Inshore Fishing Archives - Page 114 of 287

May 7, 2026

Sight-casting or bottom-fishing, it takes some stout tackle to take on big schooling reds in the Pamlico Sound just inside Ocracoke or Hatteras inlets.

Find a fish funnel, find OBX reds

While sight-casting is certainly the most-thrilling means of targeting big red drum, it’s not always the most practical. Low-light conditions, high winds and occasional stained water can make putting eyes on a school nearly impossible. […]

Several days of consistent wind from the same direction will push tripletails into pods in pockets or corners.

Look for windblown pockets

Jeff Burleson

While tripletails are capable of long, powerful runs, they are probably the laziest of inshore or nearshore fish. […]

Small, live menhaden are a favorite bait of flounder fishermen once summer arrives.

For flounder baits, pick your own poison

Jerry Dilsaver

What is the best flounder bait? At the risk of sounding obnoxious, it’s what the flounder want to eat that day. The popularity nod goes to live baits, but artificials often produce well, too. […]

Summer means super sharking in Edisto’s surf

Brian Cope

While plenty of surf fishermen catch sharks while targeting other species, a group of Lowcountry anglers from the Requiem Fishing Team targets sharks — big ones — and Edisto is one of their choice locations in August. […]

Many fish, sharks in particular, are attracted by odors, and BaitCloud products are a non-messy way to chum and put more scent in the water.

For sharks, odor isn’t everything, but it’s a big thing

Brian Cope

A shark’s sense of smell is definitely something anglers can capitalize on when fishing. While cut pieces of baitfish or stingray give off their own odors for sharks to find and follow great distances, anglers can enhance the odors with sprays and gels just like bass and catfish anglers have for years. […]

Shaped like a huge panfish, spadefish like this one caught by the author, can be a real handful when they begin to approach 10 pounds, a weight that’s not uncommon.

Keep an eye on the water for spadefish

Pete Rogers

Reading the water is important when fishing nearshore. Although many reefs are inside of 20 miles, that is still quite a way to get home should the weather turn sour suddenly. […]

Black sea bass are a common catch around nearshore reefs during the summer.

Reefs are mixed-bag blessings

Pete Rogers

Fishing nearshore reefs offers a lot of fun and excitement for beginning anglers. They are full of a variety of species that are both exciting to catch and great table fare. […]

Shane Flannigan takes the guesswork out of which lures to use for inshore fishing.

Top plastic lures for inshore fishing

Submitted Story

Soft plastic lures come in many different sizes, colors, and styles. With all of the different soft plastics on the market today it can be overwhelming or confusing for some anglers. I want to cover a few of my favorite go-to soft-plastic/jighead combos I use when targeting reds, trout, and flounder. […]

Many anglers overlook the virtues of using corks when flounder fishing, but that's a mistake, said Capt. Addison Rupert of Lowcountry Outdoor Adventures.

Don’t overlook corks when flounder fishing

Brian Cope

Flounder are a unique species of fish, having both eyes on the same side of the body and lying on the ocean floor on its other side. With its mouth shaped in a way that doesn’t seem conducive to the way it lives, it’s an odd fish, but no less tasty, and no less of a desirable target for many reason […]

These two outdoorsmen had a big night of gigging with Capt. Allen Jernigan of Breadman Ventures, gigging a 7-pound flounder, and one with a genetic anomaly.

7-pound flounder gigged near Sneads Ferry

Brian Cope

Plenty of fish are biting along the inshore waters from Swansboro to Wrightsville, and the only downer for anglers is the heat. But that’s easy to beat if you take an inshore adventure that’s a little different than the typical fishing trip. […]