Recreational Fishing Reports

Ocean

There will be plenty of excellent fishing opportunities onboard charter boats during the winter. The central area of the coast has become known for its Atlantic bluefin tuna fishery. Usually, cold weather has an impact on when those giants show up, but this season they are already here. How long they stay around will depend on the weather, as well. Other offshore species, such as king mackerel, yellowfin tuna and wahoo, will be available to anglers fishing the Gulf Stream. Bottom fishing for a variety of reef fishes is also excellent during the winter months.  

Several head boats operate throughout the year. Some of the best snapper /grouper catches occur during the winter. Extended and overnight fishing trips are offered. Also, bluefin tuna head boat trips are sometimes offered.  

Anglers on private boats can enjoy many of the same opportunities as those fishing on charter boats. Anglers fishing offshore will have access to excellent catches of king mackerel, snapper, grouper and other reef fish. Anglers shouldn’t forget about the fishing on the eastern side of Cape Lookout. December should provide good false albacore fishing. Many of the area wrecks will produce bluefish, weakfish (gray trout), and black sea bass until the water cools down.  

Inlets/Sounds/Bays

Spotted seatrout fishing was good this fall and there were plenty of nice trout around as well. The upper creeks of the White Oak, New, Neuse, Bay, Pamlico and Pungo rivers should offer good spotted seatrout fishing. Creek fishing for spotted seatrout is a specialized skill, and anglers may want to consider using a local guide to improve fishing opportunities. 

Pier/Beach

Most piers close for the winter season. Some may allow access, but catches will be limited. Shore fishing activity will be limited, as well. 

Ocean

Offshore fishing can be fantastic during the winter months. Bluewater trolling for wahoo can be very good, and vertical jigging and top water fishing for blackfin tuna is outstanding when weather conditions allow. African pompano and good numbers of cobia will bite jigs, as well. King mackerel fishing can be outstanding around Frying Pan Tower. Anglers should look for king mackerel in water temperatures around 67 degrees Fahrenheit and warmer. Bottom fishing for black sea bass, groupers and other various reef fish is good in the winter months. 

Inlets/Sounds/Bays

As the water temperature falls, things begin to slow down a little. Most anglers target trout and drum in the winter. Most of the trout action will take place around Masonboro and Little River rock jetties. Those targeting red drum will find the bays and creeks behind Bald Head Island productive. Also, the striped bass fishery in the Cape Fear River heats up during the winter months. The most productive striped bass fishing occurs around downtown Wilmington. 

Piers/Beach

Shore fishing is very limited in the winter months. Most piers close after Thanksgiving weekend and do not reopen until March. For those that do stay open, catches likely will be limited to puffers, skates and dog sharks. Fishing for puffers can be very good on piers during the winter months. 

Ocean

Fall Wahoo fishing has been fantastic when the weather permits offshore. Along with the great Wahoo catches, anglers are also releasing good numbers of sailfish as well. Along the beaches, where most of the fishing activity took place last week due to unfavorable sea conditions, anglers reported great fall fishing with schools of hungry Spanish Mackerel, Bluefish, and Little Tunny. The King Mackerel fishing seemed to slow some but there still are some around as the beach water temperatures are still around 70 degrees. Large bull Red Drum are being caught along the Brunswick County beaches by anglers fishing bait pods just off the beaches.

Inlets/Sounds/Bays

Inshore, fishing has been really good. The Spotted Seatrout are starting to show up throughout the area with some anglers catching limits. Good numbers of slot-size Red Drum are also being caught in the same general locations. The Cape Fear River has been good for both the drum and the trout with both species of fish being caught from the mouth of the river all the way up to downtown Wilmington. Sheepshead and Black Drum are being caught around area bridges, docks, and jetties and again the fishing last week was good for these as well. 

Piers/Beach

Last week, area piers saw a great week of fishing. The pompano catches took off last week and anglers who targeted them when they were moving through had some outstanding catches, landing fish in the 2-to-5-pound range. Along with the pompano, anglers also had good catches of kingfish (sea mullet), Spot, Bluefish, Red Drum, and Black drum. Spanish Mackerel fishing was good when the weather conditions were favorable, and a few King Mackerel were decked last week as well. Surf fishing was good, with anglers catching good numbers of pompano, slot size Red and Black Drum, Bluefish and plenty of kingfish.