Best Times & Seasons to Fish the Cape Fear Coastline
The waters around Cape Fear offer some of the best angling opportunities in the nation. The trick, though, is to know when and where to have the best fishing.
The best time to fish the Cape Fear coastal waters is between the months of May and September offshore, with mahi mahi, wahoo, and yellowfin tuna being just a few of the fish you can expect to catch, while inshore fishing is best from July to December.
| Fish Species | Best Times to Fish the Cape Fear Coastline |
| King Mackerel | September & October are the two best months for king mackerel near Cape Fear. |
| Spanish Mackerel | The peak season is April through October in Cape Fear coastal waters. |
| Flounder | May through October is the peak fishing season in Cape Fear. |
| Sailfish | The best season for sailfish is January through May in local waters. |
| Mahi Mahi | The peak fishing season is May through September for coastal dolphin. |
| Tuna | June through November is the peak fishing season in Cape Fear. |
| Redfish | May & June are the peak months but good fishing lasts until October |
| Spotted Seatrout | November through March is the peak fishing season in Cape Fear. |
| Snook | The best season for snook is May through September. |
The Cape Fear coast is a world-class fishing spot. The area offers plenty of diversity to the anglers. The destination has many fishing spots. Here, anglers can enjoy fishing in the waters of the Cape Fear River.
It’s possible to fish in the ocean from the shore. Anglers can fish from piers, in the parks, or on the beaches. There are also lakes in the area. Plus, you can book a charter fishing trip and try deep sea fishing.
The Cape Fear coastline impresses anglers with the abundance of fish. Fishermen can catch both fresh and saltwater species in the area. There are so many options for fishermen, who would like to visit the Cape Fear area. Start planning your fishing adventures in advance. Explore all of your options carefully and select the best places for your fishing spots.
Best Time to Fish Cape Fear Coastline
The angler’s success depends on many different factors. It’s crucial for fishermen to fish Cape Fear Coast in the right place and at the right time. The best time of the year to fish in the area depends on where you want to go fishing and what species you are going to target.
Anglers can target a vast variety of fish species in the waters of Cape Fear Coast. There are species of fish that anglers can catch all year round. However, there are fish species that get active only during certain times of the year.
Fishing opportunities are always excellent in the region. So, you can fish Cape Fear Coast at any time of the year. The vast majority of fish species bite well during the summer months. Anglers, who fish Cape Fear Coast, also get the best results in the spring and in the fall. It’s recommended to fish the area in April, May, September, and October.
Recommended Fishing Charters along the Cape Fear Coast
These Cape Fear-based charters have earned great reviews from anglers and will offer you a tremendous service. The captains are knowledgeable, friendly, and are sure to put you on fish. By clicking the links below, you will be taken to the charter’s respective profile on Fishing Booker where you can read reviews, learn more about the charter, view photos, and book online at the best rate.
| Recommended Fishing Charters | Type of Fishing Offered |
| Captain Big Fish (Wrightsville Beach) | Inshore, Nearshore & Offshore |
| S. S. Fish Witch II Charters (Carolina Beach) | Inshore, Nearshore & Offshore |
| Streamline Charters (Wilmington) | Backcountry, Inshore & Offshore |
| Shallotte Outdoors Fishing Charters (Holden Beach) | Backcountry, Inshore & Nearshore |
| Native Son Guide Service (Topsail Beach) | Backcountry, Inshore & Offshore |
Cape Fear Coast Species Breakdown: Best Time
Different species of fish can be found in the waters of the Cape Fear area. It’s important to know that some species of fish bite well throughout the year. However, there are also seasonal fish species that you can catch during certain periods of the year. Below, we’ll talk about the most common species of fish in the region and provide anglers with information on when and where to catch them.
Flounder
The destination attracts a lot of anglers, who are looking for flounder. Flounder is a strong fish and a good fighter. That’s why flounder fishing is very exciting. The season to fish for flounder starts in the late spring and lasts til the late fall. Kure Beach Fishing Pier is an ideal place to target flounder on the Cape Fear Coast. Ideally, you should aim to target flounder in the early morning.
King mackerel
It’s a great idea to try fishing for king mackerel in the area. Anglers, who target king mackerel on the Cape Fear Coast, usually get the best results between September and the middle of October. King mackerel can be found in the ocean around the mouth of the Cape Fear River. It would be better to go fishing for king mackerel either at dawn or at dusk.
