Book Your Fishing Charter in Beaufort, NC

Discover bountiful fishing in America’s Coolest Small Town — Beaufort, North Carolina. The scenic town is on the gifted Crystal Coast, a region known for its long fishing seasons and diverse fish. With its past and present tied to the waters surrounding it, Beaufort is a destination brimming with coastal charms. 

Not to be confused with South Carolina’s Beaufort (pronounced as BEW-fert), North Carolina’s Beaufort (BOW-fert) has long had a strong fishing tradition. It was known as Fish Town way before its incorporation. Today, it goes by the more romantic designation, Beaufort-by-the-Sea, and is still a thriving fishing town known for its fantastic spots, expert charters, and fresh seafood.

Beaufort Fishing: Amazing Inshore and Offshore Fishing on the Crystal Coast

If you’re looking for one destination to experience productive inshore and offshore fishing, then Beaufort should be on your travel list. Apart from being a fantastic fishing spot, it’s a great gateway to fish the rest of the Crystal Coast, known for having one of the longest fishing seasons and the most diverse catch on the Atlantic Coast.

Have a ball-catching Atlantic croaker, bluefish, gray trout, Southern flounder, and striped bass on the Newport River via the Newport River Pier and Ramp and Radio Island Beach Access. The pier is a lively spot to fish, while the Radio Island Beach Access is a more off-the-beaten option if you want to avoid the crowds.

Fish the Beaufort Inlet, a waterway that connects to the Atlantic Ocean, via Fort Macon State Park. It gets pretty popular during summer, but it still offers plenty of great fishing opportunities in other seasons. Some of the species you can hope to catch here are red drum, flounder, bluefish, pompano, spot, whiting, black drum, speckled trout, and even dogfish.

Taylor’s Creek is another rich water body within Beaufort that anglers can fish from several nice spots. Most have docks and street-side parking, making them convenient to cast a line. The most popular ones include Topsail Marine Park, Grayden Paul Park, and Fishermen’s Park.

If you want to head out into the water, then make a beeline for Front Street, where you will find Beaufort’s charters. Here you will find charters specializing in sound-side fishing and offshore fishing. Sound-side fishing is a great way to fish in the open waters without venturing too far out. Spring and fall will yield black drum, king and Spanish mackerel, sheepshead, croaker, and speckled trout. Common targets include sea mullet, amberjack, pompano, and cobia during summer. 

Deep-sea fishing here will take you to the Gulf Stream, where you can catch classics such as white and blue marlin, sailfish, common dolphinfish, amberjack, yellowfin and blackfin tuna, red snapper, wahoo, and albacore. 

Charter fishing can be quite expensive, so if you can’t spare the dime, get the experience for less on a local headboat. A headboat is a large fishing vessel offers half-day fishing trips to multiple passengers, focusing on calmer waters nearshore. Because it’s the more economical choice, anglers will have to bring their tackle and bait.

Experience the Gifts of the Sea in Beaufort

1. Book a Scenic Cruise

See the wonderful scenic spots in Beaufort aboard one of the cruises you can find on Front Street.

2. Taste Beaufort’s Rich Cuisine

Stroll on Beaufort’s downtown area to get a sampling of the town’s world-renowned local cuisine.