Hampstead, NC Fishing: Angling in a True Southern Gem

Hampstead in southeastern North Carolina is an unincorporated coastal community of Pender County. It is situated between Wilmington and Jacksonville on U.S. Route 17. The community is also part of the Wilmington Metropolitan Statistical Area. Because of its proximity to the coast, home value, and highly-rated school system, Hampstead is one of the fastest-growing communities in the state. It was named after the area of Hampstead, found in London, England. 

Bordered by the Intracoastal Waterway to the east, Hampstead presents itself as an ideal coastal destination that offers tons of activities and amenities. The community is considered a true southern gem due to miles of coastline and easy access to Topsail Island and the Atlantic Ocean. The historic Belvidere Plantation House is located near Hampstead. In 1982, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places list. Golfing is also very popular in Hampstead, home to three 18-hole golf courses and two hours away from Myrtle Beach in South Carolina, the ‘Golf Capital of the World’. Boating, fishing, and water sports enthusiasts can regard Hampstead as a haven. Many public boat ramps, marinas, and waterfront homes overlook the Intracoastal Waterway and the Atlantic Ocean.

Hampstead Fishing

Hampstead can be one of the best places to go angling in North Carolina, with miles of beautiful oceanfront and easy access to waterways. Hampstead can deliver a great experience for avid saltwater anglers, whether they’re doing it inshore or offshore. 

Hampstead provides effortless access to the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway. Anglers can catch fish by surfcasting or casting their line near over thirty miles of the coast. Saltwater species they can reel in that way include spot, Atlantic bonito, Atlantic croaker, Atlantic menhaden, Atlantic spadefish, black drum, red drum, black sea bass, striped bass, spotted sea trout, bluefish, butterfish, cobia, Florida pompano, southern flounder, summer flounder, gulf flounder, inshore lizardfish, king mackerel, Spanish mackerel, kingfish, little tunny, northern puffer, oyster toadfish, pigfish, pinfish, searobin, shad, sheepshead, silver perch, skate, stingray, striped mullet, and weakfish. For anglers who want to go deep sea fishing, offshore saltwater fish they can hook includes almaco jack, bank sea bass, rock sea bass, bigeye tuna, blackfin tuna, bluefin tuna, skipjack tuna, yellowfin tuna, blue marlin, white marlin, blueline tilefish, dolphinfish, gag grouper, red grouper, yellowedge grouper, grey triggerfish, great barracuda, greater amberjack, hogfish, knobbed porgy, red porgy, red snapper, vermilion snapper, yellowtail snapper, sailfish, scamp, sandbar shark, dogfish shark, speckled hind, spottail pinfish, swordfish, wahoo, and white grunt. Around 20 miles off beaches regarded as the “middle grounds,” anglers can primarily target fish like tarpon, mahi-mahi, crevalle jack, little tunny, king mackerel, Spanish mackerel, cobia, sharks, barracuda, greater amberjack, and Atlantic bonito. Bottom fishing can yield catches of black sea bass, grouper, triggerfish, grunts, snapper, porgies, and flounder. 

Topsail Island and its surroundings offer some of the best fishing in Hampstead. Anglers can go surfcasting, pier fishing, and charter fishing in and around the island. From Topsail Beach, one can reel in albacore tuna, drum, Spanish mackerel, flounder, trout, sharks, and more. One can also fish from Seaview Pier, Surf City Ocean Pier, and Jolly Roger Pier, with cleaning stations and bait and tackle shops onsite. To the east, The Sound at Soundside Park in Surf City also has a fishing pier and offers a chance to go crabbing. The marsh in the island presents itself as an ideal habitat for fish like red drum, black drum, speckled trout, grey trout, flounder, spot, sheepshead, and bluefish. The marsh area has miles of grassy shorelines, shallow flats, creeks, and oyster beds. Plenty of forage like mullet, crab, shrimp, menhaden, and other baitfish species abound in that area, making baitcasting an effective way to reel in targets. For those who want to fish by boat around Topsail Island, the place from New River Inlet to New Topsail Inlet are the most active due to fertile artificial reefs, live bottoms, rock piles, ledges, and deep contours. The area near Wilmington is an excellent place to go saltwater fly fishing.

Anglers who want to try angling around Lea-Hutaff Island and Figure Eight Island will find the areas very productive. Both are important sanctuaries for wildlife and act as peaceful places for recreation. The marsh behind Figure Eight Island is an excellent fishing area because it is abundant in creeks, flats, oyster beds, and grassy shorelines. The best sites to target fish are in backwaters and areas near Rich Inlet. Red drum, flounder, and speckled trout are the best fish to find in those places. Jetties and large rocks provide excellent fishing for migratory species such as king mackerel, Spanish mackerel, cobia, tarpon, and bluefish.

Hampstead hosts the weigh-in every year for the Topsail Inshore Challenge at Sloop Point Boat Storage. The tournament challenges anglers to catch the heaviest two red drum within one day. Prizes come in the form of over $15,000 in cash and more. There are prizes and awards for catching the largest red drum and best oyster toadfish or lizardfish. There are special payouts for junior, lady, and senior anglers who do well. The event helps the Wilmington Elks invest in programs that make communities healthy and drug-free for children and honor veterans.

Top 10 Fish Species in Hampstead, NC

The top 10 fish found in Hampstead, North Carolina, are Atlantic bonito, black drum, red drum, king mackerel, Spanish mackerel, southern flounder, cobia, tarpon, and speckled trout.

Seasonal Fishing

Fish like tarpon, mahi-mahi, crevalle jack, little tunny, king mackerel, Spanish mackerel, cobia, sharks, barracuda, greater amberjack from March to October, and Atlantic bonito are abundant around 20 miles offshore. All year long, anglers can reel in species such as red drum, speckled trout, black sea bass, grouper, triggerfish, grunts, snapper, porgies, and flounder. During the summer, migratory fish such as king mackerel, Spanish mackerel, cobia, tarpon, and bluefish can be easily spotted in jetties and areas with rock structures. Jolly Roger Fishing Pier and Seaview Pier in Topsail Beach are available from March to November. Surf City Ocean Pier is open from mid-March to December for angling. Spring, summer, and fall yield species like sheepshead, spot, striped bass, croaker, white marlin, blue marlin, sailfish, and wahoo.

Coastal Creature Comforts in Hampstead, NC

Hampstead offers numerous activities and amenities, taking advantage of its ocean and scenic islands.

1. Book a Fishing Charter

With Hampstead being right next to the Intracoastal Waterway and the Atlantic Ocean, fishing is prevalent for residents and visitors alike. Fishing charters are readily available throughout the area, with boat rental services and bait and tackle shops also easily accessed. Piers also have fish cleaning stations.

2. Explore the Island

Topsail Island offers a great beaching experience, with Topsail Beach providing a scenic view of the Atlantic Ocean. Many local restaurants and shops line its shorelines. One can also visit the Missiles and More Museum, which showcases the local heritage and military history. People can also visit Serenity Point, a historical landmark at the island’s east end. 

3. Take Part in the Festivities

People able to visit Hampstead during the last week of September will get the chance to take part in the North Carolina Spot Festival. Over 6,000 spot dinner plates are served every year. The event raises money for Topsail schools and the community. A scholarship pageant is coincidently held along with the festival that crowns eight girls from North Carolina. The Relay For Life walkathon that raises money for the American Cancer Society is held in Hampstead every year.