Topsail/Sneads Ferry – May 2026
Jerry, of East Coast Sports, reports that it’s been all about the Atlantic bonito bite, and both trolling and casting (and jigging) tactics are having success getting strikes.
Some schools of bluefish are in the shallower water, and spanish mackerel are moving up the coast and should be here any time.
Surf and pier anglers are seeing the overall bite pick up, with catches including a mix of whiting, black drum, and bluefish.
Inshore anglers are mostly targeting red drum around docks or up on the flats.
Ray, of Spring Tide Guide Service, reports that the Atlantic bonito bite has been on fire. Trolling deep divers has been a great way to get hooked up, with most days seeing the fish hanging sub‑surface. The best tactic has been to troll over structure and watch the bottom for areas to mark and then come back to jig.
Small spanish mackerel are starting to show up, which often means the bonito are about ready to move on. Anglers should also start to see some bigger spanish moving in further into May.
A couple of spring kings have been seen skying offshore, so soon they’ll be hitting Drone spoons and big Clarkspoons.
Inshore has still been a bit slower to get going. The red drum are around, but anglers will need to be ready to cover ground to find them. For searching, try topwater plugs.
Black drum are hanging around structure or oysters, with a fresh dead shrimp on the bottom being the best way to entice a bite.
Some anglers have been finding scattered speckled trout action. Most aren’t really targeting the specks, but don’t be surprised to find them in the mix, especially when fishing topwaters early in the day.
Erin Weaver, of Surf City, reeled in this 2.8 lb. sheepshead from the Surf City Pier. The fish bit a fiddler crab.
Mike, of Native Son Guide Service, reports that the nearshore action has really come alive, with Atlantic bonito fishing the best out over areas of nearshore structure.
There aren’t a ton out there, but anglers have run across some citation‑class red drum (40”+) under the bonito.
Spanish mackerel are already showing up, which typically means the bonito will soon move on.
For anglers wanting to put some meat in the box, the black sea bass fishing is still strong.
Inshore anglers have been finding some red drum while fishing docks and banks along the ICW. The action can be hit or miss, with these schools still spooky after a long winter of pressure.
Ricky, of Speckled Specialist Charters, reports that speckled trout fishing is good in the New River, and warmer days are getting the fish more active. The class of trout has been strong, with plenty of fish in the 23-26” range. Topwater plugs are outproducing everything else, and then subsurface lures and soft plastics are the fallback plan. Anglers will do best targeting these trout on shallower shorelines in the 2-6’ range both in the main river and in the bigger creeks.
Red drum are around and cooperating when using the same techniques in the same shallow water spots.
Adam, of Carolina Flats Fishing, reports that anglers have been targeting a class of mid‑slot redfish around docks in the waterway. Cut mullet has been the top producing bait, with spinnerbaits or topwaters also getting strikes.
Bluefish are showing up around the inlets. Anglers will do well with any durable soft‑plastic paddletail rigged on a 1/4 oz. jig head.
Nearshore action has been coming alive with plenty of Atlantic bonito and some spanish mackerel off the beach.
Jim, of Plan 9 Charters, reports that Atlantic bonito have been the best target species. These fish are of quality size, with a healthy average of 4-5 lb. fish around. Trolling Clarkspoons (#0 or #1) behind #1 or #2 planers has been the top tactic for getting fish in the boat.
Bottom fishing for black sea bass is still strong. Plenty of keeper fish are in the 10-20 mile range. They’re feeding on cut squid and hitting Blue Water Candy Roscoe or Shore Lure jigs.
Taylor, of South End Adventures, reports that anglers are finding good numbers of the springtime “snake” king mackerel in the 15-25 mile range and holding on the bigger ledges. Drone spoons and dead bait under sea witches have been working best.
Atlantic bonito fishing has been really good over hard bottoms, ARs, and ledges in the 1-5 mile range. For this bite, a simple but proven #0 Clarkspoon behind a #1 planer will produce action.
Some bluefish are mixed in, and with all these southwest winds, the spanish mackerel will start filling in as well.
For grouper season, anglers can find gag grouper in the 65-85’ range, but some of the bigger gags you will see, along with scamp grouper, will be in the 115-200’ area.
Gene and Kyle, of Surf City, landed this 62″ wahoo on a Fathom lure 50 miles offshore of Topsail Island.
Robin, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that anglers had some really good casting action with Atlantic bonito, as well as all the bluefish you could catch, on Gotcha plugs.
A big “chopper” blue at 9.7 lbs. was landed.
The first spanish mackerel of the year are showing up.
After dark has been when the pier is seeing the best numbers of Virginia mullet and croakers being pulled in.
Vinita, of Surf City Pier, reports that the pier has seen some big “chopper” bluefish moving in, with anglers having success sight‑casting to fish up to 12.8 lbs.
Spanish mackerel have started to show up, and anglers are also seeing some Atlantic bonito around.
Bottom‑fishing anglers are hooking croakers, black drum (to 5 lbs.), sea mullet, and the first pompano of the year.
Tyler, of Seaview Pier, reports that they’ve been having good runs on bluefish, spanish mackerel, and Atlantic bonito on casting jigs and Gotcha plugs.
Anglers fishing bottom rigs are catching numbers of sea mullet, black drum, and some speckled trout.
Those wanting to target king mackerel should make plans to get out on the pier, as the bait has moved in and these kings won’t be far behind, especially with water temperatures already up to 64 degrees.
