June 2026 Ocean Isle Beach Fishing Report

Why June Is One of the Best Months to Fish Ocean Isle Beach

June is one of the few months of the year when anglers can successfully target a wide variety of species without having to choose between Inshore Fishing, Nearshore Fishing, or Shark Fishing.

Water temperatures have stabilized into the low 80s, bait is becoming abundant, and predators are spread throughout the entire ecosystem. Menhaden schools are packed along the beaches, shrimp are beginning to move through the marshes, and species ranging from flounder and redfish to Spanish mackerel and sharks are taking advantage of the easy meals.

For visiting anglers, June offers a rare combination of variety and consistency. Whether your goal is filling a cooler, catching your first shark, or sight-casting to feeding fish, there are plenty of opportunities available around Ocean Isle Beach this month.

Water Conditions Around Ocean Isle Beach

Water temperatures around Ocean Isle Beach have climbed into the low 80s, pushing local fisheries firmly into summer patterns.

One of the biggest developments over the past few weeks has been the arrival of bait. Menhaden schools are loaded up along the beaches, shrimp are beginning to move into the ICW, Shallotte River, and surrounding marsh systems, and predators throughout the food chain are taking full advantage of the buffet.

Whenever bait shows up in large numbers, fishing tends to improve across the board, and that’s exactly what we’re seeing right now.

Nearshore fishing has been one of the strongest options this month.

Spanish Mackerel and Bluefish are thick along the beaches and around local nearshore reefs, providing steady action for anglers looking to catch numbers of fish. Many trips are encountering both species during the same outing, and larger Spanish Mackerel have started showing up as summer progresses.

King Mackerel are also beginning to make their presence known, with a recent local tournament weighing in one King Mackerel over 40 pounds. While the major King Mackerel push hasn’t fully developed yet, enough fish are around that anglers targeting bait-rich areas and nearshore structure have a legitimate chance of hooking one.

For anglers looking to put some meat in the cooler, Gag Grouper Season is now open. Generally speaking, if you can make it 12–15 miles offshore, you’re in the zone where catching a Gag Grouper becomes a realistic possibility. That said, we've already caught some Gags as close as four miles offshore, which is much shallower and closer than many anglers would expect.

Between Spanish Mackerel, King Mackerel, Gag Grouper, and Sharks, Nearshore Fishing is hard to beat right now.

June is when the shark bite really starts to hit its stride around Ocean Isle Beach.

The beaches are holding plenty of 3 foot Atlantic Sharpnose Sharks along with 4–5 foot Hammerhead Sharks cruising the same waters. Move out to the nearshore reefs, and the Sharpnose Shark population is almost ridiculous right now. Many of the local reefs are absolutely loaded with them, making a Shark Fishing Charter one of the most dependable options available this Summer.

Around Little River Inlet and the Little River jetties, I’ve also been finding some larger sharks in the 6-8 foot range mixed into the action. These fish provide anglers with a chance at a stronger fight while still staying relatively close to shore. The jetties are also a great option when nearshore waters become too rough to comfortably fish outside the inlet, often providing dependable shark action even on windier days.

The combination of warm water temperatures, abundant bait, and predictable summer conditions has created some outstanding shark fishing opportunities throughout the area.

Interested in learning more about the sharks found in North Carolina? Check out my guide to Shark Species You Can Catch in NC.

Flounder

Flounder continue to be one of the most reliable inshore catches around Ocean Isle Beach.

As more bait moves into local creeks and marshes, flounder are following right behind. They’re holding around creek mouths, channel edges, docks, oyster points, and other ambush points where baitfish are concentrated.

The encouraging part is the quality of many of the fish being caught. Plenty of solid flounder are showing up throughout the area, and anglers targeting them are finding action on a consistent basis throughout the Shallotte River, ICW, and nearby creek systems.

Although North Carolina’s harvest season remains closed, catch-and-release flounder fishing has been excellent. For current season dates and regulations, read my full NC Flounder Season 2026 update.

Redfish

Redfish continue to be available throughout the area, but they have become increasingly tide-dependent.

The best fishing has generally occurred around lower stages of the tide when fish are easier to locate around oyster bars, creek mouths, docks, and marsh edges. Once water levels rise and fish move into flooded grass searching for crabs, shrimp, and other forage, they become much harder to pattern.

If I were specifically targeting redfish right now, I would much rather fish a low tide than a high tide.

Many of the fish are holding around the same types of areas throughout the ICW, Shallotte River, and Little River backwaters, making them fairly predictable when water levels are lower.