OBX/Northern Beaches – March 2025
Cameron, of TW’s Bait and Tackle, reports that surf fishing anglers have seen good catches of puppy drum. The cold water has these fish pushed up really shallow. A few dogfish sharks have also been caught, but the surf action is pretty slow otherwise.
Back in the sound, anglers fishing structure (such as the local bridges) are catching some striped bass and the occasional speckled trout.
Offshore anglers have been focused on bluefin tuna, with large fish (to 500+ lbs.) being caught close to shore.
Moving into March when water temperatures swing up, the sea mullet will start showing up on the beach and puppy drum will get more consistent.
Ben of Salty waters OBX, reports that red drum were pushed up shallow and in numbers on the beachfront in February. The bite has since become spotty from the surf, but some reds are still around.
Red drum have moved in to some areas around the inlet, such as flats and the Coast Guard Station slough. Throwing soft plastics, such as white curly tail Gulps and working them incredibly slow has been the best tactic.
A few (but just a few) trout have been caught off the beach, and some can be found in the backs of creeks in Belhaven and the surrounding areas. For the best chances of a hookup, go with Ned rigs and Z-Man soft plastics, or try the standard twitch baits and suspending lures.
Aaron, of Carolina Sunrise, reports that anglers this winter have seen one of the best bluefin tuna bites in recent years, and these giants should be around through March.
The creeks and rivers on the soundside experienced a significant trout kill, but the fishery is already showing the signs of recovery.
John, of DrumBeat Charters, reports that surf anglers found a good run on puppy drum. With some of the really cold snaps coming through, these fish have been pushing really shallow in the surf where the water temperatures are just slightly warmer. Schools are being found anywhere from Kitty Hawk all the way down to the Bonner Bridge. As long as water temperatures remain low, the reds should hang in the surf until about April when they start to move back into the sounds.
In the coming weeks, some sea mullet should show up off the piers.
There aren’t a bunch of them, but the occasional speckled trout is also in the surf. Anglers looking to catch and release trout are doing best by running over to the western edge of the Pamlico where the action has been better.
Striped bass have been holding on the Mann Harbor and Kitty Hawk bridges. These fish are found by casting bigger soft plastics and working them slowly around the pilings.
Anglers have been on a hot bluefin tuna bite off the Outer Banks from both Oregon Inlet and Hatteras.
March is usually when the area sees the first push of blackfin and yellowfin tuna off the coast. Most of this action will be out in the 40+ mile range.
Pat Hughes, of Avon, NC, landed this bluefin tuna out of Hatteras Inlet trolling horse ballyhoo and a blue and white Ilander. He was fishing with Capt. Jeremy Hicks and Mate Nik Sitterly of Calypso Sportfishing.
Vincent, of Stick Em Fishing Adventures, reports that inshore anglers are finding some action targeting striped bass around the local bridges. The top producing tactic is jigging Z-Man paddle tails rigged on Outer Banks Lure jig heads around the pilings.
Surf anglers saw an awesome run of red drum after the last big cold front moved through. These fish were pushed super shallow and easily accessible to anglers wading and off the piers. The action has slowed a little, but some holes in the surf and pier areas are still holding a few.
Moving into March, anglers look forward to the schools of slot-sized red drum starting to move back onto the flats in the sound. With colder, cleaner water conditions, this provides opportunities for sight-casting popping corks along the edges of these flats to entice strikes. Gold spoons and even topwater plugs will also have their times of success.
As water temperatures warm, the area should also see speckled trout push back in. The same tactics used for red drum will have success, with MirrOlures also producing some strikes.
Jack, of Afishionado Charters, reports that anglers have been on an epic bluefin tuna bite in the area. Larger naked or skirted ballyhoo are doing the trick, with a bunch of fish being found both nearshore and down around the Point towards Hatteras.
Late March is usually when the area starts to see the yellowfin tuna arrive. Pulling ballyhoo remains the top producing tactic for the tuna. These first rounds of fish will be water temperature dependent, so early season anglers should be on the lookout for the Gulf Stream change.
McKayla, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that anglers have had some good successes catching big bluefin tuna (600+ lbs.).
Moving into March, not much should change offshore until the yellowfin tuna start to arrive.
Meredith, of Pirate’s Cove Marina, reports that there has been some huge bluefin tuna (114” and 700+ lbs.) caught recently. Overall, it’s been a great bluefin season, and anglers expect these fish to stick around right up until the yellowfin tuna run starts.
Joe, of Avalon Pier, reports that water temperatures are really cold, and the overall action has been slow.
Earlier in February, the area did see a really good puppy drum run, as schools of these fish pushed really shallow for those fishing from the pier and the beach.
