Swansboro/Emerald Isle – March 2025
Jerry, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that anglers looking to get out in the surf zone have been able to find some black drum around. Moving into March, the first schools of sea mullet should start to show up along the beaches.
Back in the sound, anglers are having some success targeting red drum both in the marshes and in mainland creeks.
Some speckled trout are around, but with water temperatures so cool, the action is spotty at best and really far back in the creeks.
No signs of bluefish just yet, but moving into March, anglers usually start to see them show up.
Those looking to run offshore have found a few wahoo, and in early spring, wahoo will remain the top Gulf Stream target.
For now, properly rigged anglers have been focused on the bluefin tuna bite up around the Morehead area.
Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that anglers are focusing on red drum schools back in muddy bays and shallow creeks throughout the marshes. Sight casting soft plastics and shallow suspending lures will be the most fun and the most successful way to target them.
A lot of snot grass is on the bottom of the shallows this time of year, so anglers may have to go weedless or fish baits that stay off the bottom to keep from snagging. If using natural baits, a really light Carolina rig with a chunk of mullet or crab on a circle hook can get the job done. It will be important to let the baits sit still because if they drag at all, it’ll cover with moss.
Anglers should start seeing better numbers of black drum around, mostly coming from areas of shell bottoms closer to the inlet. Target these fish with cut shrimp on the bottom.
Once water temperatures start to climb, look for the gray trout and sea mullet to start showing up in deeper holes around inlet channels and back into the waterways. A spec rig tipped with shrimp is really all that is needed.
Adam Meyer, of Maritime Insurance International, with an upper-slot redfish that fell for a weedless-rigged fluke in the Swansboro area. He was fishing with Capt. Rob Koraly of Sandbar Safari Charters.
Matt, of Friendly City Fishing Charters, reports that red drum remain the top target for anglers looking to get out on the water. There are still insanely clear water conditions in the area, and artificials are out-producing natural baits. Z-Man PaddlerZ or DieZel MinnowZ work well rigged weedless (to not snag up on snot grass). If you have it, the use of scent helps. The key when targeting these larger wintertime schools is a stealthy approach and long casts. Don’t get on top of them, as they will quickly spook and won’t eat.
The area is also seeing some black drum staged up around oyster rocks or holes in the backs of these same areas. Some cut shrimp on the bottom can usually get the black drum to bite.
Speckled trout are way back in the creeks and far up into the White Oak River. With water temperatures so cool, it’s not really worth the effort right now.
Jacob, of Southern Tides Fishing Charters, reports that anglers have been finding red drum schooled up pretty well in shallow bays and sloughs closer to the ocean. The best way to target them is to move through the water really slowly until you’re able to locate a school by sight. One top bait choice has been a Z-Man Texas Rig with a light 3/16 oz. jig head and a darker colored 3” paddle tail.
As we move into March, anglers anticipate seeing schools of sea mullet, gray trout, and even sheepshead returning inside in good numbers. As these fish move inshore, the deeper the water you can find to target them, the better. The gray trout and sea mullet, in particular, will be best located using your bottom unit. Target both species with spec rigs or casting jigs tipped with some type of cut bait. A gray trout will eat a plain artificial, but adding a little cut bait to your jig will effectively target both species.
Greg and Kay Ogle, of Beaulaville, NC, doubled up on black drum in Swansboro using both bait shrimp and Berkley Gulp shrimp. They were fishing with Capt. Jeff Cronk of Fish’n4Life Charters.
John, of Early Riser Fishing Charters, reports that with trout season closed and plenty of days of unfavorable ocean conditions, anglers have been spending more time in the backs of marshes targeting the red drum that are holding in their big winter schools. With the clear water conditions, the reds are easier to see, but that also means they are easier to spook.
For those targeting redfish, try to locate these fish on the calmer days and set up without being noticed. A good way to do this is to have a buffer between you and the fish, whether that be an oyster rock, small sandbar, or even a deeper hole.
Anglers can entice bites from the school by using scented soft plastics or cut mullet. As the water warms up in the coming weeks, these fish will start to break up into smaller schools and scatter throughout the waterways.
Bluefish, Atlantic bonito, and false albacore could all possibly be showing up by the end of March, mostly between the beachfront and the 4-mile range.
Scott, of King Mackerel College, reports that the best wahoo action has been in the areas of the Swansboro Hole and the Big Rock. Most boats are pulling ballyhoo and Sea Witches or swimming plugs (Nomad).
The king mackerel are still way offshore (close to the Big Rock). The kings will follow the water temperatures as they warm up, but it will likely be April before they hold over spots like the Northwest Places, the Big 10/Little 10, and the Papoose.
Closer to shore, the ARs are loaded with good numbers and good sizes of black sea bass. Bluefish can be found on the ARs, too.
