Topsail/Sneads Ferry – June 2026
Nathan, of East Coast Sports, reports that nearshore anglers have been on a good mix of spanish mackerel and bluefish while both trolling and casting jigs.
Surf anglers are consistently seeing a variety of sea mullet, black drum, a few pompano, and a bunch of bluefish. Most of this action is best had while using fresh shrimp as bait.
The local piers are enjoying most of the same, with the addition of spanish mackerel.
The pier king mackerel action should be picking up any time now, with water temperatures just about in the desired range.
Inshore anglers are finding that bluefish and some scattered red drum are making up the majority of the catches.
Mike, of Native Son Guide Service, reports that spanish mackerel have been moving in well. A lot of smaller fish are in shallow along the beach (15-25’ range), with the better class of spanish in the 35-40’+ territory. In general, the bait numbers are just better the further off the beach you go.
Plenty of black sea bass and grunts are in the 40-60’+ areas. Pushing out into 50-75’+ also opens up better opportunities at seeing grouper mixed in the bite.
Inshore, the bluefish have been pushing in in good numbers. They can be found from the inlets back into the waterway.
Red drum are around, though most of this action is being had by bouncing dock to dock in search of pockets of fish.
Marable Sellars, of Willard, caught this 1.9 lb. pompano from the Surf City Pier using shrimp.
Ray, of Spring Tide Guide Service, reports that spanish mackerel (to 4-6 lbs.) has been the most reliable target. A better class of fish has been showing up, as they often do right behind the Atlantic bonito. Anglers can cast to these fish by throwing Big Nic Spanish Candies around the edges of bait schools, but trolling small Clarkspoons will also get strikes.
Red drum are around inshore, but this is a bite that requires a lot of moving around. To better cover water, tie on your favorite artificials, such as topwater plugs, and work the grass lines and shorelines to find pockets of fish.
Speckled trout fishing continues to be a little slow, but if you want to search for a trout, this is the time of year to start looking around the inlets.
Ricky, of Speckled Specialist Charters, reports that the speckled trout bite continues to be consistent, with anglers finding success using a mix of live bait, topwater plugs, and soft plastics. The bite has been better in the bigger creeks off New River, but numbers are on the rise along the inshore ledges closer to the inlet.
Red drum are mixed in at any of the spots when targeting trout.
Adam, of Carolina Flats Fishing, reports that a lot of bait is moving in, which is a much-needed change.
Pockets of over-slot red drum are around docks, but these fish are finicky. Fresh cut bait is the way to go when working the docks.
Some smaller sheepshead and scattered black drum are moving into the ICW.
Off the beach, good numbers of spanish mackerel are moving in.
Jim, of Plan 9 Charters, reports that the spanish mackerel bite has been excellent. Trolling #1 planers with small Drone spoons or Clarkspoons is the best way to put spanish in the boat.
Some smaller “snake” king mackerel are around if fishing nearshore structure that’s a little deeper. For the kings, Yo-Zuri deep divers are the way to go.
Bottom fishing efforts are finding grouper, vermilion snapper, black sea bass, amberjacks, and (possibly) cobia all mixed together.
Taylor, of South End Adventures, reports that spanish mackerel have been moving into the area in numbers. Trolling planers with #0 sized Clarkspoons is the most reliable way to get some fish in the boat.
Quite a bit of bluefish are around and just off the beach.
The king mackerel action has continued to hold in the 10-20 mile range, with most of these fish being the smaller “snake” kings.
Anglers looking for some grouper action have been finding the best quality gags on ledges in the 20-25 mile range. Scamps are also around, but they are mostly out deeper (120-150’).
Robin, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that anglers have been getting some great sight-casting opportunities at bluefish and spanish mackerel. The early mornings and late afternoons have been best for finding these fish schooled up and on the surface.
Anglers bottom fishing have been catching good-sized Virginia mullet and croakers, with the night bite being better.
A bunch more sheepshead are now around the pilings.
Vinita, of Surf City Pier, reports that there has been a good run on bluefish and spanish mackerel for the anglers rigged up with Gotcha plugs.
The pier has seen king mackerel landed this year (to 30 lbs.), and anglers look forward to the king bite improving as water temperatures keep moving up.
Good-sized sea mullet have been the top target for the bottom fishing crowd. Also in the mix are croakers and the occasional speckled trout.
Tyler, of Seaview Pier, reports that anglers fishing on the bottom are picking up a mixed bag of black drum (to 5+ lbs.), sea mullet, and a speckled trout every once in a while.
Anglers sight-casting either diamond jigs or Gotcha plugs are catching bluefish and spanish mackerel.
The first king mackerel (21 lbs.) of the year was landed, and anglers look forward to the bite improving as water temperatures keep moving up.