Spanish mackerel
Spanish mackerel is also one of the most common fish species in the Cape Fear area. Anglers in the Cape Fear area fish for Spanish mackerel between April and October. Fishing is the most productive between May and June. Go to River Road Park boat ramp to enjoy fishing Spanish mackerel. It’s recommended to go fishing either in the early morning or in the late evening.
Mahi mahi
Mahi mahi fishing is also very popular in the Cape Fear area. Anglers catch mahi mahi by deep-sea fishing. The fish becomes active in the summer. Mahi mahi actively feeds between May and September. It makes sense to target mahi mahi at night when the moon is bright.
Tuna
It’s possible to catch tuna during a fishing trip to the Cape Fear area. Carolina Beach Fishing Pier is the right place to target tuna. Tuna fishing season starts in June and lasts till November. The fish is the most active in August and September. The period of time between dusk and dawn is a great time of day to enjoy tuna fishing in the region.
Red drum
Red drum can be found in the inshore waters of the Cape Fear River. Anglers catch red drum in the summer and fall months. It’s worth noting that red drum fishing is the most productive between May and June. Ideally, you should fish for red drum in the morning.
Sailfish
The Cape Fear area is best known for its incredible sailfish fishing. Sailfish actively feed during the cold months. When fishing for sailfish, anglers get excellent results between January and April. Carolina Beach Fishing Pier is the right place to target sailfish in the area.
Snook
Snook bites well in the warm waters. So, the season to fish snook starts in the late spring and lasts till the early fall. Fish gather in large groups and go to the deep spots during the cold months. Buzzard Bay is the ideal fishing spot to target snook.
Spotted Seatrout
Some anglers choose to target spotted seatrout during their fishing trips in the Cape Fear area. It’s possible to catch spotted seatrout all year round. The fish bites very well during the wintertime. Buzzard Bay is one of the best fishing spots to target spotted seatrout in the region.
Largemouth bass
The Cape Fear area has something to offer to those anglers, who give a preference to largemouth bass fishing. Anglers can catch largemouth bass at any time of the year. However, largemouth bass gets the most active during the spring and fall months. It makes a lot of sense to visit Sutton Lake if you are interested in targeting largemouth bass.
I recommend this Penn Pursuit Spinning Rod & Reel combo (available on Amazon) for inshore and nearshore fishing. It can handle everything from redfish to snapper and king mackerel. The Penn Battalion Series Spinning Rod and the Penn Battle Spinning Reel are fantastic if you want to create your combo.
Best Time of Day to Fish Cape Fear Coast
Anglers can fish in the Cape Fear area during the morning, afternoon, and evening hours. It’s also possible to enjoy fishing at might.
The best time of day to fish in the area depends on the time of the year and target fish species. It would be great to fish in the early morning during the summer months. Go fishing in the afternoon in the spring, fall, or winter.
Cape Fear Coast Fishing & Tidal Impacts
Tides affect fishing in the Cape Fear area. There is a direct link between the tides and the feeding activity of fish.
It’s necessary to get ready for a fishing trip properly in advance. Studying tide times has to be a key part of the preparation for a fishing trip. Anglers need to know when tides are high and when tides are low in the Cape Fear area.
Fish the Cape Fear area during the rising tides. Fish move closer to shorelines during these hours and anglers find it easy to catch it because the ideal conditions for fishing are created.
For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish the Outer Banks, please check out this helpful article. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish Beaufort, please check out this helpful article I wrote. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish Carolina Beach, please check out this helpful article I wrote.
Storms & Cape Fear Coast Fishing
When planning fishing adventures in the Cape Fear area, anglers always have to analyze the local weather forecast carefully. Anglers have to avoid fishing during the storms. However, oftentimes fishing is excellent after storms. Storms bring fish closer to the shoreline. Fishing after storms increases anglers’ chances to catch a big fish.
Is Winter Fishing Bad or Good in Cape Fear Coast?
Of course, winter is not the best time of the year to fish on the Cape Fear coast. However, a lot of fish species are active during the winter months. Winter fishing is still productive. Oftentimes, fishermen catch crappie in January. Shad is a fish that gets active at the end of February. It’s a great idea to enjoy speckled trout fishing in December.
Night Fishing in Cape Fear Coast
Night creates excellent fishing opportunities for anglers in the Cape Fear area. For example, fishermen can try to catch spotted seatrout in the region at night. It’s also important to note that nighttime gives anglers an opportunity to fish for mahi mahi. The fish bites well during a full moon.
Shore/Surf Fishing: Best Times & Seasons
The Cape Fear coast is a paradise for anglers who prefer shore/surf fishing. Anglers can fish from shore in parks, on beaches, and on docks. It’s possible to surf fish in the area all year round. However, the surf fishing season is high between May and September.
