As I write this, we’re in the first week of September and kicking off the 2025 flounder season (September 1–14). Over the past few weeks I’ve released multiple flounder over 24 inches on my inshore charters, with a couple pushing the 30-inch mark. There are great chances for an honest to goodness doormat flounder this fall before they head back out to the ocean for the winter.
Bait is already stacking up thick, both inshore and just off the beach, which is a sure sign summer is fading and fall fishing is approaching. So, get ready for bigger speckled trout, schools of bull redfish, and smoker king mackerel showing up on the Brunswick County beaches! If you’ve been on the fence about a September fishing trip to Ocean Isle Beach, consider this your invitation and don’t sit this fall out! Call Captain Harvey at (910) 250-8459 to book your inshore or nearshore fishing charter! For now, read on for my September fishing forecast mixed in with some current fishing report info.
Inshore Fishing Report for Ocean Isle Beach
Red Drum are in the ICW on flat areas just off the banks. In the creeks, key on drop-offs along oyster bars with current. Fish where you see bait. Live finger mullet and live shrimp work well; use cut mullet around docks and points on lower water. Some over-slots are hanging out near the jetties and nearshore ARs.
Flounder are on grass banks, docks, and creek mouths. A live finger mullet on a Carolina rig is tough to beat; soft plastic swimbaits on a 3/16 ounce or 1/4 ounce jighead work well and let you cover water quicker than using bait.
Speckled trout are trending up with cooler mornings. Try daybreak topwater on inside banks/creek mouths. Also try jetties and deeper cuts with slip float rigs suspending live shrimp or finger mullet.
Black Drum & Sheepshead: both improving as temps drop. Fish shrimp/crab on deeper oyster rock (10–15') and sturdy ICW docks for black drum; use fiddler crabs on bridges, older docks, and pilings for sheepshead.
Nearshore Fishing Report for Ocean Isle Beach
Spanish Mackerel are very active along the beach right now, in 16-20 feet of water, with lots of 20 plus inch Spanish in the mix. Cover ground with Clarkspoons and planers or Yo-Zuri deep-diving plugs. For bigger Spanish, slow-troll live mullet over the nearshore reefs, like AR 460 (Jolly Mon Reef).
King Mackerel move in closer to the beach as pogies start to bunch up off the beaches. Expect fish to come in shallow by mid/late September. Slow-troll live pogies along nearshore reef edges, visible bait pods, and the clean side of the tideline just off the beach.
Bull Reds / Old Drum should begin to show more consistently later this month —watch bait balls and edge lines. Keep an eye out for tarpon around the river mouths while you’re cruising for Kings/Spanish. We don't have many tarpon, but there are a few around right now. Although I don't specifically target them, we've hooked -and lost- 2 tarpon this summer on my fishing charters in OIB.
Surf Fishing Report / Forecast for OIB
- Bottom bite: steady whiting, croaker, and spot with shrimp/sand fleas/strips; occasional pompano.
- Predators: reds on live/cut mullet; sharks consistent on cut bait.
- Trout window: live shrimp at first light.
Pier Fishing Report / Forecast for OIB
- Spanish Mackerel & Bluefish on Gotcha plugs
- Puppy Drum & Flounder on live finger mullet.
- King Mackerel just starting off the ends—expect better as menhaden wad up.
- Black Drum on shrimp on the bottom (carolina rigs are sometimes troublesome on piers due to the egg sinker rolling and tangling in other people's lines, so stick with a bank or pyramid sinker).
September Game Plan for Ocean Isle Beach Saltwater Fishing
Early Month (now–10th)
- Reds on shallow ICW banks with live mullet/shrimp; cut mullet on lower water around docks.
- Flounder heavy on grass banks/docks.
- Spanish reliable along the beach; Have a rod ready to sight-cast Spanish when you see them.
- Trout: Topwater at sunrise in the marsh/ICW; start working the inlets/jetties with slip float rigs.
Mid Month (11th–20th)
- Trout expand at inlets/jetties and deeper cuts; float live shrimp/mullet.
- Kings push tight to beach following pogies; work nearshore reefs/edges.
- Bull reds begin showing more consistently near bait balls/ledges.
Late Month (21st–30th)
- Kings & Spanish strong tight to the beach; biggest Spanish favor live baits over reefs.
- Inshore mix stays hot: schooling reds, dependable flounder, trout feeding later into the day on cool mornings.
- Bull reds should be here in decent numbers. Fish the inlets with cut bait, large chunks of blue crab.
Recommended Fall Bait / Lures for OIB and Brunswick Beaches
- Live bait: mullet, menhaden, shrimp (shrimp are super easy to get in a cast net right now) — keep baits lively/fresh.
- Redfish: Carolina-rig live finger mullet or put them on a 1/4 ounce jighead; cut mullet on falling water; topwater at dawn (MirrOLure Top Dawg Jr).
- Flounder: 1/4 ounce jighead with 4 inch soft plastic swimbait (Z-Man Diezel Minnow in lighter colors); live finger mullet on a carolina rig at docks/grass/creek mouths.
- Trout: Walk-the-dog early with a MirrOLure Top Dawg Jr; slip float rig with live shrimp/finger mullet near structure and any structure close to inlets and at Little River Jetties.
- Spanish: Pink Clarkspoon on #1 planer, Yo-Zuri deep-diving lures (1 shallow, and 1 that runs down to 12-15 feet)
- King Mackerel: Slow-troll live pogies near bait pods and tideline edge, just off the beaches. Use a skirt on any deadbait rigs with cigar minnows or ballyhoo.
Ready to find out more about my fishing charters? Check out more info on them here:
Tight Lines,
Captain Harvey Wall
Salty Dawg Fishing Charters
September 3, 2025