Offshore Fishing Archives - Page 46 of 98

May 4, 2026

Kathryn McClure and Cory Swink pose with the 66-pound king mackerel that McClure caught last week out of Holden Beach.

Angler catches 66-pound king mackerel on her first offshore trip

An angler’s first offshore fishing trip is often something they’ll never forget – especially if they land a 66-pound king mackerel. That’s exactly what happened to Kathryn McClure while being guided by Cory Swink aboard the Hawg Hunter. […]

Brayden McMullan, Brant McMullan, Barrett McMullan, Dylan Stone, and Conner Yates pose with one of the recent daylight swordfish caught out of Brunswick County.

Swordfish run has bluewater anglers daring to attack the heat

Chris Burrows

For years, swordfishing off North Carolina’s coast meant spending the night offshore, fishing multiple live and dead baits at staggered depths from an illuminated boat. It could be productive, but the trip itself was an ordeal. […]

Jason Edwards' state record pigfish is on his left-handed stringer, and would have been lost in the shuffle of similarly-sized fish if not for the quick thinking for the Fishing Center crew.

State record pigfish caught out of Cape Lookout

Jerry Dilsaver

Pigfish aren’t a species that immediately brings visions of deeply bent rods and screaming reels, but there are N.C. state and IGFA world records and Jason Edwards’ May 23rd catch has been approved for one and is pending for the other. […]

Anglers like Greg Dreibelbois are allowed to keep one amberjack per day; this one has no problem exceeding the 28-inch size minimum.

Many rules govern snapper, groupers

Craig Holt

The snapper-grouper complex in the South Atlantic includes 59 species, as determined by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council. […]

Greg Dreibelbois of Gastonia battles a large amberjack fishing offshore with Capt. Kevin Sneed.

Weather, vessel size are keys to offshore fishing

Craig Holt

Weather and boat size are keys to bottom-fishing in the ocean. […]

Holden Beach’s offshore buffet awaits anglers on bottom-fishing trips out of Holden Beach, N.C.

Craig Holt

“This is between you and me!” Jeff “Shug” Schucker shouted at a fish 150 feet below the keel of Kevin Sneed’s 31-foot Pro Kat. “And you better believe I’m gonna win this one!” […]

Sailfish push into nearshore waters off the east side of Cape Fear every July.

Hit Cape Fear this month for a shot at sailfish

Jerry Dilsaver

All billfish are special, but sailfish are the ones most likely to be encountered by fishermen other than those specifically seeking billfish. One of the best locations to catch sailfish north of Florida is in the waters around Cape Fear. Unlike blue and white marlin, sailfish readily abandon the Gulf Stream and move inshore following baitfish once the water warms above 70 degrees.

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Tim Street poses with the new North Carolina state record skipjack tuna he caught on May 24.

Valdese angler catches new skipjack tuna state record

Jerry Dilsaver

Tim Street of Valdese took his first offshore fishing trip on May 24, hoping to catch some dolphin and tuna — which he did. He didn’t think he’d return to the docks with a 32.5-pound skipjack tuna that has been certified as the new state record for that species. […]

The spadefish have moved onto the nearshore reefs and wrecks, and these tips will help you catch your share.

How to catch more spadefish

Brian Cope

It’s spadefish time on the near shore wrecks and reefs along South Carolina’s coast, and anglers are having a field day with these saltwater panfish in areas like the 4KI and Lowcountry Angler reefs. The bites come quickly once the fish have been located. […]

Ethan Ingle is an all-around angler, and likes mixing bass fishing gear in with his offshore tackle.

Try these tactics to catch dolphin out of Hatteras Island

Brian Cope

The dolphin are thick off Hatteras Island, with a good mixture of peanuts and gaffers mixed in, and anglers are finding them without having to venture too far offshore. […]