There are a lot of piers in the Cape Fear area as well. Among the most popular local piers are Johnnie Mercer’s Pier, Carolina Beach Fishing Pier, Kure Beach Fishing Pier, and others.
Every year so many anglers come to these piers to enjoy shore/surf fishing. Piers are close to the beach, so anglers can combine shore/surf fishing with swimming during the hot summer months.
Top 5 Fishing Spots in Cape Fear Coast
Do you prefer deep-sea fishing or, maybe, fishing from shore is more to your liking? Are you interested in fishing in the river or lakes? Would you like to book a fishing boat charter? It’s important to know that the Cape Fear area has fishing spots for all anglers’ tastes.
There are many great fishing spots in the Cape Fear area. Now, we’ll tell you through the top spots where anglers can enjoy fishing at their best and achieve excellent results.
Carolina Beach Fishing Pier
Carolina Beach Fishing Pier is a good fishing spot for anglers, who want to fish in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. The pier is close to the beach. When fishing on the pier, anglers can visit a snack bar, a game room or take advantage of a grill. There is also an on-site bait and tackle shop.
Among the fish species that you can catch when fishing on the pier are mahi-mahi, sailfish, tuna, red snapper, and others. Here, it’s possible to fish all year round. However, anglers get the best results in the spring and fall.
Kure Beach Fishing Pier
Kure Beach Fishing Pier also allows anglers to enjoy fishing in the Atlantic Ocean. Here, angling enthusiasts can enjoy fishing at any time of the year and catch many different species of fish such as drum, cobia, flounder, sheepshead, and others. Fishing on the pier is the most productive between October and December.
Buzzard Bay
Buzzard Bay is the place where the Cape Fear River meets the ocean. This fishing spot provides anglers with easy access to the Cape Fear River and the Atlantic Ocean. So, it’s up to you where to go fishing.
Among the most common species of fish that anglers can catch in this area are flounder, red drum, spotted seatrout, snook as well as weakfish. The best time of the day to fish Buzzard Bay is early morning. Here, fish usually bite well at sunrise.
River Road Park boat ramp
A lot of anglers choose to fish in the Cape Fear River. River Road Park boat ramp is one of the best places to fish on the river. The fishing spot provides anglers with a public parking area and a launch lane. The river provides anglers with excellent fishing opportunities.
Here, you can catch a variety of fish species including cobia, catfish, flounder, largemouth bass, sheepshead as well as king mackerel and Spanish mackerel. The fishing season starts in April and lasts till October.
Sutton Lake
Sutton Lake is another popular fishing spot in the area. The lake is warm during the cold winter months and this has a positive impact on the activity of fish. Warmer water means more active fish. It’s a fishing spot where anglers can catch a vast variety of fish species including bluegill, black crappie, catfish, largemouth bass, and many others. It’s possible to fish in the lake all year round.
Booking Charters in Cape Fear Coast
Fishing is an activity that has gained huge popularity among the locals and visitors of the Cape Fear Coast. A lot of fishing charters are available for the anglers in the Cape Fear area.
Fishermen can book either inshore or offshore charters in the region. Here, you can relax by spending a day on fishing activities, enjoy picturesque views of the area, and feel the taste of the region.
-Best season to go
Summer is a great time to book a charter and go fishing on the Cape Fear Coast. Fishermen can catch many different species during the summer months. On the other hand, summer is a very popular season of the year. A lot of people come to the region to enjoy fishing in the summer. That’s why the prices of fishing charters are higher.
If you are looking for more affordable fishing, then you should go to the area either in the late spring or in the early fall. The prices on fishing trips are lower during these times of the year, but fishing is still quite good.
Keep in mind that a lot of fishermen choose to target red drum and other fish species in the Cape Fear area during the spring and summer months. That means that anglers can save some money and get effective results.
-Morning vs. afternoon
Anglers in the Cape Fear area can go fishing either in the morning or afternoon. It’s a good idea to go fishing in the early morning during the hot summer months. The reality is, the water surface is cooler during the morning hours and this has a positive impact on the activity of fish. The afternoon is a more suitable time of the day to go fishing in the spring, fall, and winter. Fishing is more productive in the afternoon due to warmer water temperatures.
-1/2 day, full-day, multi-day charters
When selecting a fishing charter, anglers have to decide how much time they would like to spend on fishing. A fishing trip can last several hours, a full day or even a few days. Book a fishing trip that meets your fishing needs and preferences as well as budget in the best possible way.
