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North Carolina Fishing: What's Hot and When!

Quick Index Areas
Wrightsville Beach
Wilmington Carolina Beach
Bald Head Island
Southport/
Oak Island

Holden Beach

Ocean Isle Beach
Calabash

Topsail Island

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Head Boats and Charters

If you're want to fish with a group of people, you've come to the right place. From Topsail's Treasure Coast to Calabash, there are fishing vessels aplenty. Choose the large head boats (a.k.a. party boats) accommodating dozens of people or the "six-pack" charters accommodating up to six passengers. Head boats average $40 to $100 per person for full-day excursions, and walk-ons are always welcome. The boats are equipped with full galleys and air-conditioned lounges. Handicapped accessibility to most large head boats tends to be good, but varies from boat to boat and with weather conditions.

Charters offer a variety of trips, half-day or full-day, inshore or offshore, and sometimes overnight. Most are available for tournaments and diving trips, but it's a good idea to reserve early. If you can't find enough friends to chip in to cover the cost, ask about split charters. Many captains book them. Most charter captains prefer reservations but will accept walk-ons when possible. Charters range anywhere from around $300 for half-day excursions up to $1,200 for an entire day of fishing in the Gulf Stream, which from here can be 40 to 70 miles offshore, depending on currents and the marina from which you embark.

Certain provisions are common to all charters and include first mate, onboard coolers and ice, all the bait and tackle you'll need for kings, tuna, dolphin, wahoo, billfish and more. With advanced notice, many captains will arrange food packages, and some may even arrange hotel packages. Optional electric reels may be available. Although most six-pack charters are unable to bring wheelchairs aboard, crews are often very accommodating of handicapped passengers, sometimes leaving the wheelchair ashore and providing secure seating on deck, right where the action is. Call the vessel of your choice in advance for details. Remember that no one can guarantee sea conditions. If your captain decides to turn back before you've landed a smoker, rest assured he knows what he's doing. Captains reserve the right to cancel trips if conditions are unsafe for the vessel or passengers.

Carolina Beach is the Gulf Stream fishing hub between Bald Head and Topsail islands. A large number of vessels run out of the Carolina Beach Municipal Docks at Carl Winner Street and Canal Drive. Paid parking is available on the marina's west, south and east sides. There is no central booking office for the charter boats, but since you should know something about what you're chartering in advance, your best bet is to simply walk the docks and eye each one. Signs and brochures there will give you all the booking information you'll need. Ticket booths for the head boats are located at the south end of the marina. Also, check the phone book's Yellow Pages under fishing guides, charters and parties.

Charters in southern Brunswick County are concentrated at the Southport Marina, Blue Water Point Marina on the western end of Oak Island, at Holden Beach and Ocean Isle Beach. There are no charters running directly out of Wilmington. Look instead for charters and head boats running from Wrightsville Beach and Carolina Beach.

Listed in this section are marinas and boats that book fishing charters. The types of vessels available at each location, six-packs or head boats, are indicated.EF 08-28-07
 

Seahawk Inshore Fishing Charters
5419 Paden Point Rd., Wilmington
(910) 792-6209

SeahawkInshoreFishingCharters_FishingCharters_WilmingtonlNC_090408

With Seahawk Inshore Fishing Charters you’ll find a variety of boats perfect for fishing the calm waters of the Cape Fear waterways. Seahawk Inshore Fishing Charters provides fishing experiences for inshore, near-shore and the backwaters of Carolina Beach, Kure Beach, Wrightsville Beach, Southport and Bald Head Island. From sight-casting for redfish in Buzzard’s Bay to live-bait fishing for large flounder in Snow’s Cut, Captain Jeff Wolfe will give you the fishing experience you desire. Seahawk Inshore Fishing Charters offers a unique service, the Waterman’s Way Seafood Charter, for those looking to catch a variety of seafood such as clams, crabs and various types of popular fish. Wolfe is a USCG–licensed, insured captain with 30 years of fishing experience. He specializes in local fishing trips that are fun and affordable for the entire family. Participants, especially children, enjoy using the different types of fishing gear. Seahawk Inshore Fishing Charters is open year-round.EFG 10-05-07
 
Seaward Action Charters
219 Oak Crest Dr., Wrightsville Beach
(252) 671-1684
www.seawardaction.com
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One of the area's newest charter companies is Seaward Action Charters. No strangers to saltwater fishing, each of Seaward Action's captains offers more than 10 years of saltwater fishing experience, making them seasoned enough to provide a great experience using the latest techniques and equipment. Seaward Action runs its charters out of the 21-foot Contender Slow Ride. One the top tournament fishing boats, Contenders are built with one ultimate goal in mind — fishing. Running at exhilarating speeds of up to 45 miles per hour, Slow Ride will get your lines in the water twice as fast as a traditional fishing charter. At Seaward Action, you'll find a high-quality boat and tackle, knowledgeable captains and affordable prices.EGF 04-29-08
 
