Fall Bull Drum Fishing Near Ocean Isle Beach, NC: When, Where, and How

If you’ve never caught a bull redfish (or “bull red”, "bull drum", "old drum"), this fall near Ocean Isle Beach is your chance. These giants — often 40 inches or longer — are in town for only a short time each year.

Every fall, from mid-September through late October, these massive red drum gather near the inlets and just off the beach to spawn. This is the time when a patient angler, with the right gear and bait, can tie into the fish of a lifetime. Over the years, I’ve learned what works (and what doesn’t) in the waters around Ocean Isle Beach, Little River, and Shallotte Inlet. This guide will walk you through when to target bull drum, the gear and rigs you’ll need, the best baits, and some hard-earned tips that will give you a much better shot at landing one.

When to Catch Bull Drum in Ocean Isle Beach

The fall bull drum run is a short window, but when it’s on, it’s incredible. By mid-September, as the water temperature drops into the mid-to-upper 70s, the fall mullet run kicks into gear. Massive schools of finger mullet and menhaden begin moving down the coast, drawing in big predators like bull drum.

• Peak Season: Mid-September through late October is prime time. If the fall weather stays mild, they may hang around into early November, but late October is usually the cut-off for consistent action.
• Best Time of Day: Early morning and late afternoon tend to produce the best bites, especially during tidal changes. If you can fish around the top of an incoming or outgoing tide, your odds go way up.
• Weather and Moon Phases: Bull drum are heavily influenced by fall cold fronts and moon phases. A full moon often means stronger tides, which can create prime feeding windows.

Where to Find Bull Drum

When these big fish are in the area, they’ll usually be close to structure and bait. The Ocean Isle Beach area is surrounded by productive waters, but not all spots are easy to reach or safe to fish if you don’t know the local waterways.

• Little River Inlet: The jetties and channel edges are classic bull drum ambush points.
• Shallotte Inlet: This inlet doesn’t have jetties, but it holds big fish, especially near sandbars and deeper sloughs on an outgoing tide.
• Nearshore Wrecks & Reefs: Places like AR 460 and AR 425 can be great for bull drum when they’re feeding offshore.
• Surf Zone: During the mullet run, it’s not uncommon to see schools of big drum pushing bait right up on the beach, especially early or late in the day.

Tip: Finding the fish is often about finding the bait. I’ve had days where we were running the beach, watching for nervous bait pods or diving birds, and as soon as we set up, it was game on.

Best Fishing Gear and Rigs for Bull Redfish

Catching a bull drum isn’t a finesse game. These are very strong fish, and your gear needs to be up to the task.

• Rod & Reel:: A medium-heavy to heavy spinning rod (7’–8’) paired with a 5000–8000 series reel:
  
  • Penn Battle IV 6000 Rod / Reel Combo
  • Penn Spinfisher VII 6500 Rod / Reel Combo
• Leader: Seaguar Blue Label Fluorocarbon Leader, 40 lb test (use 30 to 50 lb test).
• Hooks: Mustad Demon Inline Circle Hooks, 7/0. I use 4/0 to 7/0 circle hooks — these protect the fish by hooking them in the corner of the mouth.
• Rigs: A Carolina rig or fish-finder rig is the gold standard. Slide a 2-4 ounce egg sinker above a ball-bearing swivel, add 18–24” of leader, and tie on your circle hook with a palomar knot. Check your regs for any special rigs required in your area!.
• Nets & Tools: A large net with rubber netting and long fishing pliers or hook extractor make releasing big fish easier and safer.
• Gloves: I highly recommend fishing gloves — bull drum are super strong and their sheer power can cut up your hands if you’re gripping the leader bare-handed or gripping their mouth.

Best Baits for Bull Drum

These fish are scent feeders — they love fresh, oily baits.

