Recreational Fishing Reports
The North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries interviews anglers throughout the coast to estimate marine recreational fishing catch. The following regional fishing reports are updated weekly and compiled by DMF port agents as they observe and interview fishermen at access sites along the coast — more than 500 anglers are interviewed each week.
Please note: New fishing reports are posted each week during the height of fishing season.
Interested in fisheries statistics, including updated recreational tuna and billfish landings? Learn more on the Fisheries Statistics page.
Regional Reports
For more information regarding the Northern District Fishing Reports, please contact Brian Melott.
April 8-14, 2024
Ocean
Offshore activity out of Hatteras was limited because of weather, but anglers that made the trip were rewarded with modest catches, including blackfin tuna, dolphin, and wahoo. Nearshore activity was limited & unproductive. Offshore activity out of Oregon Inlet produced inconsistent catches; bluefin tuna continue to bite, but the transition to yellowfin tuna is well underway. Nearshore anglers were able to find moderate amounts of spotted seatrout and black seabass between consistent spiny dogfish catches.
Inlets/Sounds/Bays
Fishing from Hatteras to Oregon Inlet produced primarily red drum and bluefish in low numbers but on a daily basis. North of Oregon Inlet, fishing was slow, but an increase in encounters with harvestable spotted seatrout rewarded persistent anglers. Black sea bass were caught in moderation, along with high volume amounts of spiny dogfish.
Pier/Beach
Fishing was slow, but red drum and black drum fishing had improved on southern Dare County beaches, leading to increased fishing effort. Surf anglers on northern Dare County beaches caught large numbers of spiny dogfish and clearnose skates with limited success on other species.
For more information regarding the Central District Fishing Reports, please contact Jacob Stain.
April 8-14, 2024
Ocean
Anglers bottom fishing consistently caught spottail pinfish and black sea bass. Offshore anglers also found success trolling for wahoo.
Inlets/Sounds/Bays
Anglers in the Newport River found the most success catching bluefish, weakfish, and black drum.
Piers/Beach
Pier fishing produced catches of a variety of species, including, primarily, black drum, kingfishes, and pufferfish. Anglers on the beach were most successful with bluefish.
For more information regarding the Southern District Fishing Reports, please contact Dennis Trowell.
April 8-14, 2024
Ocean
Favorable wind and seas for offshore fishing have been few and far between over the past month or so. There were a few days when boats were able to get out, and catches were somewhat typical for this time of year, primarily consisting of blackfin tuna and a few wahoo. Fishing for dolphin and marlin typically heats up as May approaches. Closer to shore, the bottom fishing has been good. Anglers have caught black sea bass and vermilion snapper, along with a wide variety of other reef fish. Nearshore, the fishing has been outstanding the past couple of weeks. The spring Atlantic bonito fishing has been great throughout the area, as has been the spring run of Spanish mackerel. There have even been some big chopper bluefish in the mix, as well.
Inlets/Sounds/Bays
Inshore fishing has been pretty typical for early spring. Slot-size red drum and black drum were caught in area creeks and bays, as well as around docks and jetties. Most anglers targeting drum used fresh shrimp as bait. Live bait and artificial lures produced harvestable spotted seatrout. Sheepshead were moving back inshore and anglers had some luck targeting them using fiddler crabs and mud crabs for bait. Sea mullet fishing down around the mouth of the Cape Fear River near Bald Head Island was productive, too.
Piers/Beach
Overall the fishing was good on most area piers and in the surf. Spanish mackerel appeared in good numbers along with bluefish. Anglers were successful in targeting sea mullets using fresh shrimp, and they also caught some black drum. Surf fishermen caught much of the same slot-size red drum and black drum, along with some of the first pompano of the year. Some large, chopper size, bluefish were landed out of the surf, as well.