Spring 2025 Nearshore Fishing Report

As we quickly approach June (where did the year go???), I wanted to look back on our spring nearshore season.  I generally consider April to be my spring season.  In reality, it can start up in March (it did for sure this year).  It always goes into early/mid-May, but I'm usually on the Roanoke chasing Stripers then, so I miss the end of the season.  Although April is a fine time to fish inshore, I love the opportunities we have along the beaches each April.

Atlantic Bonito, not to be confused with Bonita (False Albacore) are a favorite target.  They remind me of the love child of an Albie and Spanish Mackerel.  The speed and shape of an Albie, and the dorsal fin and teeth of a Spanish Mackerel.  And somehow this imaginary combination, would make a delicious offspring, which is one of my favorite fish to eat without having to go 30-50 miles offshore to catch.  I really think they rival tuna, mahi, wahoo, etc.

We targeted Bonito along the nearshore wrecks and hard bottoms this April and had several really good days.  There were a few trips that we got blocked from the bite by the spot lockers drifting live bait, but on those days, we just went and found something else to do.  That's what's great about the spring, is that there are so many opportunities around.

I love catching Bones as much as anyone else, and I love eating them too.  That being said, I'll probably never live bait for them.  On a good day, I don't need to try to catch 100 fish.  Let's be honest, nobody needs that many Bonito, and I highly doubt all those fish get eaten.  So, we'll continue to chase them on artificials and fly and be happy with what we catch.  

Our Bonito friends are headed north for the summer but we'll see them again next spring.

When the Bonito bite faded with the rising sun, we could always find these fish.  Bluefish were around in ridiculous numbers in April, and they were a really nice size.  The average fish was 3lbs but there were some much larger fish around.

Time to dig out the wire leader...

We also found some great Albie schools in open water this spring, and it made for some great sport.

The average Albie this spring was nicer than 90% of the fish we saw last fall.   This past fall was great for numbers, but this spring just produced some stud sized fish.

Hooked up to a missile with fins...

We caught a few Albacore this past April, that would qualify as a fish of a lifetime for a lot of Albie fanatics.

The mayhem.  You can see the bait and the sharks on the surface, but what you don't see are the schools of Bluefish, Albies and Bull Redfish below.  On a blitz like this, you really have to be careful about where you cast.  It's the difference between catching the fish you've dreamed about or getting bit off by something toothy.  Trust me, this is not the time to be digging out another fly or jig and tying it on...

Hooked up to the intended target.

These ocean bulls will always be one of my favorite fish.  There's just something remarkable about a golden Old Drum.  I'm looking forward to bumping into them again in a few months during the fall Albie season.