Wrightsville Beach – September 2025
Jack, of Tex’s Tackle, reports that local pier anglers are seeing decent numbers of red drum being caught with live mullet, and a few large tarpon have been caught by those live baiting off the end.
Surf anglers have seen most of their success while bottom fishing, with spot, croakers, and whiting all in the mix.
The flatfish are all over the inshore waters. Live bait or soft plastics on 1/4 oz. jig heads are all that’s needed to entice a strike.
Speckled trout fishing is picking up as temperatures cool down. Live shrimp is always a great bait choice for the trout, and throwing topwater plugs early is another productive tactic.
Big sheepshead are being caught around docks and other hard structure in the ICW.
Off the beach, the spanish mackerel have started to make their late summer return in conjunction with all the glass minnows and mullet moving into the ocean. It’s been a good sign to see this 2-3 lb. class of fish as the area just starts to move into fall.
Eva Barri, of Wilmington, landed this red drum near the Wrightsville Beach jetties on a live pinfish.
Dylan, of Intracoastal Angler, reports that red drum have been the most consistent inshore target, with anglers having a lot of success fishing live or cut mullet around docks and deeper holes along the shoreline.
A few speckled trout have been showing up for anglers getting on the water at sunrise or right at sunset. Topwater plugs have been producing most of the bites.
Live bait (mullet or menhaden) fished around docks or creek mouths is a great setup to hook a heavy flatfish.
Nearshore anglers are finding that the spanish mackerel have shown back up. The typical summertime Clarkspoon-and-planer combo is still best, with anglers keeping an eye out for birds to better locate the schools. Bluefish are mixed in as well.
Further off the beach, king mackerel fishing remains slow.
Scattered mahi are being caught in the 20-35 mile range by those pulling ballyhoo.
Bottom fishing remains a bright spot for heading off the beach. The deeper areas (100-110’+) are holding scamp grouper and plenty of vermilion snapper.
Runs to the Gulf Stream have been few and far between, with some wahoo and a handful of blackfin tuna to show for it. Wahoo fishing, in particular, should really start to ramp up as we near the end of September.
Luke, of Coastline Fishing Charters, reports that anglers have started to do fairly well on speckled trout. The trout are being found staged up in some of their typical early fall areas. Most are still smaller (18-20”), and they’re being caught with topwater plugs and a variety of shrimp artificials or jerk baits. Early mornings are best if targeting the trout.
Red drum are being found around oyster bars and boat docks. Topwater plugs are generating action, but fishing cut or live bait is really the most productive way to entice bites.
Sheepshead fishing has picked back up with the cooling temperatures. Fish fiddler crabs around pilings and other hard structure.
Off the beach, some spanish mackerel are along the beach, and it’s close to the time when a live bait will produce the bigger fish.
A couple of keeper red drum (mid to upper-slot) are holding around the jetties, especially when there’s NE winds.
Pierre, of Rising Sun Fishing, reports that red drum have been the main focus. A lot of over-slot fish are coming from around the inlet, and it’s also best to focus on areas holding a bunch of mullet. Keeper redfish are also on the flats and around oysters in the creeks.
Off the beach, spanish mackerel (to 3 lbs.) are making a good showing. Anglers are capitalizing on sight-casting to busting schools.
Flounder are plentiful in the area. Rigging a jig head with a live mullet and fishing it around docks, grass lines, or oysters is a solid gameplan.
Topwater fishing around creek mouths, if out on the water in the early morning, is producing speckled trout.
George Hough, of Winston Salem, caught (and released) this 8′ tiger shark from the surf on Figure Eight Island using a cut bluefish.
Victor, of Carolina Charters, reports that the red drum action has been great, with mostly slot-sized fish being caught. The majority of success is coming from cut mullet fished around docks in the ICW, and moving around has been key. Bounce around, snag 1-2 fish, and then move on to the next dock.
The sheepshead and black drum bite has been the most reliable bite. Anglers targeting sheepshead are finding a bunch of smaller fish around, and as the water cools down, the larger sheepshead will show back up.
Black drum are running mostly in the 18-24” range.
Ben, of Southern Run Fishing Charters, reports that trips out to the 20-30 range have been producing some scattered mahi and the oddly rare king mackerel.
The larger wrecks in this range are holding amberjacks, barracuda, and the occasional cobia.
Runs to the Gulf Stream are starting to find that wahoo are showing up a little bit better in the 200’+ areas. Spots like the Same Ol’ have been the most productive.
Some blackfin tuna are mixed in the action through this same range and over areas such as the Steeples.
Along the beachfronts, spanish mackerel are showing up in better numbers in the 20-40’ range.
Brian, of Johnnie Mercers Pier, reports that anglers fishing with live finger mullet are catching puppy drum and flounder.
Small pieces of shrimp, sand fleas, or artificial bait strips are producing whiting.
Some spanish mackerel (to 3.5 lbs.) are starting to show up.
