Swansboro/Emerald Isle – June 2025
Amit, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that surf anglers have done well casting to schools of bluefish and spanish mackerel from the beaches.
Those same anglers saw big chopper bluefish mixed in the catches.
Smaller shrimp or other cut baits have been producing some black drum, croakers, the occasional gray trout, and a few pompano from the beachfront.
Red drum fishing inshore has been great, with redfish being found all over now that the large schools have broken up.
Sheepshead and some black drum are being caught with crabs or shrimp around bridge pilings and docks.
Nearshore anglers are catching lots of spanish mackerel and bluefish while trolling spoons or deep diver plugs.
Some Atlantic bonito are still around and mixed in the trolling bite.
Cobia have shown up to the north, and anglers should be keeping an eye out both nearshore and while out bottom fishing.
Offshore runs are seeing good numbers of mahi, with wahoo also mixed in the catch.
Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that red drum have been spreading out in summertime fashion and are heavily feeding on crabs. With mullet and menhaden now showing up, anglers are starting to see improvement when using topwater plugs and spinnerbaits. If the reds are turning down the lures, some cut menhaden will often entice a strike.
Black drum are moving around in the sound, and they’re staging up in deeper channels, on bridges, and under docks. Fresh shrimp will get them to bite.
A number of smaller sheepshead are around, with anglers now able to find plenty of fiddler crabs on the marsh islands during low tide to use for bait.
Spanish mackerel action will be picking up around the inlets, off the beaches, and in areas inside along the ICW. Casting smaller jigs works great when you can find the spanish on top, whereas trolling has a lot of success when fishing outside the inlet.
Thomas Gravitt, of Morehead City, with a 26″ redfish he caught sight-casting a Gulp shrimp to some tailing fish on a mudflat near Swansboro. He was fishing with Capt. Rob Koraly of Sandbar Safari Guide Service.
Matt, of Friendly City Fishing Charters, reports that red drum is the name of the game right now. The reds are everywhere in smaller groups and singles, and occasionally anglers may find a couple of larger schools holding together. Topwater action has been awesome on calm mornings, and cut menhaden has worked great in the early/late hours.
Some black drum are being caught on shrimp. Dock fishing is the go-to tactic, and the deeper, older, barnacle-covered docks are best.
Nearshore anglers are catching spanish mackerel and a few Atlantic bonito stragglers.
Jacob, of Southern Tides Fishing Charters, reports that anglers have been targeting red drum, with many of these fish still schooled up in bigger groups. When found in these schools, the reds have been very finicky. Live bait on a lightly weighted jig head has been very productive with the schooled redfish. Over the next few weeks, these reds will break apart even more into small groups and individuals.
Anglers are targeting black drum with live shrimp under slip corks or on Carolina rigs. The better areas have been over oyster rocks, around bridges, and under deeper docks.
Anglers using live fiddler crabs are seeing some sheepshead being caught around the same structure as black drum.
Spanish mackerel are here. Spoons and jigs have been working, but a small live menhaden is the best.
Most speckled trout are being caught in 4-10’ of water using the same slip cork rigs used to target reds. This is basically their spawning time, so anglers will likely see some large fish caught.
Flounder are staged up in shallow bays, deeper creeks, and out by the inlets. Live or artificial baits fished anywhere on the bottom will entice them to bite.
Bluefish are all over, and they’re eating just about everything anglers throw.
Tony Calabria, of Raleigh, landed this bonito at Cape Lookout Shoals trolling lures.
Scott, of King Mackerel College, reports that the offshore bite has heated up with the gaffer-sized dolphin arriving.
Billfish have shown up out deep, with anglers seeing good catches of blue marlin, sailfish, and white marlin.
Blackfin tuna and wahoo round out the action on trolling trips. For most offshore species, focus on areas in 30-150 fathoms (such as from the Swansboro Hole to north of the Big Rock). Color patterns haven’t seemed to matter, with typical greens and blues being the go-to options.
King mackerel have been holding in areas around the Northwest Places in fairly good numbers.
John, of Early Riser Fishing Charters, reports that with the Atlantic bonito all but moved on, anglers are focusing efforts on live bait fishing for king mackerel. This first push of kings has produced some quality fish but also a lot of smaller ones. The larger kings are being found closer to the beach and around bait balls. For numbers, anglers will do better out in the 60-70’ range, though this action will move closer in the coming weeks.
Anglers targeting king mackerel around bait balls should also carry a rod setup with a jig for cobia.
Amberjack fishing over ledges and wrecks has been productive with big popper plugs.
Flying fish have been seen in as close as 10 miles, and with them present, some nearshore mahi could be caught any day.
Mike, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that anglers casting jigs and plugs are catching large bluefish and spanish mackerel.
Moving into June, anglers will be keeping an eye out for catches of king mackerel, cobia, and possibly tarpon.
Bottom fishing has been ramping up, with catches of sea mullet, gray trout, spots, and (just recently) pompano mixed in.
