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Southern District  Pender, New Hanover, & Brunswick Counties
 Contact: Dennis Trowell Winter Overview (weekly reports return Easter, 2010)
For the 2009 fishing year, all owners/operators of vessels recreationally fishing for and/or retaining regulated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) (Atlantic tunas, sharks, swordfish and billfish) in the Atlantic Ocean, including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, must obtain an Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Angling permit. This permit has replaced the Atlantic tunas Angling category permit. In North Carolina, additional HMS harvest reporting requirements are also in place.

Report a tagged fish

Please Note: Anglers sometimes confuse small king mackerel with Spanish mackerel. King mackerel and spanish mackerel have different size and catch limits. Make SURE you properly identify the mackerel you are catching. (Tips here)

A recreational Recreational Fishing License went into effect Jan. 1, 2007 for all of the state's coastal and ocean waters.

Spotted Seatrout - new size limits went into effect October 5, 2009 - See Rec. Guide
Snapper/Grouper - new rules effective September 18, 2009 - See Rec. Guide

Ocean: Private and charter boats enjoy some of the best bottom fishing and king mackerel fishing of the year during the winter months. Frying Pan Tower normally holds lots of king mackerel during the winter months.  Look for bait and water temperature around 70 degrees. There will also be great bottom fishing in these same areas with groupers, sea bass, porgies, and other various bottom fish. Bluefin tuna are another option during the winter months. Ledges around the shoals such as the fairway ledge and the cucumber are good places to look for one.

The vermilion snapper closed season began Nov. 1,  and it will not reopen until April 1, 2010 (See link above for more information)

Inlets/Sounds/Bays: If we don't see to cold of a winter, speckled trout and red drum fishing can be good during the winter months. Look for the trout to be around the inlets and the drum to be in the bays and up in the back of the creeks. Striper fishing in the Cape Fear River is another option for winter-time fishing.

Piers/Shore: Most piers are closed for the season. Some may allow access but catches will be limited.

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NC Division of Marine Fisheries - 3441 Arendell Street - Morehead City, NC 28557 - 252-726-7021 or 800-682-2632