Sight-casting for cobia remains the marquee event on the Outer Banks this week. Fish are cruising the nearshore waters and showing around the buoys, shoals, and bait pods off Oregon Inlet and Hatteras. Bucktails and live eels pitched to sighted fish have been the proven approach on the calm, clear days when spotting is good.
In the surf and around the points, red drum are providing action on cut bait, with both slot fish and the occasional bigger drum in the mix. The sound side has held drum and speckled trout around the marshes and structure on the moving tides.
Nearshore, Spanish mackerel are blitzing bait along the beaches and around the inlets, taking trolled spoons and casting jigs, and a few king mackerel are working the nearshore reefs and structure. Bluefish are mixed into the surf action for beach anglers.
Flounder are filling back in around the inlets and structure, and sea mullet (kingfish) and pompano are showing in the surf for bottom anglers fishing fresh shrimp and Fishbites. Offshore, the Gulf Stream mahi and billfish action has been solid for boats making the run.
Calm-water windows make the cobia sight-fishing, so watch the forecast and get out early. The cobia and drum bite should hold through June as the nearshore water continues to warm.