May is a fine time to fish the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Things are warming up—water temps, air temps, bait movement… It’s not quite summer yet, but it is sure not winter either. Most mornings still start out with a bit of chill in the air, especially if the wind is coming off the ocean. But by midday, you are rolling up your sleeves and wiping sweat. The change is happening, and you can feel it—not just in the weather, but in the water.
The Inshore Shift: Specks, Reds, and Blues
May is when inshore fishing in the OBX really picks up. Speckled trout are showing up in good numbers across the sound, especially early in the mornings around the grass flats and marsh edges. If you know a spot that warms up faster than the rest, that is the kind of place to start.
Look for moving water, clean edges, and a little bait activity. Soft plastics and MirrOlures will get it done most days, but if the bite is slow, try downsizing or switching colors.
Red drum (redfish) are cruising the shallows, too. You can spot them tailing on the flats or laid up along the marsh grass when the light hits right. They are not always easy to catch when they are acting spooky, but if you sneak up slow and drop a gulp shrimp or a live mullet in the right place, you have got a good shot.
There are also small bluefish all over the place right now. Not the big slammers you might see later in the year, but plenty of 1–3 pounders pushing bait into a frenzy. Cast a metal spoon or a flashy topwater and you will see them come up swinging. They are fun, especially on light tackle, and they can save the day if nothing else is biting.
Soundside and Pier Reports
If you’re fishing from shore or one of the bridges, May has some of everything for you:
- On the sound side, you might hook into flounder near structure or drum along the drop-offs.
- Over on the ocean piers, it is that in-between time—whiting and puffers are still around early in the month, but the real fun is when the bigger blues and Spanish mackerel show up in the Outer Banks in Summer.
- Keep an eye out for birds working offshore and always have a Got-Cha plug ready.
On certain days it can be slow, no doubt. But on the right tide with a little bait moving through, the piers can surprise you. Folks start packing them out by the end of the month when word gets around that the Spanish are in.
Nearshore Runs
Spanish, Bonito, and Cobia
If you have got a small boat and the ocean is cooperating, nearshore fishing is where May really opens up. The water is warming into the mid-60s and low-70s, and with it comes a mix of action.
Spanish mackerel are one of the main draws, especially around Cape Point and out of Oregon Inlet. You can troll Clark spoons on planers or drift around bait balls throwing jigs. When they are in thick, you do not have to go far off the beach to find them.
Bonito are hit or miss, but when they are around, you will know. Sharp little footballs that fight like something 10 times their size. Look for them busting near glass minnows early in the month, especially out around the wrecks and shoals.
Cobia start sliding up the coast, too, usually by mid-to-late May. A lot of guys are up in the tower with bucktails ready, scanning for brown shapes cruising the surface. Others drop eels or fish near buoys and wrecks where they like to hang out. It is not always a numbers game, but it is worth the hunt. One good cobia can make good nearshore fishing trips in the Outer Banks great.
What Spring Really Means for the Outer Banks
Spring on the OBX is a transition. One week, the sound feels empty and the ocean is quiet. The next, the bait shows up, and everything seems to come alive. You see the first dragonflies, hear the frogs at night, and suddenly that old spot that had nothing in April is full of signs again.
By the time June starts knocking, the fishing is full-blown. You get flounder making more consistent appearances. The reds start pushing tighter to the grasslines. And some of the summer patterns you really see in July begin to take hold—bigger trout in deeper cuts, king mackerel showing up farther out, and those muggy mornings where you know it is going to be a good one even before you launch the boat.
But May is special because you still feel like you are catching the start of something. It is not as crowded, not as hot, and not as predictable—which means it takes a little more thinking, a little more watching, and sometimes a little more patience. But that is part of it.
Fishing Charters in the Outer Banks of NC
Fishing the Outer Banks in May is about knowing where things are headed, not just where they are. It is a month where the bite can go from cold to hot in just a few days, and the best fishermen are the ones paying attention:
- Watch the tides.
- Watch the wind.
- See where the birds are working.
- Take note of what bait is around and how the water looks.
You definitely don’t need super fancy gear or a huge boat to have a great day. What you need is a feel for what is going on—and that just comes with time on the water.
So if you are thinking about going fishing in the OBX this May, do it. Bring your rods, bring your patience, and bring a good-sized cooler—you just might need it.
Of course, when you book fishing charters in the Outer Banks, NC, all the equipment is provided—rods, reels, bait, and tackle—so all you need to do is show up and have fun fishing—whether you’re an experienced fisherman or completely new to it. Spring has some of the best fishing of the year in the Outer Banks, and there’s no better way to experience it than with the help of a local guide.
Book your charter trip today, and get ready for an incredible adventure in one of the top fishing destinations on the East Coast! Call (252) 489-9171 or click here to book your trip.