Morehead/Atlantic Beach – April 2025
Frank, of Chasin’ Tails, reports that anglers are seeing some sheepshead move in around structure (such and jetties, rocks, and bridges). Dead shrimp has been the top bait choice since fiddler crabs are still buried in the mud.
These shrimp-rigged setups are also producing catches of black drum on the same structures, and good action on black drum and sheepshead can also be found out at the Cape Lookout jetty.
Surf anglers have started catching sea mullet. The sea mullet aren’t in the Port yet, which means the bigger numbers are still to come.
Red drum action has been steady inshore, with the fish getting a bit more active and striking at soft plastic paddle tails. Anything with chartreuse has been working well.
A few speckled trout are around, but they are mostly still back in their winter areas.
Out on the nearshore wrecks, anglers are seeing good catches of black sea bass.
Some gray trout have started to show up around the Port but not yet on the ARs.
Atlantic bonito and bluefish are due in the area any time now.
Offshore trolling efforts are likely to produce blackfin tuna and some wahoo.
Bottom fishing out deep is hooking vermilion snapper and triggerfish, along with catches of black sea bass.
Joe, of Carolina Traditions Guide Co., reports that sight-casting to red drum is all about working the bays slowly and stealthy, as well as making long casts to avoid spooking them. Natural or scented baits (such as shrimp, Gulp soft plastics lightly weighted or weedless, and Fish Bites) are producing the best strikes. Pro-Cure is another helpful tool if using artificials.
Some black drum are being caught around docks, bridges, and oyster structure. Bait shrimp will produce best for the black drum.
Off the beach, black sea bass continue to be a reliable target over nearshore structure.
Liam Calabria, of Raleigh, landed this 30”, 10 lb. bluefish offshore of Cape Lookout using a metal jig.
Daniel, of On Deck Fishing Charters, reports that nearshore anglers continue to focus on bottom fishing, with black sea bass as the most reliable target when fishing areas in 60’+.
Bluefish numbers should pop up any day now, with anglers hoping to get a nice run on Atlantic bonito around the same time.
Good-sized gray trout should start showing in better numbers over structure within 5 miles of the beach, with schools also pushing into the inlets and staging in deeper holes.
Sea mullet action should really be kicking off anytime now in the Port area. Both the sea mullet and gray trout can be caught with bottom-rigged shrimp in these deeper areas.
Red drum are holding in their winter schools and can be targeted on calmer days by sight casting to them.
Chris, of Mount Maker Charters, reports that the water temperature moving up will be bringing schools of Atlantic bonito over the nearshore structures. These shallow reefs will also hold larger gray trout for those looking to do some jigging.
A little further out, structure in the 60-80’ range has a larger class of black sea bass.
Once out in 100’+, better numbers of vermilion snapper, grunts, and triggerfish are coming up.
Gulf Stream runs are seeing scattered wahoo and blackfin tuna. Wahoo, in particular, should really start to get better as water temperatures warm.
When the weather isn’t cooperating, action can be found inside. Black drum, sheepshead, and scattered red drum can be caught with bottom rigged baits in structured areas. Docks, holes near oyster beds, and bridges are good areas to target.
Justin, of Breakday Charters, reports that blackfin tuna and wahoo are the top targets until the mahi show up later in the spring.
Bottom fishing makes for good action when getting out into the 80-100’+ range, including jumbo black sea bass, vermilion snapper, grunts, and triggerfish.
Atlantic bonito and bluefish usually make their first showing over the shallower structures off the beach. These same nearshore reefs will be holding large gray trout, which are caught on both jigs and shrimp.
Anglers will also see gray trout and sea mullet pushing inshore and staging up in deeper holes from the inlet back into the Port area.
Pat Clougherty, of Raleigh, caught this 22″ red drum near a dock in the ICW behind Morehead City. He was using fresh shrimp.
Byron, of Going Bogue Outdoors, reports that vermilion and triggerfish are around, but the bite has been a bit tricky due to the currents. Both species seem to have better numbers out deeper (120-180’).
Water temperatures in the Gulf Stream have been picking up (to around 75 degrees), with both wahoo and blackfin now feeding better.
Jason, of Ali-Kat Sportfishing, reports that with cooler water temperatures abundant near the beach, bottom fishing has been a reliable way to produce meat. Boats are still seeing a bunch of larger black sea bass in shallow, with deeper areas (100’+) also producing mixed vermilion snapper, triggerfish, and grunts.
The nearshore action has been slow, though any time now schools of bluefish will be moving in.
Gulf Stream temperatures are starting to slowly pick up, and the wahoo bite should be getting better as we move into April. Blackfin tuna, which stay in our area almost year-round, are mixed in the action.
Cody, of Reel Time Charters, reports that offshore water temperatures have been pretty cold, but anglers look forward to blackfin tuna and wahoo action picking up in the Gulf Stream with the warming temperatures.
Bottom fishing remains strong, with good numbers of jumbo black sea bass holding shallow and vermilion snapper holding deeper.
Over the coming weeks, king mackerel will work their way in.
Bri, of Oceanana Pier, reports that rays have made up a lot of the action from the pier.
Water temperatures are moving up across the area, and with these changes, anglers are starting to see sea mullet, pufferfish, and dogfish sharks mixed in.