Vonda Kay Head Boat
743 Cockle St., Surf City
(910) 545-FISH
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Are you ready to catch the big one? Climb aboard the Vonda Kay and head out to the Gulf Stream for a great day of fishing. Fish for black sea bass, snapper, grouper, triggerfish, mahi mahi, amberjack, mackerel and cobia. The Vonda Kay carries 76 passengers and has all of the latest electronics and safety equipment. Bait, tackle and instruction are provided. Private charters are available. Walk-ups are welcome, but reservations are recommended. The on-board galley serves deli sandwiches, burgers, snacks, soft drinks and beer. Fish-cleaning services and half-day trips are available.KW 04-10-08

 

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Southern Coast Saltwater Fishing Tournaments

Tournament fishing has been luring ever-larger schools of anglers, and no wonder. Top prizes can be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, and proceeds often benefit worthwhile charities. Many contests recognize tag-and-release as part of the Governor's Cup Billfishing Conservation series. The area has literally hundreds of competitive fishing events. Some of the popular tournaments are listed below; however you should watch the newspapers, as well as check current listings at tackle shops, marinas, piers and visitors centers. EGF 10-09-07

May

Annual Cape Fear Disabled Sportsmen Fishing Tournament, Kure Beach Fishing Pier, Kure Beach, (910) 458-5524, or Dawson Freuler, Tournament Director, (910) 458-1202EGF 10-09-07

The Far Out Shoot Out Fishing Tournament, Ocean Isle Fishing Center, Ocean Isle Beach, (910) 575-3474RP 10-08-07

Rebel King Mackerel Tournament, Ocean Crest Pier, Oak Island, (910) 278-4747, (910) 278-6674RP 04-29-08

June

Annual Carolina Beach Parks & Recreation Youth Pier Fishing Tournament, Kure Beach Fishing Pier, Kure Beach, (910) 458-5524 or (910) 458-2977EGF 10-08-07

Annual Flounder Tournament, Shallotte Point, Shallotte, (910) 579-3757RP 10-08-07

Bald Head Island Fishing Rodeo, Bald Head Island Marina, (910) 457-3779, (800) 234-1666RP 10-08-07

Jolly Mon King Classic, Ocean Isle Fishing Center, Ocean Isle Beach,
(910) 575-3474RP 10-08-07

Oak Island Open Pier Fishing Tournament, Ocean Crest Pier, Oak Island, (910) 278-4747, (910) 278-5518 RP 10-08-07

Greater Wilmington Hydra Sports King Mackerel Tournament, Wilmington, (910) 452-9940  EGF 10-08-07

July

Cape Fear Blue Marlin Tournament, Wrightsville Beach Marina, Wrightsville Beach, (910) 256-6666EGF 10-08-07

Captain Eddie Haneman Sailfish Tournament, Bridge Tender Marina, Wrightsville Beach, call Tripp at (910) 256-6550EGF 10-09-07

East Coast Got-Em-On Classic King Mackerel Tournament, Carolina Beach Yacht Basin, Carolina Beach, call Ty Cobb at (910) 512-0542 EGF 10-09-07

August

Annual Sneads Ferry Rotary Club King Mackerel Tournament, (held in conjunction with the Sneads Ferry Shrimp Festival), Sneads Ferry,
(910) 329-4446KW 10-08-07

Brunswick Islands Kingfish Classic, Holden Beach Marina, Supply,
(910) 842-5447, (800) 546-4622RP 10-09-07

Long Bay Lady Anglers King Mackerel Tournament, Marina at South Harbour Village, Southport, (910) 278-4137RP 10-09-07

Oak Island Open Youth Fishing Tournament, Ocean Crest Pier, Oak Island, (910) 278-5518 RP 10-09-07

Ocean Crest Pier Kingfishing Open, Ocean Crest Pier, Oak Island, (910) 278-4747, (910) 278-6674RP 04-29-08

Topsail Offshore Fishing Club King Mackerel Tournament, Topsail Beach, (910) 329-4446KW 10-09-07

September

Long Bay Artificial Reef Association Club Challenge, Oak Island,
(910) 278-4137RP 10-09-07

Wrightsville Beach King Mackerel Tournament, Wrightsville Beach Marina, Wrightsville Beach, (910) 256-6666 EGF 10-09-07

October

Fall Brawl King Classic, Ocean Isle Fishing Center, Ocean Isle Beach,
(910) 575-3474
RP 10-09-07

Kings of the Coast Fishing Tournament, Ocean Crest Pier, Oak Island, (910) 278-4747, (910) 278-6674RP 04-29-08

U.S. Open King Mackerel Tournament, Southport Marina, Southport, (910) 457-6964, (800) 457-6964RP 10-09-07

November

Thanksgiving Flounder & Trout Classic, Ocean Isle Fishing Center, Ocean Isle Beach, (910) 575-3474RP 10-08-07

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