Wilmington, NC Fishing: Excellent Fishing City with a Distinct Southern Charm

The port city of Wilmington is located in the southeast portion of North Carolina. It’s a historically important place, having once been at the forefront of racial integration during the century. It is also considered a Coast Guard City by the US Congress and a World War II heritage city. Wilmington is proud of its deep history, as seen in its collection of excellent museums and the well-preserved Victorian architecture and landmarks in its historic district.

Recently, Wilmington has made a name for itself in the film and television production industry. It is now home to the biggest production facility outside Hollywood and has one of the country’s most advanced sound stages and special effects facilities. 

Wilmington is a famous water district. One of its biggest draws, the scenic Riverwalk, is built around the Cape Fear River, its biggest river system. The city’s favorite recreational areas are based around its vibrant island beaches, where visitors of all ages can find something to enjoy. And because the city is such an enormous tourist destination, it has quite a wide array of hotels and accommodations, from historic inns bespoke rentals to signature waterfront hotels.

Fishing is a way of life in Wilmington as it has long been a port city with easy access to the Atlantic Ocean. The rich ocean waters feed into many of the city’s rivers and streams, making it a fantastic urban fishing destination for anglers.

Wilmington Fishing

Anglers will never run out of fishing options in Wilmington. The coastal city has miles of ocean shorelines, productive streams, and off-the-beaten creeks. And what’s even better is that the city is well-equipped to serve your fishing needs with its number of tackle shops, guides, and piers scattered throughout the area. If you’re planning on introducing your family to the joys of fishing, this city is an excellent destination, as it offers different fishing opportunities, productive waters, and total convenience.

An iconic place to fish in Wilmington is the Cape Fear River. Formed from the confluence of the Haw and Deep Rivers and emptying into the Atlantic Ocean, the river has played a huge role in the development of Wilmington and North Carolina as a whole. It is a favorite among anglers because of the many inshore fishing opportunities it presents. The section of the river accessible from Wilmington is very close to the river's mouth, where it empties into the ocean. It is home to seasonal North Carolina favorites like redfish, black drum, flounder, speckled trout, cobia, black sea bass, sheepshead, Spanish mackerel, and king mackerel. The city offers several points to fish the river. River Road Park is a vast public park on the river’s edge and has an ADA-accessible fishing pier. If you’d like to operate your vessel, there are various public boat launches around the city, including Castle Hayne, Carolina Beach State Park Boat Ramp, Castle Street Boat Ramp, Snows Cut Boat Ramp, and Trails End Boat Ramp.

If you want to widen your cast, Wilmington offers three island beaches from which you can fish the ocean. A great way to start your beach fishing journey is on Wrightsville Beach, where you will find Johnnie Mercer’s Pier. It is an all-concrete pier, making it hurricane- and storm-proof. It extends more than a thousand feet into the ocean, making it a great fishing destination all year round. It is particularly active during summer as it is filled with mackerel, flounder, croaker, pompano, spot, and sheepshead. 

For a calm and scenic fishing pier experience, there’s the lovely Carolina Beach Fishing Pier. It is surrounded by an undeveloped beach to its north and tiny rows of vacation rentals to its south, making it feel like an off-the-beaten fishing spot. It is a wooden pier, and one of the few left on the “Pleasure Island” area, giving it a nostalgic fishing village vibe. Summer fishing is quite productive here as it yields all the saltwater classics, including Spanish mackerel, mullet, sheepshead, flounder, and bluefish. However, spring and fall are highlights on this pier, as they are reportedly the best time to catch trophy king mackerel, redfish, and black drum. 

For productive fishing with a side of local history, head to Kure Beach Pier, considered the oldest fishing pier on the ocean coast. While the pier area dates back to the 1920s, the fishing pier itself has been rebuilt several times over the years because of the area’s brushes with hurricanes. It continues to be a favorite among North Carolina anglers as it yields many seasonal favorites, including flounder, pompano, red drum, black drum, bluefish, and king mackerel. The pier hosts many tournaments, the most popular of which is the Cape Fear Disabled Sportsman’s Fishing Tournament every April.

Wilmington offers amazing offshore fishing opportunities as well. Many offshore fishing businesses are concentrated near Wrightsville Beach Causeway. However, because fishing is a popular activity, anglers should book in advance, especially during summer, spring, and fall when charters get booked fast. For nearshore fishing trips, charters can take you to the most productive artificial reefs and wrecks, where you can target albacore tuna and king mackerel. Bottom fishing in these parts can yield grouper, black sea bass, vermilion snapper, grunt, and triggerfish. If you’re keen to go out into the open waters, book a fishing charter that will take you to the Gulf Stream, where you can test your skills and luck snagging common dolphinfish, wahoo, blackfin tuna, and blue marlin.

Keen to test your skills in a more competitive setting? Join one of Wilmington’s fun fishing tournaments. The Cape Fear Blue Marlin Tournament every June, the Wrightsville Beach Wild King Classic during August, and the North Carolina Flatfish Championship during September.

Top 10 Fish Species in Wilmington, NC

The top 10 fish species in Wilmington, NC, are redfish, black drum, sheepshead,  black sea bass, king mackerel, Spanish mackerel, flounder, pompano, blackfin tuna, and cobia.

Seasonal Fishing

Spring, summer, and fall are equally productive seasons to fish in Wilmington. Spanish mackerel are best caught during May when the waters are warmer. They are typically caught trolling with light tackle and will be around well into September. Offshore and nearshore fishing are best during July when common dolphinfish and sailfish are actively feeding 25 miles from the shore. 

The best month to fish in the area is in October, when there’s plenty of trophy flounder inshore, along with redfish, speckled trout, and gray trout. King mackerel also tends to be bigger and can be targeted inshore and offshore. 

November is the ideal month to target speckled trout inshore, while December is an excellent and peaceful time to fish for some redfish, black drum, tripletail, and sheepshead inshore. The rest of the winter months can be quite slow but there are still fish biting should you head off the beach or fish the city’s artificial reefs. Spinning and baitcasting are usually the best fishing techniques around this time of the year.

Experience Diverse City Attractions in Wilmington

Wilmington offers a range of exciting sights and activities, as can be expected from a historic city with a vibrant tourist scene. It’s a great destination for families with diverse interests as there’s always plenty to see and do.

1. Book a Fishing Charter

If you’re in Wilmington during the prime fishing months, call up a local fishing charter well in advance so you can snag a trip before they run out. Choose from nearshore trips to artificial reefs, inshore boats to explore the city’s backwater, or offshore trips to experience Gulf Stream fishing.

2. Join a Themed Cruise

The city offers some of the best scenic cruises on this side of North Carolina. Join a Cape Fear Riverboat Cruise or opt for a more adventurous water tour with Epic Excursions, where you can explore on a paddleboard or surfboard.

3. Have Family-Friendly Day at the Boardwalk

For a picturesque day out on the beach, take your entire family to the Carolina Beach Boardwalk, where you can play arcade games, ride on amusement rides, snack on hand-made donuts at the classic Britt’s Donut Shop, and shop for souvenirs.