Topsail/Sneads Ferry – April 2025
Jerry, of East Coast Sports, reports that inshore anglers remain focused on targeting red drum and black drum as we await warmer water temperatures to break them out of winter patterns.
Nearshore action is still slow, as anglers keep an eye out for bluefish and Atlantic bonito to show up.
Black sea bass fishing has been a bright spot for those looking to run the boat, with plenty of action to be found in the 10-15+ mile range.
Anglers making the Gulf Stream run are finding scattered (but nicer-sized) wahoo and blackfin tuna as those offshore temperatures continue to creep upwards.
Mike, of Native Son Guide Service, reports that water temperatures have finally started getting into the upper 50s (low 60s in the creeks) and spring action is just about to kick off.
Nearshore anglers have found some gray trout around the hard bottoms and structure while jigging Stingsilvers.
Black sea bass are holding in the same nearshore areas, but they are more likely to hit cut bait.
Red drum action inside is becoming more lively, with topwater plugs finally getting some attention and blow-ups in the backs of creeks. Red drum are staged around some of the docks and oyster points, as the larger wintertime schools start to break up. A bunch of the snot grass is still around, so soft plastics need to be lightly weighted or anglers need to present lures in some other way that keeps them off the bottom.
A couple of speckled trout are around, though most anglers are seeing only smaller-sized fish.
Black drum are mixed in around the docks and holes that have nearby oysters.
Jason Crabtree, of Pittsboro, caught this 67 lb. wahoo while 20 miles offshore of New River Inlet using a live cigar minnow.
Ray, of Spring Tide Guide Service, reports that red and black drum action has been decent as the area moves into spring. The best tactic has been to target docks and oyster structure with dead shrimp fished on the bottom. Soon, the water temperatures will start to break these schools up, and the bite will become more active towards artificials.
Red drum are in the marsh bays, but they are pretty spooky after seeing a couple months of pressure.
Most anglers aren’t targeting speckled trout, but some specks can be caught with soft plastics in the backs of mainland creeks.
Nearshore anglers look forward to Atlantic bonito showing up any day.
Ricky, of Speckled Specialist Charters, reports that speckled trout fishing has been consistently good with water temperatures warming up. Most of the efforts are focused on creek mouths and nearby main riverbanks, as the trout are now moving away from their wintering areas. Jerk baits such as the Slicks and Slick Jr’s in a pink or peppermint color pattern have had the most success, and with the warming water temperatures, topwater plugs are also about to produce some good action.
Moving into April, start looking more towards the riverbanks and oyster “highways” installed in the New River for target areas.
Jim, of Plan 9 Charters, reports that anglers should be getting set up and ready for when the Atlantic bonito show up. Water temperatures are still a little cool, but they are only a couple degrees away from when the area typically sees this bite fire up over the nearshore structures.
Bottom fishing is producing the most reliable action. Larger black sea bass are plentiful and can still be found relatively shallow, but pushing out to the 20-mile range does give the advantage of fishing less targeted areas and kicking out a better mix of grunts and vermilion snapper.
Joe, of Atlantic Sportfishing, reports that action is slowly starting to pick up for both blackfin tuna and wahoo out in the Gulf Stream. In typical winter fashion, finding a nice weather window remains the biggest battle that anglers face.
Black sea bass fishing continues to be a great way to fill up on meat, as these fish are still staged shallow with the colder water temperatures.
Bottom dropping at some of the deeper offshore structure (80-100’+) is producing triggerfish and vermilion snapper.
Nearshore action should start kicking off any time now, with Atlantic bonito the first to show up over shallow structure.
Will Lombardo, of Surf City, caught this red drum in the ICW behind Surf City using cut mullet.
Robin, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that anglers have been seeing some catches of sea mullet and pufferfish.
With favorable weather patterns, some red drum will also start being caught.
Vinita, of Surf City Pier, reports that anglers have had some good success with catches of sea mullet (to 1+ lbs.), croakers, spot, and pufferfish.
Tyler, of Seaview Pier, reports that despite the cooler water temperatures, the pier has seen some sea mullet being caught.
As temperatures continue to warm up, anglers will find pufferfish in the mix. The resident species (speckled trout, black drum, and red drum) will most likely make a showing as conditions become more favorable.
