Swansboro/Emerald Isle – October 2025
Autumn, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that soundside anglers are seeing mullet continue their movement. As a result, speckled trout, flounder, red drum, and plenty of bluefish are all part of the mixed bag for those targeting the inshore waters.
Fishing deeper holes with structure is producing sea mullet, sheepshead, and black drum.
Surf fishing is seeing action with spot, croakers, sea mullet, and bluefish.
Pier anglers are catching spanish mackerel.
Pompano made a good showing before the long run of northeast wind, and hopefully the pompano return when the water settles down.
Christian, of RocknRods, reports that some large flounder have been caught on both live mullet and soft plastics.
Anglers targeting flatfish are also hooking into scattered red drum in the sound. With all the bait movement, anything from grass banks, docks, flats, and oysters are all holding active fish.
Just some speckled trout are being caught, but the bite will ramp up in the coming weeks as cooler fall weather comes in and water temperatures drop.
Off the beach, the spanish mackerel bite has been and should stay steady.
There’s only been a few king mackerel catches in close so far, but the kings will make their push onto the beaches soon.
Offshore trips are seeing catches of wahoo and some scattered late season mahi.
Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that anglers are finding big bluefish and speckled trout moving through deeper marsh channels and holes both in the sound and river mouths. Live shrimp rigged under slip corks or fished on the bottom are producing hook-ups.
The black drum are numerous in these same areas, with live shrimp also being the best option.
Red drum are scattered all over the shallows, with some reds also being found moving out through the inlets and headed into the surf zone with the bait migration.
Nearshore trips are seeing an active spanish mackerel bite, with live bait being the most effective choice.
The nearshore kings will begin coming in closer over the coming weeks, with live bait out-producing other options.
Jeff Washburn, of Oriental, caught this 23″ flounder on a live finger mullet in the Oriental area.
Matt, of Friendly City Fishing Charters, reports that flounder fishing has been great, with live mullet (especially larger ones) being the top bait for quality fish.
Reds are scattered everywhere from the marshes and ICW up into the White Oak. Watch for congregations of bait around current breaks and structure.
Speckled trout are currently scattered, but it’s a good idea to start trying to pattern these fish moving into their main fall bite. Focus on what the tide is doing and look for areas holding bait. Artificials are still the way to go with the trash fish species still around. As temperatures cool off, switch over to live shrimp.
Jacob, of Southern Tides Fishing Charters, reports that red drum action remains strong, with fish seemingly scattered everywhere from marshes and docks up into the creeks and bays. With so much bait around, using live bait over artificials is the best choice.
Live shrimp under slip corks is a wise choice for finding a speckled trout bite. Targeting cuts closer to the inlets with 6-10’ depths (especially with nearby oysters) are good places to start the search. The short time period near the top of high tide has been the most productive.
Live shrimp is a favorite bait for black drum, too, especially around oysters.
Bluefish (from 12-20”) are plentiful and will strike any live bait offerings.
Scott, of King Mackerel College, reports that fishing out on the break is starting to pick up with temperatures cooling down.
The wahoo bite is promising, with some sailfish also in the mix. Both species are hitting ballyhoo under a variety of Ilanders and other colored skirts.
Closer to the beach, some of the bigger fall spanish mackerel are showing up around the ARs. Anglers can catch numbers trolling a variety of spoons or lures, but live bait will typically yield the largest spanish.
King mackerel fishing is showing signs of life, with fish finally showing up right off the beach. However, the 10-15 mile range is currently a better area to start. Live menhaden and bait-sized bluefish (10-14”) are bringing the biggest strikes.
Calista Oslar, of Cary, landed this 28″ red drum in the ICW near Onslow Beach using a live mullet on a Carolina rig. She was fishing with Capt. Jacob Boucher of Southern Tides Fishing Charters.
John, of Early Riser Fishing Charters, reports that with strong north and northeast winds, the spanish mackerel and king mackerel are firing off on the beach.
Anglers sticking inshore, from the inlets back into the river, are seeing the speckled trout bite starting to turn on. In the early morning, topwaters and suspending lures are effective, but live shrimp outperforms anything else.
Red drum are also biting, with artificials, especially the topwater plugs, getting the better strikes.
Mike, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that bottom fishing anglers are seeing good numbers of pompano and flounder.
Casting plugs are producing spanish mackerel and some big bluefish (to 8 lbs.), and the peak of the fall king mackerel bite is fast approaching.
