Your Game Plan for the Weekend Bite
Anglers heading out across North and South Carolina this weekend should find productive fishing by focusing on timing and location rather than covering excessive water. Stable weather patterns and seasonal transitions are creating defined bite windows, making planning ahead the key to success.
Best Bets by Region
Freshwater Lakes & Ponds
Largemouth bass are most active during late morning through afternoon warming periods, especially near shallow flats, secondary points, and submerged cover. Slow-moving soft plastics, jigs, and spinnerbaits remain the most consistent producers.
Crappie and panfish action continues to improve around brush piles and standing timber in 8–18 feet of water, with vertical presentations outperforming faster retrieves.
Rivers & Brackish Backwaters
River systems and brackish backwaters are offering mixed-species opportunities this weekend. Falling tides and moderate current are pulling baitfish into creek mouths and along grass edges, creating feeding opportunities for bass, redfish, and catfish.
Target transition zones where depth, current, and salinity change over short distances.
Inshore Waters
Inshore anglers should plan trips around moving water, with falling tides producing the strongest action for redfish, speckled trout, and flounder. Focus on oyster edges, marsh grass, creek bends, and channel edges.
Early mornings and late afternoons remain the most productive, especially during calm wind conditions.
Surf & Pier Fishing
Beach and pier anglers are seeing steady action when tides are moving and surf conditions remain manageable. Whiting, sea mullet, black drum, bluefish, and Spanish mackerel are all being caught on fresh cut bait, shrimp, and small metal lures.
Look for deeper troughs near shore and fish structure around pier pilings for best results.