Springtime Fishing Frenzy: Tuna, Drum, and More Biting on the North Carolina Coast

The fishing conditions along the North Carolina coast and Atlantic waters are looking promising today, April 2, 2025. Here's a detailed local fishing report to get you prepped for a great day on the water. The spring bite is heating up, with several species actively feeding. Offshore anglers out of Oregon Inlet are having success with both yellowfin and blackfin tuna, using trolling and jigging techniques. Amberjacks and other bottom fish are also part of the mix. Trolling at “The Point” and jigging around the 500 line have been productive. Closer to shore, surf anglers have been busy pulling in red drum and black drum, particularly around Hatteras Island. A standout catch was a 44-inch bull red drum earlier this week. Speckled trout and an occasional redfish are being caught in the backwaters using MirrOlures. As the water continues to warm, expect wahoo to become more active offshore. In the Atlantic Beach area, anglers are picking up sea mullets (whiting), gray trout, and redfish. For sheepshead, fiddler crabs remain a top bait, landing catches as large as 7 pounds at High Rise Bridge. Other catches in this area include bonito, bluefish, tautogs, and ringtails. The weather today is forecasted to be calm and conducive to fishing, with light winds and moderate temperatures. Sunrise was at 6:55 AM EDT, and sunset is at 7:31 PM EDT. Tidal movements are also favorable, with a low tide around 6:31 AM EDT and a high tide later in the afternoon, making the morning and evening prime times for fishing. For bait, fresh shrimp, cut mullet, and squid are excellent choices and readily available at local bait shops. Sand fleas and bloodworms are also effective for surf fishing. As for lures, paddletail soft plastics and MirrOlures are working well for a variety of species. Hot spots to consider include Ramp 55 on Hatteras for red drum action and the waters near Bogue Inlet for gray trout and bonito. Offshore anglers should target “The Point” near Oregon Inlet. With the diversity of fish species biting and great conditions, today is a fantastic opportunity to get out and make some memorable catches. Tight lines! This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.