Wrightsville Beach – May 2026
Tex, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that the Atlantic bonito fishing in the area has been excellent anywhere from the Liberty Ship out to the 5‑mile range. Though anglers are finding action while trolling Clarkspoons and planers, many are preferring casting tactics, with a variety of jigs producing well.
Spanish mackerel are moving up the beach as water temperatures rise.
Offshore anglers are catching wahoo and some blackfin tuna. There’s no real word on mahi yet, but it likely won’t be long until that changes.
King mackerel anglers are catching some fish in the 30-35 mile range.
Back inshore, red drum have been scattered around docks in the ICW, and a bunch of sheepshead have been caught.
Surf and pier anglers have been landing some good‑sized whiting on sand fleas. Bluefish are also mixed into the surf action, with most being a smaller class of fish.
Ben, of Intracoastal Angler, reports that inshore anglers have been finding the red drum bite picking up as these fish have mostly broken out of their large wintertime schools and scattered across the shallow flats to feed. Throwing weedless‑rigged soft plastics, shrimp‑imitation lures, and Z‑Man baits are all having their times of success.
Speckled trout action has started to pick up in the Cape Fear River and around the Carolina Beach Inlet. Anglers are focusing efforts around spoil islands from about mid‑river on south, with any variety of D.O.A. or Z‑Man soft plastics enticing bites. Early mornings and evenings have been key windows.
Some sheepshead have been caught on mud crabs and fiddler crabs.
Surf anglers are seeing a mixed bag that includes sea mullet, bluefish, and some red drum.
Atlantic bonito action is going strong off the beach. Trolling will hook fish, but most anglers prefer casting 1 oz. jigs. The first spanish mackerel of the year are also showing up for those sight‑casting jigs.
Farther off the beach, black sea bass fishing has been good, with the best bite now out in the 23‑mile range, and king mackerel are in that same 20-25 mile zone.
Blackfin tuna fishing has been solid in the Steeples area, with skirted ballyhoo being the main producer. Favorite colors vary, but blue/white and pink/crystal patterns remain reliable. This same range is also producing a few wahoo and sailfish.
Zachary Daniel and Jared Winters, of Wilmington, caught these bonito offshore of Wrightsville Beach on Spanish Candy jigs.
Pierre, of Rising Sun Fishing, reports that Atlantic bonito have been the hot bite, with good‑sized fish all over, plenty of bait around, and fish feeding both sub‑surface and on top under birds. Casting 1 oz. jigs is preferred, but trolling will also put fish in the boat. If trolling, try to get your bait down 8-20’.
Spanish mackerel are showing up, and the hope is to see the bigger fish move in in early May. In addition, all the bluefish you want are shallow along the beaches.
Inshore, some red drum are around, with topwaters being the best way to locate fish. The added benefit to topwater plugs is keeping off the snot grass that is still on the bottom. Some speckled trout are mixed into the topwater bite, especially for anglers out early.
Sheepshead are now moving in and can be caught with mud crabs or fiddler crabs. Fishing on the bottom around rocks and pilings is also producing scattered black drum.
Victor, of Carolina Charters, reports that the red and black drum action has been picking up. Some days can be hit or miss, but fresh bottom‑rigged baits (cut mullet, shrimp, or crabs) remain the best options for enticing strikes.
Sheepshead are starting to push back inshore. The numbers aren’t big yet, and most are the early smaller fish, but that should change quickly. Fresh shrimp or crabs are the best options.
Bluefish have been showing up in good numbers inside, and they’re hitting paddletail baits in the creeks and around the inlets.
Cole, of Island Guides, reports that nearshore anglers are seeing good numbers of bonito and spanish mackerel moving in, along with plenty of bluefish. The most success is coming from casting 1 oz. Big Nic Spanish Candies or First Flight Lures bonito jigs.
Inshore, some mullet and menhaden are showing up. With bait activity picking up, there will be an improved bite on red drum and flounder, especially around structure such as oyster beds or docks. If fishing artificials, a Z-Man DieZel MinnowZ is one of the top producers, while a mud minnow or piece of cut mullet either Carolina-rigged or on a 1/4 oz jig head will also do the trick.
Doug Kaminskas and Patrick Horning, of Wilmington, with a citation wahoo caught at the Steeples on a skirted ballyhoo.
Rick, of Living Waters Guide Service, reports that targeting blackfin tuna with jigging and popping techniques has been very productive. Most of the tuna efforts are focused on fishing rocks out in the 200-350’ range. African pompano fishing has been a bit hit or miss, but plenty are around when the bite is on.
Some scattered mahi and a few wahoo are in this same range, with both species mostly coming while trolling. Anglers targeting these gaffer‑sized fish (10-15+ lbs.) should be sure to pay attention to water temperatures when choosing areas to target.
If out deeper (100+ fathoms), the billfish bite is picking up for both sailfish and blue marlin. Bottom fishing trips are seeing yelloweye snapper, triggerfish, and vermilion snapper.
Grouper season opens in May, and this will bring the opportunity to put some scamp and gag grouper in the boat.
Matt, of Johnnie Mercers Pier, reports that the pier already saw its first king mackerel of the year—and it was a big one at 48 lbs.
For most anglers, it has been all about the bluefish, with casting Gotcha plugs as the hot ticket. Some bigger bluefish (to 7+ lbs.) are mixed in.
A couple of smaller spanish mackerel are showing up. They are mixed into the casting bite, but the spanish are in lower numbers than the bluefish.
Bottom fishing is heating up, with some early‑season pompano mixing in with sea mullet and the occasional spot.
