Southport/Oak Island – September 2026
Blake, of Dutchman Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that surf anglers have been able to find a few pompano mixed in the typical summer bag of whiting, croakers, sharks, and pinfish.
Some speckled trout are being caught by anglers fishing live shrimp off the piers. This bite is mostly happening in the early morning or night-time hours.
Inshore anglers continue to enjoy a healthy red drum bite, with this action picking up as more finger mullet are moving around the area.
Some sheepshead are being hooked with live fiddler crabs fished around inshore hard structures, such as dock and bridge pilings.
Anglers running offshore are mostly focused on the bottom fishing action, including plenty of black sea bass, vermilion snapper, porgies, grunts, and grouper (gags released).
Steve, of Oak Island Sporting Goods, reports that surf anglers have had success catching spanish mackerel and bluefish, and those bottom fishing with sand fleas or shrimp have added a few pompano to the typical summer mix of whiting and croakers.
Inshore, sheepshead have been the best target species. Good numbers of fish are being found by those targeting docks, pilings, and rocks with live fiddler crabs or shrimp.
Some black drum are mixed in around the same structured areas, especially when fishing with shrimp.
The red drum action has been steady, with fish scattered all along the ICW and into the creeks.
Not many anglers are targeting speckled trout yet, but a few are being caught.
Chris Racca, of Wilmington, with a 40” red drum caught on a live pogie in the lower Cape Fear River.
Ian, of Fin-Fisher Charters, reports that off the beach, live finger mullet can be used to entice big spanish mackerel to strike when targeting reefs and ledges.
Schools of big red drum aren’t nearshore yet, but north winds should kick off that bite.
Anglers fishing in the backwater are finding steady action on flounder and scattered red drum. Most of the action can be generated by bouncing around docks and other hidden underwater structures.
The bait situation inside has been really good, with plentiful amounts of shrimp and mullet easily available to use for live bait.
Zane, of Falling Tide Fishing Adventures, reports that the topwater action first thing in the morning has remained a fun way to scout areas and find strikes from both red drum and a few speckled trout.
The trout disappear early in the day with this heat, and then it’s time to switch over to fishing with live mullet to stay on the drum. The redfish are moving in small groups, so working down grass lines is the best way to find pockets of action.
Running outside the inlet is producing some great action with sight-casting jigs to schools of spanish mackerel. Moving forward, the numbers of fish should improve, as well as the quality of fish.
Steve, of Oak Island Fishing Charters, reports that the red drum bite has been picking up with all the finger mullet all over the place. These live finger mullet are currently the top bait option. Targeting deeper banks is still a good tactic for locating red drum. Make sure to fish an area that has some current, as that helps slightly cool the water.
Live mullet will also be the best bait for flounder, and fish them tight to the bottom against grass banks or near structure such as docks or oysters.
Mason Myrtle, of Carolina Beach, landed this tripletail in the Carolina Beach area using a 4” Saltwater Assassin on a Z-Man jig head.
Wally, of Oak Island Fishing Charters, reports that gag grouper is closed, so bottom fishing efforts mostly center around vermilion snapper, triggerfish, and black sea bass.
The bite has still been quiet for king mackerel, but anglers expect that to change anytime.
Nearshore trips are having a bunch of success catching spanish mackerel. Trolling is producing most of the action, and the quality of fish seems to be slowly getting better.
Ryan, of Fugitive Charters, reports that plenty of spanish mackerel are off the beach, and anglers fishing over reefs in the 3-5 mile range have found some bigger fish mixed in.
King mackerel fishing hasn’t seen much change, but the 20-30 mile range is where most of the better quality fish are.
Bottom fishing has been consistently producing strong catches of black sea bass, vermilion snapper, and the keeper grouper species (graysbys and scamps).
Some cobia and the occasional flurry of mahi will show up while fishing the same bottom fishing areas.
Steele, of Catherine Anne Sportfishing, reports that the flounder are chewing everywhere. Finger mullet are plentiful, and the flatfish are honed in on them.
The spanish mackerel bite has been solid in the 20-30’ range. Plenty of those smaller summertime fish are around, but the jumbos are starting to mix in better with each passing week.
Anglers targeting king mackerel are finding most of the action out in the 65-80’ areas.
Gag grouper may be closed, but there are plenty of other desirable bottom species in the 100’ area.
Lisa, of Ocean Crest Pier, reports that bottom fishing has been producing plenty of good-sized whiting and croakers, and some pompano are also in the mix.
Anglers are catching spots, but the spots are only hitting bloodworms.
Scott, of Oak Island Pier, reports that a few speckled trout have been caught in the early mornings.
Bottom fishing throughout the day is seeing that summertime mix of whiting and croakers.
The spanish mackerel and bluefish action has been a little slower, and the king mackerel bite has also been slow, too (and slow all year).
