April is when the Outer Banks fishing year fully kicks into high gear. The spring striper run is at full strength at Oregon Inlet, the cobia migration along the beaches builds toward its May peak, yellowfin tuna offshore are excellent, and the inshore speckled trout and red drum bite is strong throughout the sounds.
Stripers — Full Spring Run
The spring striper migration is at peak strength in April. Oregon Inlet holds stacked fish on the outgoing tide, and the morning bite has been incredible most years. Live menhaden and trolled Mojos produce big numbers, with multiple fish per outing the norm for boats dialed in.
Surf anglers from Nags Head south to Hatteras are catching fish at dawn and dusk on bunker chunks and large bucktails. The Avon and Buxton beach stretches have a long tradition of producing trophy April stripers.
Boat anglers trolling Mojos and bunker spoons on the working bunker schools off the beaches are getting some of the biggest fish — multiple 40-plus inch over-slot bass releases per trip on the best days.
Remember North Carolina’s slot regulations and circle-hook bait rules. Conservation matters for the long-term health of the striper fishery.
Cobia — Migration Builds
Cobia start showing up in serious numbers in April. The migration moves up the coast from south to north, and the OBX beaches typically see the first big wave in the third or fourth week. Sight-casting from tower boats off Nags Head, Kitty Hawk, and Hatteras is the iconic OBX cobia method.
Bucktails in pink, white, or chartreuse with a soft plastic trailer are the go-to. Live eels and large soft plastic swimbaits are the backup. Fish are running 30 to 60 pounds with shots at the bigger 70-plus pound trophies.
Pier anglers at Avalon, Nags Head, and Jennette’s piers also get in on cobia action — heavy spinning gear with bucktails cast and worked slowly is the method.
Current NC cobia regulations have been tightened in recent years — check NCDMF for current size, bag, and season rules before keeping fish.
Offshore — Yellowfin Tuna and Early Mahi
Yellowfin tuna action out of Oregon Inlet and Hatteras is excellent in April. The Gulf Stream edge holds working schools of fish in the 30 to 80 pound range, with occasional bigger fish over 100 pounds.
Trolling ballyhoo behind sea witches and skirted ballyhoo on flat lines is the standard approach. Spread the lines for variety: a couple of flat lines, a couple of riggers, and a shotgun on the centerline.
First mahi-mahi reports trickle in by late April, though the peak run isn’t until May and June. Wahoo are also a possibility on the temperature breaks.
Inshore — Speckled Trout, Reds, and Black Drum
Speckled trout fishing in the sounds reaches its spring peak in April. The Pamlico, Neuse, and New River systems all produce limits of nice trout on Gulp baits, MirrOlures, and live shrimp under popping corks.
Redfish (red drum) action in the marsh creeks is excellent. Sight-casting to tailing fish on the high morning tides is one of the great inshore experiences. Cut mullet, gold spoons, and topwaters at sunrise all produce.
Black drum are stacked around bridges, oyster bars, and bay structure. Cut clam and shrimp on the bottom is the easy approach for kids and casual anglers.
Surf and Inlet — Bluefish, Drum, Stripers
Surf fishing along the OBX in April produces a mix of species. Bluefish start to show in numbers, mixed in with the stripers and the occasional puppy drum.
The Oregon Inlet jetty and the Hatteras Inlet are both productive on the moving tide for a variety of species.
Conditions and Reality Check
Water temps along the OBX in April warm from the upper 50s into the mid-60s. The warming triggers everything from the cobia migration to the offshore yellowfin push.
Spring weather can be variable but generally improves through the month. Late April typically has the most consistent windows of fishable weather.
Where to Be This Month
Oregon Inlet for the striper run. The Nags Head and Hatteras beaches for cobia sight-casting. Offshore Gulf Stream edge for yellowfin tuna. And the Pamlico Sound systems for trout, drum, and reds.
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