Coastal Carolina's Fall Transition Sparks Flounder, Drum, and Albacore Action

Artificial Lure here with your Wednesday, October 1, 2025, Atlantic coast fishing report for North Carolina. The sun crested the horizon at 7:01 a.m. and will set tonight at 6:50 p.m. We’ve got a classic early fall transition—with cooling waters sparking fish activity from the Outer Banks down through Atlantic Beach.

This morning’s **tide at Atlantic Beach** brought a high around 2:35 a.m., rolling out to low at 8:32 a.m., and swinging back to high by 3:18 p.m. That falling tide from mid-morning through lunch will pull bait out of creeks and marshes, drawing in gamefish[Atlantic Beach Tide Forecast].

**Weather’s been steady—** mild with a gentle northwest breeze. No major storms in sight, so inshore and surf anglers should enjoy clear water and cooperative seas.

Recent action has been busy. Offshore folks are celebrating catches of mahi and even a few citation sheepshead and marlin, but inshore has been truly buzzing. The **2025 flounder season was short** but epic—locals landed flounder in double-digit pound territory using live minnows and finger mullet. The biggest in recent days: a bruiser 13-pounder caught near Atlantic Beach. Chasin’ Tails Outdoors Bait & Tackle’s weigh-in board has seen plenty of nine- and ten-pounders thanks to early morning shore fishing and creek explorations[Carolina Sportsman].

**Red drum** are making their annual October migration. Giant old drum have lit up both surf and sound, giving catch-and-release anglers all-day battles, especially around Oriental and the Neuse River. The bite can go hot and cold—several days of fireworks, then silence as the big fish push offshore. If you’re after old drum, now’s the time, before they vanish for the year[Baldheaded Bobby Guide Service].

Speckled trout are waking up as water temps drop. Best bet is early morning or dusk with MirrOlures, Z-Man paddletails, or live shrimp. Creek mouths and grassy points are the go-to.

Don’t overlook **false albacore**—the “footballs” (smaller models) are showing heavy near Beaufort Inlet, fighting like crazy on light tackle. Spanish mackerel and chopper bluefish are still blitzing bait balls in the surf and along nearshore bars.

For marsh and bay bass, October’s cooling tides bring them shallow. Locals suggest squarebill crankbaits and white swim jigs—smaller profiles imitate schooling shad, especially in three- to four-foot depths. If you like excitement, try pencil poppers at first light for explosive topwater strikes[Yardbarker].

**Best baits this week:**
- Live finger mullet for flounder and drum.
- Fresh shrimp and cut mullet for inshore drum, trout, and blues.
- Live menhaden and pinfish when chasing big reds and flounder.
- Soft plastics and topwaters for trout and slot drum.

If you crave catfish, hit the Neuse or Cape Fear rivers after dark with fresh cut shad or live bream—flatheads and blues are feeding hard ahead of winter. Anchoring beside deep bends or drift-fishing outside channels has been producing some true river monsters[Carolina Sportsman Catfish].

**Local hot spots:**
- Atlantic Beach Bridge access and nearby marshes for flounder and drum.
- Beaufort Inlet for false albacore and Spanish mackerel.
- Shackleford Banks surf for pompano, trout, and red drum.
- Oriental’s creeks and Neuse River bends for catfish and drum.

October’s movement means fish could be here today, gone tomorrow, so stay nimble, watch the tides, and follow the bait.

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This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI