The Carolina Fishing Hotspots

Spring is one of the best times to fish the Carolinas — here’s a rundown of the top coastal spots and what’s biting.

North Carolina

Cape Hatteras & the Outer Banks The crown jewel of NC surf fishing. Spring brings red drum (puppy drum especially), bluefish, and Spanish mackerel moving up the coast. The Point at Cape Hatteras is legendary for surf casters. Nearshore waters also heat up with flounder and sea mullet (whiting).

Cape Fear / Wilmington Area (your backyard!) Masonboro Island and the Cape Fear River mouth are excellent for spring flounder, speckled trout, and red drum in the marshes and grass flats. The Carolina Beach inlet and nearby nearshore wrecks start producing Spanish mackerel and king mackerel as water temps climb through April and May.

Beaufort / Morehead City The Beaufort Inlet and surrounding estuaries are excellent for inshore species — flounder start stacking on the flats, and bluefish run hard in April. Nearshore ledges produce cobia beginning in late April, one of the most exciting spring targets in the Carolinas.

Murrells Inlet / Georgetown A top inshore destination. Spring sees flounder, red drum, and speckled trout active in the creeks and grass flats. Murrells Inlet is called the “Seafood Capital of SC” and the fishing backs that up.

Charleston Harbor & ACE Basin The ACE Basin is one of the most pristine estuaries on the East Coast. Spring red drum fishing here is exceptional, and the creeks are loaded with flounder and trout. The harbor jetties also produce sheepshead in spring.

Hilton Head Cobia migration begins in April along the beachfront and nearshore waters — sight-casting to cobia is a highlight of the SC spring season. Inshore, the back creeks offer redfish and flounder action.

Top Spring Target Species (Carolinas)