Southern District Fishing Report —
Pender, New Hanover and Brunswick Counties
Contact: Dennis Trowell (Dennis.Trowell@ncdenr.gov)
For the week of Oct. 1-8
Ocean: When the weather permitted, offshore fishing was outstanding. Wahoo catches surged, with boats catching their limits of fish in the 40- to 60-pound range. Anglers bottom fishing caught their limits of large vermilion snapper and triggerfish in water depths from 120 to 140 feet. Additionally, nice red, gag and scamp groupers were caught, as well as a wide assortment of reef fish. Closer to shore, anglers caught plenty of king mackerel in the 10- to 20-mile range, along with amberjack and gag groupers. Nearshore fall fishing began with some big king mackerel showing up along the beaches from Topsail to Southport. Large red drum was caught along the Brunswick County beaches by anglers fishing around schools of menhaden. Good catches of Gulf flounder were seen on the nearshore reefs off New Hanover, Pender and Onslow counties.
Inlets/Sounds/Bays: Fishing was fantastic. Anglers brought in spotted seatrout, red drum, black drum, flounder and sheepshead. The best trout fishing was around Bald Head Island, but fish were starting to show up at places like Riches Inlet and other traditional fall and winter locations. Large red drum was caught at both the Little River rock jetty and the Masonboro rock jetty. Sheepshead were caught around the ADM dock, area rock jetties and around other docks. Lots of slot-size red drum and black drum were caught in area creeks and marshes.
Piers/Shore: Anglers at area piers reported some great fall action catching good numbers of pompano and lower numbers of sea mullets, spot and croakers. Some of the largest flounder of the year were caught, as well as red drum, black drum, king mackerel and Spanish mackerel. Surf fisherman caught much of the same, including good catches of pompano, slot-size red drum and black drum.
For the fishing year, all owners/operators of vessels recreationally fishing for and/or retaining regulated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (Atlantic tunas, sharks, swordfish and billfish) in the Atlantic Ocean, including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, must obtain an Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Angling permit. This permit has replaced the Atlantic tunas Angling category permit. In North Carolina, additional Highly Migratory Species harvest reporting requirements are also in place. To obtain a permit go to: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/compliance/permits_reporting/index.html
Report a tagged fish
Please note: Anglers sometimes confuse small king mackerel with Spanish mackerel. King mackerel and Spanish mackerel have different size and catch limits. Make sure you properly identify the mackerel you are catching. (Tips here)
Arecreational fishing license went into effect Jan. 1, 2007 for all of the state's coastal and ocean waters.
Click here for the latest seasons, size and bag limits.
Please note: New reports are usually posted by early Monday afternoon.
