Pamlico/Neuse River – March 2025
Donald, of Custom Marine Fabrication, reports that anglers have been finding some speckled trout (25”+).
It’s pretty remarkable, but some red drum (to 30”) have been caught in the lower Neuse.
The annual shad run is just starting, with anglers targeting these fish further up the Neuse River where the waters are narrower and condense these schools into a tighter area. Pick up some Jimmy D’s shad rigs and tie them up on ultra-light tackle setups (with 4-6 lb. test line) to hook into these hard-fighting fish.
The striped bass action remains steady, as these fish are resilient in the cooler temperatures. In the coming weeks, the area will see more migrating fish showing up in better numbers and starting to move upriver with the shad. Some of the 20-30” fish being caught have sea lice, showing that they came in from saltier waters.
Brad, of Gunny B Outdoors, reports that most anglers are targeting striped bass since the speckled trout are having such a rough winter. The trout are becoming more active, though, and are feeding better in some of the same areas for targeting stripers.
A nice class of striped bass (9-12 lbs.) are being caught. Anglers can find these fish both around structure in the creeks and around deep ledges or bridges.
For both stripers and trout, Zoom Flukes in gold flake or chartreuse color patterns have worked well.
Other action coming up in March is the shad bite. Shad can be targeted upriver with smaller baits such as shad darts or crappie jigs on super light rods.
Dave, of Pamlico Pirate Charters, reports that the focus has been on striped bass fishing, with most of the action being found from the ferry line up past the railroad trestles on the Neuse (or up into the Trent River). Anglers will do well targeting stump areas and docks with swim baits or Alabama rigs. Once water temperatures are a little over 50 degrees, the quicker retrieved baits (such as chatterbaits) will also have success.
Speckled trout are still around, though colder water temperatures have them lethargic.
March is a great time to head down into the lower Neuse. Anglers can target areas closer to the inlet (such as Cedar Island) and focus on the schools of slot-sized red drum that’ll be moving in from the ocean. D.O.A. swim baits have a lot of success in this fishery.
Mike Lynn, of Winston Salem, landed this slot red drum using a Gulp shrimp under a popping cork. He was fishing with Capt. Brad Smith of Gunny B Outdoors.
Gary, of Spec Fever Guide Service, reports that anglers are focusing on the striped bass bite as the fish get ready to spawn. The stripers are staging up around and just above New Bern before pushing upriver. The top tactic is to be working soft plastics over ledges where the river bends. On the warmer afternoons, topwater plugs and hard jerk baits are also having success.
The Hickory shad bite has already been kicking off, with some pretty thick schools of fish working their way up the Neuse.
In the backs of creeks, anglers are having success catching red drum and some speckled trout. Both of these species will likely continue to hold in these areas as they wait for water temperatures to warm up before moving out.
Allen, of East Side Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers are having mixed success targeting speckled trout in the backs of creeks, mostly in the deeper holes.
Some striped bass are being caught around the Washington area and upriver from there. Anglers are mostly targeting the deeper, structured areas.
Shad are slowly beginning their spring spawning pattern. As the bite gets going, most of this action is centered upriver (closer to Greenville).
As long as the area has stable weather patterns, the speckled trout should become more active as they move out of their wintering areas.
Mitchell, of FishIBX, reports that anglers are beginning to focus on the shad bite that is already starting to kick off. Anglers can target these hard-fighting fish anywhere from Chocowinity up into the Tar River system.
Some striped bass are around, but it’s still early for most anglers to target them.
Maria Cox, of Floyd, VA, caught this 24.5″ speckled trout in the Belhaven area using a minnow.
Zach, of UFO Fishing Charters, reports that speckled trout are still around, with most anglers seeing a lot of smaller fish being caught. Most of the trout are being found well back in the creeks where they typically hold up in these colder months.
Around Washington, anglers are seeing the striped bass starting to stage up around the larger creek mouths and structure as they prepare to push upriver and spawn. Larger Z-Man soft plastics and Rat-L-Traps do well for working the deeper holes.
Grey, of Hyde Guides, reports that anglers getting out on warmer weather days have been finding some speckled trout.
Coming up in March, the sight-casting action for red drum begins. These fish will be moving onto flats in the sound, and they can be targeted with soft plastics or gold spoons. If you can’t spot them, anglers can also have success blind casting spinnerbaits.
Getting towards the end of March and into April, the striped bass action up in the lower Roanoke River kicks off. Anglers can have a lot of success targeting structure and ledges with soft plastics.
With calm days to make the run out, anglers could also target tautogs, black drum, and sheepshead around some of the deeper inshore structures.
Gaston, of Kingfisher Charters, reports that moving into March, the speckled trout action should be picking up in the backs of creeks. Anglers like to see temperatures hit about 55 degrees and above before the bigger female fish start to move. Smaller 3” Z-Man MinnowZ on 1/8 oz. jig heads are working well when targeting the shallower holes (3-7’) in the backs of creeks, and topwater plugs have success when water temperatures reach the 55-65 degree range.
