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.
For May 8 - May 14
Ocean
Offshore fishing out of Hatteras remained the same as the previous week, with dolphin (mahi-mahi) making up the bulk of the catch. Yellowfin tuna and blackfin tuna were caught in fewer numbers, but those that were caught were nice-sized fish. Scattered wahoo, king mackerel, amberjack, and blueline tilefish rounded out the catch. Nearshore activity was low, but the few anglers that went fishing managed to catch bluefish, king mackerel, and cobia in low to moderate amounts. Offshore fishing via Oregon Inlet produced similar catches, except even more dolphin were caught. Nearshore anglers managed to catch a few bluefish and other assorted species in low numbers. Bottom fishing in deep water out of Hatteras showed a marked improvement, with catches of very high numbers of vermillion snapper, gray triggerfish, and black seabass. Some cobia were landed, as well.
Inlets/Sounds/Bays
Fishing from Hatteras north to Oregon inlet produced moderate numbers of bluefish, spotted seatrout, and red drum of all sizes, including some over-slot giants. North of Oregon Inlet, anglers’ catches were dominated by red drum and spotted seatrout, as well as a few sheepshead, black drum, striped bass, and blue catfish. The best times to catch all these species were in the early morning hours and then again just before nightfall.
Pier/Beach
Fishing the surf from north to south produced high numbers of red drum of all sizes, with most of the over-slot ones caught on the southern beaches. Kingfish (sea mullet) were caught everywhere on a semi-consistent basis. Mole crabs (sand fleas) were the bait of choice. A few bluefish, puffers, striped burrfish, sheepshead, cownose rays, and assorted sharks kept anglers busy when the kingfish were not biting.
For more information regarding the Central District Fishing Reports, please contact Jacob Stain.
For May 8 - May 14
Ocean
Offshore bottom fishermen primarily caught vermillion snapper and spottail pinfish. Anglers trolling offshore landed mostly dolphin, with a few wahoo, little tunny, and Atlantic bonito in the mix as well. Nearshore, anglers started to target cobia, and a few releases of them were reported. Some Spanish mackerel were brought back to the dock by those trolling along the beaches.
Inlets/Sounds/Bays
Anglers fishing the Newport River caught small black sea bass and Atlantic croaker. Further inland in the Pungo/Pamlico River area, anglers caught mostly spotted seatrout, with a few nice fish coming in at the 19- to 23-inch range. Anglers released a few undersized red drum, as well.
Piers/Beach
Fishing in the surf and on area piers was slow. On the piers, anglers caught sea mullets (kingfish) in low to moderate numbers. A handful of Atlantic croaker, bluefish, Spanish mackerel, spots, Florida pompano, and puffers were also caught.
For more information regarding the Southern District Fishing Reports, please contact Dennis Trowell.
For May 8 - May 14
Ocean
The dolphin fishing was somewhat slow for this time of year. There were a handful of decent catches that came in, but, overall, fishing was slow. The good news is that the billfishing was fantastic. Good numbers of blue marlin were released, along with some sailfish and white marlin. Bottom fishing was good in the 40- to 50-mile range, with anglers catching a wide variety of reef fish such as vermilion snapper, gray triggerfish, and scamp. Closer to shore, king mackerel were caught from the beaches on out to the 10-mile range, and good numbers of Spanish mackerel were caught along all area beaches.
Inlets/Sounds/Bays
Fishing in these waters was a little slow. There were some spotted seatrout around the creeks and bays behind Baldhead Island, as well as in the marshes and creeks in lower Brunswick County. Sheepshead fishing was good around area jetties, docks, and bridges. Slot-sized red and black drum were caught throughout the area, with the Cape Fear River producing the best catches. Anglers fishing the creeks and bays in the lower part of the river, as well as those fishing farther upriver around grass islands and boat docks, had the most luck.
Piers/Beach
Overall, the pier fishing was very good. Lots of Spanish mackerel and bluefish were caught by anglers throwing plugs, and kingfish (sea mullet) and pompanos were caught by those using fresh shrimp and mole crabs. Some slot-sized red and black drum were caught as well. Spotted seatrout were landed on the Brunswick County piers by anglers using live shrimp in the early morning hours. King mackerel fishing has been good over the past couple of weeks with some kings weighing over 35 pounds. Surf fishermen caught slot-sized red and black drum, as well as some pompano and kingfish. Fresh shrimp and mole crabs were the bait of choice in the surf.