Topsail/Sneads Ferry – September 2026
Joe, of East Coast Sports, reports that anglers getting out on the surf and piers have been catching spanish mackerel and bluefish with a variety of casting jigs. The early morning bite has been best.
Anglers fishing live baits on the end of the piers have caught a few tarpon and cobia, but they are still waiting for the fall king mackerel bite to begin.
Nearshore anglers are having a lot of success with spanish mackerel and bluefish. Trolling Clarkspoons will definitely put fish in the boat, though there are plenty of chances to sight cast to the surface-feeding schools.
A ton of sharks are off the beach.
A few nearshore mahi are pushed in and really scattered.
Inshore, red drum and some speckled trout are being caught by anglers fishing both live and artificial baits around structure and grass banks. The key is to be out early or late in the day, as that avoids the mid-day heat that makes fish sluggish.
Flounder are all over the place.
Mike, of Native Son Guide Service, reports that the red drum bite has been steady when fishing docks and creek mouths. Start the day early by throwing topwater plugs and bouncing around to find pockets of fish. As the sun rises, fish deeper and slow down the presentation (if jigging), or start fishing natural bait (live or cut).
The occasional speckled trout is being caught.
Flounder are scattered around in deeper holes near structure or against grass banks.
Off the beach, anglers are starting to see a better class of spanish mackerel (3+ lbs.), but high numbers of smaller fish (to 12”+) are around as well.
The nearshore structures are holding plenty of black sea bass in the 15-18” range (after picking through the shorts). Some grunts and the occasional grouper are in the same areas.
King mackerel are still further offshore, but they should be in the 50’+ range soon.
Brendan Webb, of OH, caught this 20 lb. scamp grouper offshore of Topsail Island on a live menhaden.
Ray, of Spring Tide Guide Service, reports that spanish mackerel are around, but the sizes and numbers seem to vary by the hour. Typically, pushing out a little deeper and fishing over live bottom has provided a better quality of fish.
Red drum fishing has remained consistent. A few more schools are moving in that fall in the over-slot range (28-32”). These over-slot drum are definitely not staying in one area, so expect them to be gone from wherever you left them the day before.
Anglers up in the river are seeing some red drum that have moved in from the ocean. Be sure to fish early or late as the mid-day bite can be really sluggish.
Ricky, of Speckled Specialist Charters, reports that red drum are scattered all around, with most of the redfish being found in smaller groups around a little structure (such as oysters and docks) or other shoreline breaks (such as grass points and ledges).
The numbers on speckled trout might not be anything crazy, and they vary trip to trip, but the quality of fish is strong.
Flounder season opening up should be a nice bonus as flatfish are all over the place.
Adam, of Carolina Flats Fishing, reports that the mullet are thick inshore, and the flounder have been going wild. Anglers are finding a great class of 20-24” fish. Plenty of flatfish can also be caught over structure off the beach. A live mullet works great, but usually the aggressive, smaller black sea bass will get to those baits fast. Try fishing a 1 oz. bucktail with Gulp curly tails or similar soft plastic trailers.
Most of the inshore red drum action is in the morning hours with topwater plugs, and the summer conditions are really too hot to be spending any time targeting speckled trout.
Elleck Pittman, of Richlands, with a 34″ red drum caught in the Sneads Ferry area on a live finger mullet.
Jim, of Plan 9 Charters, reports that while gag grouper need to be released, plenty of vermilion snapper, porgies, and black sea bass are around.
The mahi are scattered about nearshore as a result of hot water from the beach on out to the break.
King mackerel are spread out in small numbers from the beach to 20 miles, and schools of false albacore are popping up.
Spanish mackerel fishing near the beach remains consistent. Trolling is best for putting numbers in the boat.
Taylor, of South End Adventures, reports that getting out into the 45-50’ range and fishing over those hard bottom areas has been producing some bigger spanish.
Anglers are starting to find more consistent signs of king mackerel in the 8-12 mile area, and this range (10-20 miles) has seen smaller mahi mixed in.
Bottom fishing is producing some of the most reliable action, with catch-and-release gag grouper starting in the 8-20 mile range. Also in the nearshore bottom mix are healthy black sea bass and grunts.
Robin, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that spanish mackerel and bluefish have been a bit hit-or-miss for anglers rigged up with plugs ready to sight cast at surface-feeding schools. The early morning and late afternoon hours are when fish can best be found on top.
Bottom fishing efforts have produced a mix of red drum, black drum, Virginia mullet, speckled trout, and the occasional pompano.
With flounder season open, anglers are looking forward to finally not having to throw back that keeper fish.
Vinita, of Surf City Pier, reports that bottom fishing action has remained a good option, with catches of black drum, pompano, and croakers.
Being out in the early morning or evening hours has produced some speckled trout.
Anglers throwing Gotcha plugs and other casting jigs are hooking spanish mackerel.
