Late Fall Bite on the Carolina Coast - A Fishing Report

Good morning from the North Carolina coast—this is Artificial Lure with your Atlantic fishing report for Monday, November 24, 2025. Sunrise rolled in at 6:56 a.m., and we’re looking at sunset tonight at 7:00 p.m. The air’s crisp and cool, with northwest winds picking up to 10–20 knots by afternoon. Seas are building in the 4–7 foot range, so inshore and nearshore anglers should keep an eye on the forecast from the National Weather Service for Eastern North Carolina—the offshore bite will be a little bumpy today. It’s classic late fall weather, and that means fish are on the move, feeding before winter sets in. Tidal movement is prime for morning action. At Atlantic Beach, we just cleared low tide at 2:54 a.m., with a juicy high tide pushing in at 9:29 a.m. Expect the best inshore action a couple hours around this tide swing. Oak Island’s tide runs similar this morning, reaching a high of near 2.4 feet by mid-morning. The solunar table rates today as “high,” so fish activity should peak between 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. Recent catches have been solid for late November. Local reports and tackle shops up and down the coast—like Frank & Fran’s in Hatteras and Wilmington’s bait stands—say red drum and black drum are biting strong from the surf, especially around deeper sloughs and cuts. Speckled trout are hot in the creeks and marshes—several anglers landed their limits over the weekend, many fish running 15–20 inches. Flounder catches are picking up near jetties and bridges, though remember to check your local regs for season closures. Offshore boats, when they’re making it out, are loading up on king mackerel close to the beach—some are hitting on slow-trolled live menhaden or cigar minnows, while others like fresh-cut mullet strips. Albacore are blitzing on smaller metals and glass minnow patterns. A few scattered reports of big black sea bass and keeper grouper coming in from ledges and deeper wrecks in 70–120 feet, hit with squid and cigar minnows. Best baits and lures this week: - For specks, grab a 4-5” Z-Man Jerk ShadZ in electric chicken or new penny on a light jig head. MirrOlure MR17s and small suspending twitchbaits, especially in darker hues, are working well around Wrightsville and Topsail marshes. - Red drum are smashing live shrimp and finger mullet, but Gulp! Swimming Mullet and paddle tails in white or pink are producing, too. - Slot-sized flounder are hitting Berkley PowerBait curly tails, especially chartreuse. - For surf stripers, try bigger profile lures—a 130 jerkbait or chunky swimbait will draw strikes. Spinnerbaits with willow blades in green work near Hatteras piers when the current’s got some chop, as suggested by Major League Fishing experts this season. Hot spots right now: - **Cape Hatteras National Seashore**: The point and ramp 44 are loaded with drum and trout. - **Oak Island Surf**: Drum, trout, and blues patrolling the high-tide wash. - **Wrightsville Beach Jetties**: Good for specks and a few flounder today, especi This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.