September 2026 in Review
September marked the beginning of one of the most anticipated fishing transitions of the year around Topsail Island. Summer conditions lingered early in the month, but increasing bait movement and changing seasonal patterns gradually began setting the stage for fall fishing throughout the Greater Topsail Island area.
Red drum continued to provide dependable action inshore and along the beachfront, while speckled trout became increasingly important as September progressed. Finger mullet and other baitfish moving through the creeks, marshes, inlets, and surf created feeding opportunities for a variety of species, while Spanish mackerel, bluefish, flounder, and other seasonal fish remained part of the mix.
September was also a busy month at Topsail.Fish. We continued expanding our collection of locally focused fishing articles and weekly reports while introducing Saturday Catch, a new weekend feature designed to make useful fishing information easier to discover.
In this month’s report, we’ll look back at September fishing, feature one of our local captains, highlight useful fishing resources, introduce Saturday Catch, and look ahead to what October may bring to the waters around Topsail Island.
Fishing Around Topsail in September
September brought the gradual transition from summer fishing toward the fall patterns anglers wait for each year. Warm conditions remained part of the picture, especially early in the month, but changing bait movement increasingly influenced where fish were found and how they were feeding.
Red Drum Remained a Top Target
Red drum continued to be one of the most dependable species around Topsail throughout September. Inshore anglers found fish around marsh edges, oyster bars, creek mouths, docks, shallow bays, and areas of moving water, while surf anglers also had opportunities as baitfish traveled along the beachfront.
Speckled Trout Began Taking a Bigger Role
As September progressed, speckled trout became an increasingly important part of the inshore fishing picture. Creeks, marsh edges, current seams, deeper holes, and areas holding concentrations of bait offered opportunities as the seasonal transition continued.
Finger Mullet Helped Drive the Fall Transition
Increasing numbers of finger mullet moving out of local creeks and marshes and through the inlets provided one of September’s most important changes. Schools of mullet traveling along the beaches also attracted predators and gave surf and inshore anglers a visible clue about where feeding activity might develop.
Surf, Pier and Nearshore Fishing Stayed Active
Bluefish, Spanish mackerel and other seasonal species continued providing opportunities along the beaches, from the piers, around the inlets, and in nearshore waters. Watching for concentrations of bait, feeding birds and surface activity remained one of the most effective ways to locate actively feeding fish.
September Was a Month of Change
The transition did not happen all at once. Summer patterns continued during portions of September even as classic fall indicators became more noticeable. By month’s end, changing bait movement and increasing activity from fall favorites were pointing toward the fishing opportunities that make October such an exciting month around Topsail Island.
Featured Captain
Captain Mike Hoffman
A native of coastal southeastern North Carolina, Captain Mike Hoffman has been fishing since he was just 5 years old. In fact, he has dedicated himself to being a full-time fisherman since 1987. During his impressive career, he fished the Pro Bass Tour for 11 years, and in this time, he won numerous prestigious awards. Subsequently, he earned his captain’s license in 1998, followed by his Master Captain’s license in 2008, solidifying his professional credentials.
“I welcome friends, families, and children with the clear intention of making sure everyone has fun and, of course, catches fish. Indeed, it would be my genuine pleasure to be your Captain and guide the next time you go fishing.”
Meet Captain Mike Hoffman »
Topsail Island Fishing Guides
Website Feature of the Month
Topsail Island Fishing Season Calendar
Fishing around Topsail Island changes throughout the year, and knowing when different species are most active can make planning a fishing trip much easier.
The Topsail Island Fishing Season Calendar provides a month-by-month look at the species anglers can expect to encounter in local waters. It can help visitors decide when to plan a trip while giving local anglers a quick reference for how fishing opportunities change with the seasons.
September and October are especially good examples of why seasonal timing matters. Summer species can remain available while increasing bait movement and changing conditions bring red drum, speckled trout, bluefish and other fall favorites into increasingly productive patterns.
Featured Article of September
How to Fish Oyster Bars for Red Drum & Speckled Trout
Oyster bars are among the most productive inshore fishing habitats around coastal North Carolina, providing structure, current breaks, feeding opportunities, and access to both shallow and deeper water.
Our guide to fishing oyster bars explains how tides and current affect these areas, where red drum and speckled trout are likely to position themselves, and how anglers can approach oyster structure without simply casting randomly across it.
Understanding how water moves around points, edges, cuts, troughs, and submerged oyster structure can help anglers identify the smaller feeding zones where fish are most likely to concentrate.
With red drum and speckled trout becoming increasingly important as Topsail moves deeper into fall, learning how to fish oyster bars is a skill that can produce throughout the season.
New on Topsail.Fish
Introducing Saturday Catch
September brought a new weekend feature to Topsail.Fish: Saturday Catch.
Saturday Catch gives anglers an easy place to discover something useful each weekend, whether it’s a timely fishing tip, a closer look at a local species, fishing knowledge specific to the Topsail area, information from local captains, or an article worth bringing back from the Topsail.Fish archives.
The Saturday Catch page also provides quick access to weekly fishing information, Fishing Intel, fishing articles, and other resources throughout Topsail.Fish. The featured content changes each Saturday while the page remains a permanent place anglers can return to throughout the year.
It’s another way we’re making the growing Topsail.Fish library easier to explore without requiring anglers to know exactly what they’re looking for before they arrive.
Looking Ahead to October
October brings some of the most anticipated fishing opportunities of the year to the Greater Topsail Island area. Shorter days and gradually changing water temperatures combine with continued bait movement to strengthen many of the fall patterns that began developing during September.
Red drum should remain an important target from the marshes and Intracoastal Waterway to the inlets and surf. Speckled trout become increasingly important as fall progresses, particularly around creeks, oyster structure, current seams, deeper holes, and areas where bait concentrates.
Along the beachfront and around the inlets, migrating bait can create opportunities for bluefish, Spanish mackerel, red drum and other predators. Surf anglers should continue watching the water itself—cuts, sloughs, sandbars, points, moving water, birds and visible bait can all provide clues about where fish may be feeding.
October can also bring rapidly changing conditions, making tides, wind, water temperature and weather increasingly important when deciding where and how to fish.
Throughout the month, Topsail.Fish will continue following the transition through weekly fishing summaries, reports from local captains, Saturday Catch, and locally focused fishing guides designed to help anglers make the most of fall fishing around Topsail Island.
Thank You for Being Part of Topsail.Fish
Topsail.Fish continues to grow as a local fishing resource because of the captains who share their knowledge and fishing reports, the businesses that support the website, and the anglers who return looking for useful information about fishing the Greater Topsail Island area.
A fishing report can introduce an angler to a local captain. A how-to article can help someone become a better fisherman. A seasonal guide can help a family plan a fishing trip. And features like Saturday Catch can help readers discover useful information they might otherwise have missed.
Thank you to everyone who contributed, participated, shared our content, or simply spent some time exploring Topsail.Fish during September. Fall fishing is here, and we’re looking forward to seeing what October brings.
Topsail.Fish
Connecting anglers with local captains throughout the Greater Topsail Island area.
Website: https://topsail.fish
Tight Lines,
The Topsail.Fish Team
Continue Exploring Captain Resources
Whether you’re an experienced charter captain or just beginning your guiding career, the For Captains section of Topsail.Fish is designed to help you build a stronger business. Explore professional resources, marketing updates, directory tools, fishing reports, and educational content created specifically for fishing guides throughout the Greater Topsail Island area.
🎣 Planning a trip to the NC coast? Before you book a boat down south, check out why Topsail vs. Wilmington fishing offers a better backwater experience. 🎣
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