Fresh New Hanover County Fishing Reports

Nive sunset bite one nice flounder that got off at the boat and a smaller one. Lots of bites

As we hit mid-October, the local fishing scene is really coming alive. Here’s what you need to know: Inshore and Nearshore Updates: • Bait Situation: You’ll notice mullet starting to thin out, especially on the ocean side. In the rivers, you’ll still find a few, but as a substitute, live shrimp is your go-to bait right now. • Speckled Trout: The speckled trout run is in full swing inside the jetties. It’s a fantastic time to target them, and using live shrimp is really paying off. If you can get out past the jetty, you’ll also find some great trout spots offshore. • Mackerel and Kingfish: Spanish mackerel are still hanging around, and kingfish will be nearshore for the next month or so. Offshore and Gulf Stream: • Wahoo and Tuna Action: The Gulf Stream is heating up, literally. It’s extremely hot with wahoo and tuna action really picking up. As we move deeper into the cooler months, trolling is only going to get better as that warmth consolidates and the fish stay active. Final Tips: Overall, it’s shaping up to be a great season ahead. Just keep an eye on the weather, as your targeting options will depend on those good weather days. But right now, things look fantastic, especially for those speckled trout inshore.

Beautiful day on the water today. Landed a few trout and a flounder and Crocker.

The Gulf Stream has a great bite this time of year. Wahoo have showed up.

Our fall fishing has started off great. Catching Spanish, blues, kings, bonita, wahoo, tuna and bottom fish.

Hey anglers! The fall bite is on fire right now, and we’re seeing some fantastic action both nearshore and offshore. Nearshore Action: • The king mackerel are still running strong and should continue their run through the end of October and even into November. Live bluefish are your ticket to hooking those bigger kings. • Red drum are also on a hot streak through the end of October. As we move into winter, they’ll push into the shallower backwaters to stay warm, so there’s plenty of good drum action ahead. • Speckled trout season is upon us, and the specks are showing up in good numbers. Great time to target them! • Mullet are starting to thin out a bit, but there’s still plenty around to keep the predators interested. Offshore Highlights: • Offshore fishing is heating up with plenty of wahoo and tuna being caught as close as 30 miles out. The albacore bite is absolutely everywhere right now—just head out about 5 miles and you’ll find them hitting every few minutes. • The offshore bite is pretty consistent year-round if you pick the right weather windows. It can get choppier in winter, but there’s still great pelagic and bottom fishing on those calmer days. In short, it’s looking like a fantastic few months ahead. Whether you’re sticking close to shore or heading offshore, there’s plenty of action to be had. Tight lines!