Southern District Pender, New Hanover and Brunswick CountiesContact: Dennis Trowell
For the 2011 fishing year, all owners/operators of vessels recreationally fishing for and/or retaining regulated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) (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 (HMS) Angling permit. This permit has replaced the Atlantic tunas Angling category permit. In North Carolina, additional HMS harvest reporting requirements are also in place. To obtain a permit go to: http://www.hmspermits.gov.
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) A recreational Recreational 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.
For the week ending May 19
Ocean: Offshore anglers landed numerous gaffer dolphin, along with a few blackfin tuna. Wahoo catches dropped considerably. Billfish catches increased, mostly with blue marlin. Those who targeted grouper caught limits of red, gag, and scamp. Additionally, big hogfish, amberjack and a wide assortment of reef fish were caught. Anglers fishing near shore caught king mackerel and cobia while trolling with live bait around artificial reefs and ledges.
Inlets/Sounds/Bays: Inshore anglers targeted flounder with moderate success. The most productive areas were around Tubbs Inlet and the Cape Fear River. One fish weighed in at more than ten pounds, and several were in the five-pound range. Spotted seatrout were caught around Bald Head Island. Red drum was caught throughout area creeks and bays.
Piers/Shore: Area pier fishing improved. Spanish mackerel and bluefish were prominent in the morning hours. Anglers targeting flounder with live bait had good catches of keeper-sized fish. Sea mullet and a few pompano were caught on fresh shrimp and mole crabs. A few king mackerel and cobia were landed, mostly on the Oak Island piers. Spotted seatrout started showing up at Brunswick County piers, as well. Anglers were catching them in the early morning on live shrimp fished. Shore anglers caught sea mullet and red and black drum on fresh shrimp and mole crabs
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