OBX/Northern Beaches – April 2025
Ward, of TW’s Bait and Tackle, reports that most of the surf catches have been dogfish sharks and skates, with some puppy drum also showing up down around the inlet.
If the area can stay on this warmer trend, the action should change quickly, with sea mullet and puffers soon to arrive, along with more puppy drum.
Soundside anglers are starting to have some success targeting red drum with both cut baits and soft plastic grubs.
No reports yet, but this is the time that anglers begin to see some black drum being caught at the Oregon Inlet Bridge, with sheepshead not far behind.
Offshore anglers are just about wrapping up the bluefin tuna bite. The next big target species will be yellowfin tuna, as they show up sometime in April before peaking in May and June.
Aaron, of Carolina Sunrise Charters, reports that as these water temperatures keep ticking up, the speckled trout are starting to move out of the backs of creeks.
Anglers are just beginning to find some black drum around inshore structure closer to the inlets.
The nearshore action is slow, with most boats awaiting the schools of big red drum to make a showing
Surf anglers are seeing better signs of life now that puppy drum are showing up on the shallow beaches for those rigged with cut mullet. They are also catching plenty of dogfish sharks with the same cut baits.
Ben, of Salty Waters OBX, reports that anglers have mostly been focused on the red drum bite in the surf, as these schools are just starting to work back inside. Gulp soft plastics on 1/4 or 1/2 oz. jig heads have been the top bait choice.
Soundside, there are a few bluefish around, but overall fishing is off to a slower start this year. After a super cold winter, patterns are looking to be a couple weeks behind, as by now the area is usually seeing speckled trout and red drum.
Capt. Aaron Beatson, of Carolina Sunrise Charters, hooked this red drum in the Oregon Inlet area using a piece of cut mullet.
Vincent, of Stick Em Fishing Adventures, reports that red drum have started showing up on flats inside the inlet. Anglers can get strikes by fishing a variety of gold spoons, soft plastics (either under corks or on jig heads), and cut baits.
Speckled trout are still relatively non-existent so far. Hopefully, this is more due to the fish holding in their wintering areas and not a result of the winter fish kill.
Down in Hatteras, bluefish are starting to show up, so any time now, the blues will be pushing into the NOBX area.
John, of Drumbeat Charters, reports that with water temperatures in the surf zone starting to pick up, the puppy drum action is becoming a little more consistent. Plenty of dogfish sharks are around as well.
Nearshore waters remain fairly cold and slow as anglers await those big schools of red drum to show up down south.
Inshore anglers are finally finding that the speckled trout are making some movement in creeks off the Pamlico, and in the coming weeks, the trout should start moving back into the sound.
Offshore anglers are still seeing an odd bluefin tuna around. Next to show up offshore are yellowfin tuna and better numbers of blackfin tuna.
Jack, of Afishionado Charters, reports that bluefin tuna remain the top action. Trolling ballyhoo or throwing poppers and jigs to schools has had some outstanding production.
Anglers are looking forward to transitioning their bait and gear towards the yellowfin tuna as we move into April. Smaller gear and more rods focused out in the Gulf Stream is how this action will be happening.
Hopefully, the fleet could also start to see a trickle of mahi towards the end of April.
McKayla, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that bluefin tuna season was a huge success this year, and a bunch of giant fish are still around. As this action dwindles down in the coming weeks, anglers are looking forward to yellowfin tuna moving in.
Mixed in the trolling efforts will be blackfin tuna.
Inshore anglers are finding a few red drum while targeting the flats around the inlet.
Betsy East, of Fairfax, VA, caught this 25″ speckled trout in the Neuse River using a Saltwater Assassin swim bait. She was fishing with Capt. Brad Smith of Gunny B Outdoors.
Meredith, of Pirate’s Cove Marina, reports that the spring tuna bite is right around the corner. As weather settles down, boats should start seeing yellowfins and mixed blackfins hitting the docks.
Anglers are still finding bluefin tuna, though water temperatures should push them along very shortly.
The nearshore action is still slow with the cooler water.
Inshore anglers are finding a handful of red drum.
Kristie, of Avalon Pier, reports that with water temperatures are still cold, shad are making up most of the catches.
The action should change in April as more species push into the area.
Paul, of Bob’s Bait and Tackle, reports that the surf water temperatures are still a little cool. For now, anglers have been able to catch dogfish sharks and a few scattered bluefish.
Anglers who make the drive to Hatteras Island, and Ocracoke especially, have been catching some red drum.
Moving into April, the northern beaches will see sea mullet, red drum, and more consistent numbers of bluefish.
Soundside action around the inlet is beginning to fire off as more drum push inshore and speckled trout start moving back from their wintering holes.
While offshore anglers had a great bluefin tuna bite this winter, most boats are now gearing up for yellowfin tuna.
