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 22 - May 28
Ocean
Offshore fishing out of Hatteras improved, with good catches of blue marlin by almost everyone targeting them. Dolphin of all sizes hit the docks on a regular basis. Catches of wahoo were scattered, but a lot of the ones that were landed were citation-sized. Nearshore action was slow and uneventful. Offshore action out of Oregon Inlet was good and offered lots of variety. Dolphin, wahoo, king mackerel, yellowfin tuna, and blackfin tuna made up the bulk of the catch. Those fishing for blue marlin saw good numbers of fish. Nearshore catches were dominated by bluefish. Black sea bass catches improved, with plenty of large-sized fish caught. Cobia were landed on a somewhat consistent basis by those targeting them.
Inlets/Sounds/Bays
Fishing from Hatteras northward produced red drum of all sizes, most of them over¬-slot giants. Very high numbers of bluefish in the 2- to 3-pound range were caught with relative ease, along with a moderate amount of Spanish mackerel and citation-sized sheepshead. Anglers fishing from Oregon Inlet northward were rewarded with good catches of red drum and citation-sized spotted seatrout.
Pier/Beach
South beach anglers landed very large kingfish (sea mullet), along with over-slot red drum in moderate numbers. Bluefish and puffers were caught, as well. North beach action was much the same, with kingfish (sea mullet) being the most common, along with a handful of puffers and red drum.
For more information regarding the Central District Fishing Reports, please contact Jacob Stain.
For May 22 - May 28
Ocean
Offshore bottom fishing anglers primarily caught vermillion snapper, spottail pinfish, black sea bass and some gag grouper, while those trolling caught dolphin and wahoo. Closer to shore, anglers mainly caught Spanish mackerel.
Inlets/Sounds/Bays
Those bottom fishing in the Newport River and NC State Port turning basin caught small black sea bass and Atlantic croakers. Anglers fishing in the area marshes saw decent catches of red drum and black drum. Some Spanish mackerel were landed by those trolling around Beaufort Inlet.
Piers/Beach
Anglers fishing the beach at Fort Macon caught Spanish mackerel and bluefish. On the piers, anglers were catching the same, along with pinfish and spot.
For more information regarding the Southern District Fishing Reports, please contact Dennis Trowell.
For May 22 - May 28
Ocean
The weather for much of the week was not great for fishing. For the few days, it was nice, and boats did okay catching gaffer dolphin, along with decent amounts of wahoo and blackfin tuna. The blue marlin fishing was good, as well. Bottom fishing remained good overall, with scamp grouper, gray triggerfish, and vermilion snapper biting well in the 40- to 50-mile range. Closer to shore, in the 15- to 20-mile range, boats caught king mackerel, cobia, and amberjacks, along with some sea bass and gag groupers. Lots of Spanish mackerel were reported all along the area beaches.
Inlets/Sounds/Bays
Overall, fishing was normal for this time of year. Slot-sized red drum and black drum made up the bulk of the catches, along with some nice-sized sheepshead. Spotted seatrout were also caught throughout the area, with the lower Cape Fear River producing the largest fish.
Piers/Beach
The spring fishing has been good on area piers. Lots of Spanish mackerel and bluefish were caught when water conditions were favorable. Good numbers of slot-sized red drum and black drum were caught, as were some pompano and sea mullets. Spotted seatrout catches have been increasing over the past couple of weeks, with anglers doing especially well along the Brunswick County piers. Surf fishing produced much the same, with sea mullets and pompano dominating the catches. A handful of slot-sized red drum were caught, as well.