• Live Bait: Big mullet, menhaden, or even live pinfish.
• Cut Bait: Fresh cut mullet, menhaden, or spots (avoid anything frozen if possible).
• Blue Crab: Whole or chunked blue crab is a bull drum favorite. I like to split the crab in half and crack the shell to release more scent. I suggest stopping by one of our local seafood stores (like Doug's Seafood on Causeway Drive, just off the island) and picking up a dozen for your trip. You can normally get a dozen for under $20. If you want to catch your own, check our local regs first, and then buy a crab trap and bait it with fresh fish.
• Bonus: In the surf, a live mullet struggling on a Carolina rig is about as good as it gets. If using cutbait in the surf, there's nothing wrong with placing some Pro Cure Scent on your bait for an added scent trail in the water. If using Pro Cure for Bull Reds, I prefer the Mullet or Blue Crab scents.

Techniques for Catching Bull Drum

The approach is usually simple but effective:

• Anchor or Spot-Lock: near structure or bait pods.
• Cast your rig out: let the bait soak, and be patient. These fish often cruise in schools. When one rod goes down, it’s not uncommon for two or three to get hit at once.
• Set the drag: heavy enough to keep the fish from running into structure but not so tight that you risk pulling the hook.
• Use Circle Hooks: Let the fish eat, then start reeling steadily to set the hook. Don't lift the rod from the rod holder until you're tight to the fish with the circle hook.

When fighting these fish, take your time. Bull drum are bulldogs — they’ll run, but a smooth drag and steady pressure win the battle.

Regulations and Conservation

In North Carolina, the NCDMF requires that bull red drum (over 27”) are catch-and-release only. The slot limit for red drum is 18–27 inches, with a 1-fish daily bag per angler.

In South Carolina, the SCDNR requires that bull red drum (over 23”) are catch-and-release only. The slot limit for red drum is 15–23 inches, with a 2-fish daily bag per angler.

The above size and bag limits are accurate as of the time of this blog post, but please check your current regs with either NCDMF or SCDNR before fishing for redfish in NC or SC waters.

These big fish are the breeding stock for the entire fishery, and they can live for up to 60 years! So handling them carefully is important:

• Only use Circle Hooks!
• Keep them in the water when possible for photos.
• Obviously, never gaff a red drum, use a large net with rubber netting.
• Wet your hands before touching them.
• Always support the fish horizontally, never hold them vertically by their jaw or gills.
• Release redfish quickly, preferably keeping their time out of the water down to under a minute.
• Release bull reds by holding their tail and reviving them back and forth until they can swim away. If you think there are sharks around, avoid releasing by holding the redfish. Instead, you can release them by dropping them into the water head first so that water is pushed over their gills upon release.

Seasonal Conditions and Pro Tips

Fall conditions can change fast. Cold fronts can fire up the bite, but strong winds and dirty water can slow it down. I keep a close eye on:

• Water clarity: Big drum like cleaner water with moving current.
• Tide stages: Outgoing tide near dusk is a classic window.
• Moon phases: New and full moons bring stronger tides and better feeding.

FAQ

• When is the best time to catch bull drum near Ocean Isle Beach?
  Mid-September through late October is prime time, with the best bites often during early morning or late evening tides.
• What bait works best for bull drum?
  Fresh cut mullet, menhaden, or blue crab are top choices. Live mullet is hard to beat if you can find them. Don't be afraid to try other baits like Pinfish, etc... (cut bait or live bait).
• Do I need a fishing guide to catch bull drum near OIB?
  You can catch them from shore or by boat, but knowing where and when to set up is key. A local fishing guide can save you days of trial and error, and possibly save the short-lived season for you.
• How long can a bull red drum live?
  Bull red drum are famous for being long-lived, with some fish living up to 60 years in the wild. Most bull reds in the 40+ inch range are 30–40 years old, or more.

Want a Shot at a Bull Drum?

The Fall bull drum run is one of my favorite times of year. These fish are powerful, beautiful, and unforgettable to catch. If you’re visiting Ocean Isle Beach, Sunset Beach, Holden Beach, Little River, or even North Myrtle Beach this Fall and want to hook into one of these giants, I’d love to take you out.

Spots fill quickly since the season is short. Book your trip early to get in on this Fall’s run.

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