Swansboro/Emerald Isle – April 2025
Jerry, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that surf anglers are now seeing a few sea mullet moving in along the beaches. The numbers should start picking up quickly, especially if the weather patterns stay relatively stable.
Not much is being heard about bluefish, but the blues should also show up any time over the next few weeks in better numbers.
Inshore anglers are focused on red drum, and this action has been both in the marshes and up mainland creeks.
Speckled trout are mixed in the action, though the bite and numbers have been slow.
Most boats running offshore are either targeting black sea bass over structure or trolling for wahoo out in the Stream.
Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that the red drum action remains strong, with the fish mostly still holding in their winter school patterns in the shallow marsh bays and back up in mainland creeks. Over the coming weeks, bait will start to show up, and then the red drum will begin to break off into smaller groups and scatter.
When sight-casting to these schools of redfish, anglers are having success with both weedless soft plastics and lightly weighted Carolina rigs tipped with cut mullet.
Black drum are another great target for early spring trips. The tactic is simple: some cut shrimp fished on the bottom around structure such as docks or oyster beds. Areas closer to the inlet tend to be more productive than others.
Anglers will start to have some success catching sea mullet and gray trout in the deeper holes as these fish push inshore during their migration. Cut shrimp on spec rigs will produce bites from both species.
Capt. Drew Witt and crew with wahoo (the heaviest weighing 70 lbs.) caught while high speed trolling 65 miles off of Wrightsville Beach. They were pulling Blue Water Candy lures in 130′ of water.
Matt, of Friendly City Fishing Charters, reports that red drum are still holding in their wintertime schools, and finding a school has been a little hit or miss. These fish seem to be split between the marshes and the surf zone.
Speckled trout are up the White Oak and areas such as Queens Creek, though between a closed season and cooler water, there isn’t much to the bite. Winter tactics are still the name of the game, with MirrOlures or lightly weighted soft plastics fished slow enticing strikes.
Black drum can make for some good action when targeting the inshore hard structures such as docks and bridges with cut shrimp on a Carolina rig.
Jacob, of Southern Tides Fishing Charters, reports that red drum (mid-slot to upper-slot) are still mostly holding in their larger schools. The majority of these fish can be found closer to the inlets as they get ready to transition. The high-falling tide has been best, and throwing smaller paddle tails on weedless hooks helps to avoid the snot grass.
Having dead shrimp on hand is helpful, as there are black drum in structured areas such as oyster holes in creeks and deep-water docks.
Black sea bass fishing out on the nearshore reefs is another good option when favorable weather conditions allow a smooth run.
Scott, of King Mackerel College, reports that when anglers can get offshore, a pretty good wahoo bite has been happening out around the northeast corner of the Big Rock.
Black sea bass fishing remains strong over nearshore structures.
Those same nearshore anglers are keeping an eye out for Atlantic bonito, which could be showing up anytime now. Anglers will have success catching them by live bait fishing and/or trolling Rapala deep diver plugs. With the lures, pink tends to be a popular color option year after year.
Around the same time that the bonito show up, schools of bluefish will be moving in as well.
Kelli and Caden, of Wisconsin, caught these red drum in the Swansboro area using Berkley Gulp shrimp. They were fishing with Capt. Jeff Cronk of Fish’n 4 Life Charters.
John, of Early Riser Fishing Charters, reports that cooler water temperatures still have anglers waiting for the action to pick up in the ocean.
Nearshore, the first few signs of bluefish arriving are happening. In the coming weeks, better numbers should arrive, along with our early spring run of Atlantic bonito.
The offshore bite is slow as boats wait for Gulf Stream water temperatures to warm up for a better chance at targeting wahoo and blackfin tuna.
Inshore trips are seeing the speckled trout action getting better in the creeks. The shallower waters are warming, and topwater plugs are starting to have some real success. All catch and release of course, but the quality in size is getting better as these fish work their way towards the creek mouths.
Lee, of Top Gun Fishing, reports that decent numbers of gray trout are around the local reefs. Jigging with small silver metals will get them to strike.
Anglers are still seeing a good bite on red drum, black drum, and sheepshead on and near hard structures.
Some schools of 3-6 lb. bluefish have been spotted, and the Atlantic bonito will be showing up not far behind them.
The offshore bottom fishing remains strong, with great catches of black sea bass coming off of cut squid.
Mike, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that anglers have had success catching pufferfish and sea mullet. With the cooler water temperatures, bottom fishing will likely remain the top producing tactic.
