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Spring · APRIL
What's biting in April on the Outer Banks?
April is the spring run: black drum and bluefish on the beach, sea mullet in the sloughs, trout in the sound, and the first speckled trout of the year.
Who shows up in April
- Prime
- Running
Pick a prime fish to organise the day. Running ones fill in the gaps without peaking.
| Fish | Rating | On the water |
|---|---|---|
| Red Drum | Running | Sound flats and channelsRunning |
| Sea Mullet | Running | The first of the yearRunning |
| Bluefish | Prime | Spring runPrime |
| Speckled Trout | Prime | Spring peakPrime |
| Black Drum | Prime | Spring bitePrime |
| Cobia | Running | In the mix this month.Running |
| Spanish mackerel | Running | In the mix this month.Running |
Working April well
Plain talk about what to do once the line is wet.
Fish the falling tide at the inlets and points for drum and blues.
Sea mullet want bloodworms or shrimp fished close in.
Black drum work the inlet edges in spring. Fish the bottom and hold on.
April is one of the best all-around months on the Banks.
Where to aim
BLUEFISH
Bluefish
Blues will eat almost anything and fight like they mean it. Bring wire, because they cut leaders for a living.
SPECKLED TROUT
Speckled Trout
Trout live in the sound around grass and oyster bars, and they eat a slow bait better than a fast one.
BLACK DRUM
Black Drum
Black drum are the shell-crushers of the drum family, and crab is the bait they cannot pass up.
Your bait for the month
Fresh mullet
Fresh chunks for drum and blues, and shrimp for the mullet.
Go deeper
BAITS
What should I put on the hook this month?
April bait, species by species, starting from fresh mullet.
SINKERS
What size sinker do I need today?
Pick the weight for April fishing before you leave the house.
TIDES
What tide is it right now, and does it matter?
Does the tide matter for Bluefish? The guide reads the water as it stands.
Updated Oct 30, 2026