Water temps are finally climbing into the mid to high 50s, and we’re starting to see the first real signs of the spring transition along the Carolina coast. Inside the inlets, tidal swings are pushing slightly warmer water out of the river, and that’s been enough to get things moving. The nearshore bite is officially turning on, with consistent catches of: • Gray trout • Red drum • Black drum • Mixed bottom species If you can get outside the jetty, there’s fish to be caught right now. Conditions have been a little choppy this past week, but that’s typical this time of year. As we move further out of winter, we’ll start to see more consistent weather windows, which is when things really take off. ⸻ ? What’s Coming Next (This Is the Important Part) Here’s where it gets interesting… We’re already seeing Atlantic bonito being caught within 5 miles. That tells us everything: ? The fish are on the move ? The warm water is pushing in ? It’s only a matter of time before that bite is a free for all very close to the beach. First comes the bonito… Then the Spanish… Then the king mackerel right behind them When that chain reaction starts, the nearshore bite goes from “good” to wide open. ⸻ ? Offshore Outlook Offshore trips are already producing solid action, with chances at: • American red snapper • Keeper black sea bass • Larger snapper species • Amberjack • Hogfish • Big grunts As we push further toward the Gulf Stream, the quality improves even more. And a big one to note: ? Grouper season opens May 1st, which adds another major target to the mix. ⸻ ? Bait = Everything We’re starting to see more bait moving along the coast, and that’s always the trigger. More bait → more predators → better fishing As that bait continues to push in over the next few weeks, expect the bite to ramp up quickly across all trip types. ⸻ Best Time to Fish Is Right Now (And The Next 6–8 Weeks) April and May are hands down some of the most productive months of the year here. You’ve got: • Active nearshore fishing (great for families and action) • Migratory species moving in • Offshore opportunities getting better by the week This is that window where everything overlaps—and when it’s right, it’s really right. ⸻ ⚓ Trip Options Right Now • Nearshore Trips: Consistent action, great for families and light tackle • Offshore Trips: Bigger fish, more variety, and improving fast • Spring Transition Fishing: Best of both worlds as species move in ⸻ If You’re Thinking About Going — Don’t Wait This is the ramp-up phase. Once the migratory fish fully arrive, prime dates start filling fast. If you’ve been thinking about getting on the water, the next few weeks are one of the best opportunities of the year.

The nearshore action is heating up. Atlantic bonito are trickling in, and in a week or two, they’ll be here in numbers. Right now, folks are picking them off one by one. Meanwhile, big gray trout are showing up, and even tautog have made an appearance. On top of that, we’ve got porgies, ringtails, and black sea bass in the mix. If you’re looking to catch this wave, April is your window, because once the run is on, boats will fill up fast.

Fishing along the Cape Fear coast is heating up as we move deeper into spring there’s plenty of action both nearshore and offshore. Nearshore, the black sea bass bite has been excellent. These fish are stacked up on the wrecks and reefs and providing constant action. If you’re looking for steady rod-bending fun, nearshore trips are producing plenty of bites right now. Offshore, we’re also seeing big American red snapper showing up thick on the deeper structures. While these fish must be released outside of the open season, it’s still an incredible fight and a great opportunity to catch some truly impressive fish while targeting other bottom species. Looking ahead, we’re also keeping a close eye on the arrival of Atlantic bonito. Historically, these fast-moving fish start showing up around late March into early April, and we expect them to move into our waters any week now, with the bite usually getting strong by the first week of April. With warming water temperatures and more migratory species on the way, the fishing is only going to keep improving. If you’re looking to get out on the water, now is a great time to book a trip and take advantage of the action.