trolling Clarkspoons is a sure way to put some fish in the boat.
Some springtime king mackerel are scattered around. The kings are moving a lot, and they can be anywhere from the beaches on out to 20 miles.
Anglers along the beaches should be keeping an eye out for cobia cruising along on the surface or under bait. Sight-casting bucktails is the top tactic.
On offshore bottom trips, grouper are biting well on cut baits.
Temperatures in the Gulf Stream have increased, and anglers can expect to see some mahi pushing in a little closer very soon.
Steele, of Catherine Anne Sportfishing, reports that nearshore, the spanish mackerel bite is good, as anglers are catching most of their fish on the tried-and-true Clarkspoon and planer combo.
King mackerel fishing has been the most consistent in the 10-15 mile range, with live menhaden being the bait of choice.
Anglers are catching grouper over the 80-100’ bottom areas.
The offshore fishing action is picking up with wahoo, mahi, and blackfin tuna. Ballyhoo pulled behind Ilanders or rigged with sea witches have worked best.
The deeper areas (out in the Gulf Stream) are also seeing quite a few blue marlin.
Troy, of Ocean Crest Pier, reports that anglers have found some speckled trout. Live shrimp, especially fished by those out early in the morning, has been the top producer.
Some king mackerel have been caught, with spanish mackerel occasionally running by the pier.
Donna, of Oak Island Pier, reports that bottom fishing has been the best tactic, with a few whiting and smaller bluefish showing up.
No king mackerel or spanish mackerel are being caught, but that should change anytime now.
