Southport/Oak Island – April 2025
Angie, of Dutchman Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that surf fishing is starting to kick off now that whiting have begun to move into the area.
Typically, mixed in with the early whiting are bluefish and pufferfish.
Inshore anglers are catching red and black drum around structure. Both species, along with some speckled trout, should scatter around and become more active as the water temperatures come up.
Josh, of Oak Island Sporting Goods, reports that surf and pier anglers have seen action pick up, with catches of nicer-sized whiting and a bunch of blow toads.
From the piers, some smaller bluefish and black drum are also being hooked.
Inshore anglers remain focused on red drum and black drum, but both of these species are mostly still in their winter patterns.
Black sea bass action has been strong in the 15-30 mile range, with both good numbers of fish and good sizes.
The offshore efforts have mostly been for wahoo, and that Gulf Stream action should only get better as those waters continue to warm up.
Hunter, of Dockside Fishing Charters, reports that red drum are still in wintertime patterns, but the arrival of some smaller pogies in the area should signal that those schools are about to start breaking up.
Fishing docks with Carolina-rigged dead shrimp or fiddler crabs can be a simple but productive tactic this time of year. This setup should produce both black drum and red drum. A mid to falling tide is helpful in pushing fish into holes around the docks.
Speckled trout are still holding in their wintering areas, but as water temperatures push into the upper 50s, these fish will start to move out.
The nearshore action should start picking up shortly, with anglers looking for Atlantic bonito (hoping to see a good run like last year).
A bunch of black sea bass are around and over nearshore structure. The shallower you are, the more shorts there will be to work through.
Justin Nowak, of Southport, landed this striped bass in the Cape Fear River trolling Shad Raps.
Zane, of Falling Tide Fishing Adventures, reports that anglers have been finding most of the red drum and black drum to be holding in their same winter patterns. If the area stays on a warmer trend, the fish will begin to move out of their larger schools in the creeks and scatter throughout the marshes more.
Nearshore action should be picking up anytime now, with false albacore moving in over structure.
Steve, of Reel Em Up Charters, reports that red drum action has been steady, with fish still holding in larger schools in the backs of creeks. As the warming trend continues, these fish will move out in smaller groups and scatter throughout the waterways.
Black drum fishing has been getting a lot better. Anglers are still finding them in their same winter structured areas, but they seem more active in their feeding patterns.
Nearshore anglers will still be waiting another month or so before spanish mackerel start to show up in numbers worth targeting.
Wally, of Oak Island Fishing Charters, reports that anglers really haven’t seen much change over the last month as a result of cooler offshore water temperatures and up/down air temperatures. When a window pops up, Gulf Stream runs are producing blackfin tuna and wahoo.
The black sea bass bite has been the most reliable action when heading out of the inlet. This action will continue until the other nearshore species arrive.
A few whiting have started to show up around the inlets, and this could be a good sign that they will be showing up in better numbers any day now.
Henry and David Boyle, of England, caught this red drum in the Cape Fear River using a Gulp shrimp. They were fishing with Capt. Zane Long of Falling Tide Fishing Adventures.
Ryan, of Fugitive Charters, reports that black sea bass remain the top target as the area awaits warmer water temperatures to move in along the beach. Anglers are having a bunch of success finding jumbo-sized fish in the 60-80’ area.
Scattered whiting are starting to show up along the beaches, and in the coming weeks, they should start to stack up in deeper holes around the inlet and river mouths.
Nearshore action remains slow with the cold water still pushed in. Hopefully, by the middle of April, anglers will see some bluefish and Atlantic bonito around.
Offshore conditions are in the same transition period as we await warmer water to arrive. Those who grab onto a favorable weather window to make a run to the Gulf Stream can find blackfin tuna and scattered wahoo.
Troy, of Ocean Crest Pier, reports that during this last run of nice weather, anglers saw catches of croaker, pufferfish, and big rays.
Some whiting are showing up, even though most of these first catches have been a smaller class of fish.
A few bluefish have also been hooked.
David, of Oak Island Pier, reports that bottom fishing remains the top tactic, with recent catches including croakers and small whiting.
