Inshore Fishing Archives - Page 125 of 287

May 7, 2026

Soft-plastic lures like this Billy Bay Halo Shad will produce speckled trout around the New River’s artificial reef.

New River’s artificial reef is prime spring fishing spot

After four years, the New River’s artificial reef is cranking out good numbers of seatrout and other gamefish and plenty in trophy sizes. […]

Carrying plenty of extra bait to use for chum will help produce more black sea bass around nearshore structure.

Chum for better catches of black sea bass

Jeff Burleson

Black sea bass are voracious predators and will outcompete anything else in their size-class, especially over the winter and early spring. They cover up any available reef structure that harbors baitfish, but quite often, they will hover over certain sections of the structure. […]

Tasty whiting are among the earliest fish to arrive around Cape Fear and the latest to leave, providing fishermen battling cabin fever with some great action.

Whatever you call them, whiting are among North Carolina’s tastiest inshore fish

Jerry Dilsaver

Whiting are found along most of the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, and their sea mullet and Virginia mullet monikers to a disservice to these mild-flavored fish, which have none of the oily qualities of mullet species. […]

To consistently catch bigger black sea bass, don’t stay in one spot too long; most big fish will bite soon after the bait appears.

Study charts for better success fishing black sea bass off Grand Strand beaches

Jeff Burleson

Even though populations of black sea bass thrive in South Carolina waters throughout the year, the cool months bring congregations in close to shore, and often, they include some of the biggest bass anglers will ever see. […]

A cooler full of whiting when the early spring run is on will usually contain some fish pushing or breaking the 1-pound mark.

All hail North Carolina’s king(fish)

Jerry Dilsaver

Whatever nickname you prefer to use, whiting, sea mullet or Virginia mullet are properly named kingfish and are members of the croaker family. […]

James Grimes’ 6-pound speckled trout is a big one for anywhere on North Carolina’s coast, but the New River holds some much bigger.

Next state-record might be a New River speck

Craig Holt

Although the New River has a reputation for yielding giant spotted seatrout, the state-record trout of 12 pounds, 4 ounces came from Wrightsville Beach and has held up for 55 years. […]

Speckled trout can be caught in Wimbee Creek and its smaller tributaries on topwater plugs on high tide and cut shrimp or soft plastics on periods of lower water.

Tackle Wimbee Creek trout

Brian Cope

Wiimbee Creek is one of the creeks above Lady’s Island in the Beaufort area that doesn’t get a lot of fanfare. It’s an unsung hero of sorts for inshore anglers, and March is a good time to focus on trout in the creeks leading into the main waterway. […]