Fishing report 5/12/26

This week, the nearshore bite is on fire. Summer flounder fishing has really turned on, the mullet run is in full swing, and redfish are moving in and out of the jetties consistently. Big barracuda are also showing up just off the beach, providing exciting action on light tackle. When the weather gives us a good offshore window, the fishing has been excellent. Live bait has been producing quality bottom catches, while early morning trolling has been putting king mackerel in the boat. Farther out in the Gulf Stream, anglers are finding big wahoo along with quality snapper and grouper. Whether you’re looking for a fun family trip close to the beach or an action-packed offshore adventure, now is a great time to get on the water. If you have any questions about planning a fishing trip out of Wrightsville Beach or Carolina Beach, feel free to reach out. We’d be happy to help you choose the trip that’s best for the current conditions and the species you’d like to target.

Fishing along the Carolina Beach coast continues to produce plenty of action despite the summer heat. Sharks remain one of the most consistent bites, making for exciting trips with opportunities at quality fish throughout the day. One of the biggest highlights right now is the number of large barracuda showing up. These fish are incredibly aggressive around hooked fish, and it’s common to watch them follow a catch all the way to the boat—or even steal it before you can land it. Getting them to commit, however, takes the right presentation. Large barracuda have seen plenty of rigs over the years, so lighter, less visible wire leaders often produce more bites. That said, presenting a large live bait can trigger an instinctive reaction, and even cautious fish will often crush a properly presented offering. For anglers looking to bring home dinner, flounder, red drum, and black drum continue to provide good opportunities around the inlets, docks, marsh edges, and other inshore structure. Live bait remains the top producer, and the larger schools of mullet finally beginning to arrive should only improve the bite over the coming weeks. This year’s mullet run started a little later than normal, but the bait is finally showing up in good numbers. Nearshore anglers should also keep a live bait ready for king mackerel. Big kings are still cruising just off the beaches and can provide an unforgettable fight when conditions allow. If offshore conditions become too rough, don’t overlook the jetties and Intracoastal Waterway. Success inside has been highly dependent on the tides, with moving water producing the best action. Planning your trip around a favorable tide can make all the difference on days when the ocean isn’t cooperating. Offshore, the fishing remains excellent whenever the weather provides a window. American red snapper season is open, giving anglers another outstanding opportunity to fill the cooler. Grouper and snapper fishing continues to be very productive, while big amberjack are providing hard-fighting action over the wrecks and ledges. Blue water anglers are also finding solid numbers of mahi and wahoo, making offshore trips well worth the run when sea conditions allow. As always, weather determines everything this time of year, so keep an eye on the forecast and take advantage of the calm days when they come. Tight lines, and we’ll see you on the water!

July is doing what July typically does along the Carolina coast—the fish are still here, but they’re more spread out than they were in the spring. That means patience, fresh bait, and making the most of every opportunity. Nearshore, we hooked a nice cobia this week, proving they’re still around for anglers willing to put in the time. Live bait and fresh-cut bait are producing far better than frozen this month and are the biggest keys to success. Big barracuda are stacked up on the nearshore reefs and wrecks. If you’re targeting them, scale down your wire leader and present a large live bait naturally. Many of these fish have seen plenty of lures, so a stealthy presentation makes all the difference. Spanish mackerel continue to blitz bait along the beaches, but with so much natural forage in the water, they’ve become a little more selective. You may not get as many bites as earlier in the season, but the quality has been excellent. Grey trout and red drum are still being caught, although they aren’t feeding as aggressively as they do during the spring and fall transitions. Working live bait around structure during moving water has been the most consistent approach. The sponey dog fish have slowed up when Shark fishing and will be replaced by much larger sharks luke big tiger sharks, hammer heads, bull sharks and black tips so not as many shark but overall kich bigger and more exciting. Overall, we’re catching fewer fish than we were a month ago, but the quality has remained outstanding. Summer fishing is all about adapting to the conditions, and that’s exactly what we’re doing. Book your trip now and let us put you on the fish—whether you’re chasing sharks, Spanish, cobia, barracuda, or whatever decides to bite next.