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Home > Fishing, Boating & Watersports |
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The
Crystal Coast is the perfect place for water-related activities. Surfers
searching for ocean waves, windsurfers and water-skiers looking for calm
sound waters, and anglers hoping for something in between will find exactly
what they want along the Carteret County coastline. A wonderful bonus for
all water enthusiasts is the generally mild climate, which allows folks to
participate in their favorite sports nearly all year. In this chapter we
offer a look at fishing, boating, equipment rentals and places where you can
access our beautiful beaches. For businesses and beach access areas on Bogue
Banks, we have given the mile marker (MM) to help you find them.
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FishingThe Crystal Coast hosts numerous fishing tournaments. The Swansboro Rotary Club hosts its King Mackerel/Blue Water Fishing Tournament in May, and one of the nation's largest king mackerel tournaments, the Atlantic Beach King Mackerel Tournament, is held in October. The Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament, one of the largest and oldest blue marlin tournaments in the country, is held each June. For details and dates, see our Annual Events chapter. Federal government studies report that your chances of catching fish in North Carolina waters are unsurpassed along the entire East Coast. Of the 21 recorded catches of Atlantic blue marlin in excess of 1,000 pounds, five have been caught off the North Carolina coast. In fact, a 1,002-pounder is on display in the parking lot behind the Crystal Coast Visitors Center in Morehead City. Seasoned anglers know a secret: Year-round fishing is a reality here. Saltwater anglers have access to miles and miles of fishing from the ocean, sounds, bays, rivers and creeks that define the natural wonderland of our coastal county. Inlets offer passages to ocean waters and deep-sea fishing. Ten miles east of Morehead City and Atlantic Beach is Cape Lookout, which offers some of the best fishing on the East Coast. Weather permitting, local fishing is soul-satisfying in the spring, summer, fall or winter. Consult our Sportfishing Guide in this chapter to find out which months are best for catching particular fish species. Whether you surf fish from the barrier island beaches or charter a private boat or head boat, you're sure to have the time of your life. If you desire a remote fishing experience, try vacationing at the fishing camps out on the Core Banks. You'll find more information about these hideaways in our Accommodations chapter. A license is required for anyone 16 years or older
to harvest fin fish in the sounds, rivers and tributaries, to three
miles out into the ocean. If you are fishing from three to 200 miles
offshore, this license will be required to bring your catch back to
shore. Before you fish, get a fishing license from a local tackle
shop or at
www.ncwildlife.org. Contact the N.C. Division of Marine
Fisheries, (252) 726-7021, for a list of size and catch limits and
harvest restrictions. |
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Fishing SchoolsMost anglers come to the Crystal Coast equipped with
fishing skills and knowledge, but a growing number of people want to
know more about fishing in area waters or want to improve their
chances of hooking the big one. The North Carolina Aquarium at Pine
Knoll Shores, (252) 247-4003, conducts a surf-fishing workshop every
fall during the second weekend in October. It's taught by
experienced fishing guides and is designed for novice surf
fishermen, but all anglers are welcome. Surf Fishing School Most anglers come to the
Crystal Coast equipped with fishing skills and knowledge, but a
growing number of people want to know more about fishing in area
waters or want to improve their chances of hooking the big one. The
North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores conducts a surf-fishing
workshop every fall during the second weekend in October. It's
taught by experienced fishing guides and is designed for novice surf
fishermen, but all anglers are welcome. |
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