Pleasure Island is a fisherman’s paradise. From river to sea, there are countless ways
for anglers to get their “fish on.” And
in autumn, the experience is like no other.
When the summertime vacationers have departed and the ocean breezes blow
cooler, sport fishing ramps up in earnest.
Here’s a complete guide to “tackling” the best our waters have to
offer.
Pier Fishing
Pleasure Island boasts two fishing piers on its coastline. The classic, wooden Carolina Beach Pier sits on the northern edge of the town and
extends 700’ into the Atlantic on a relatively secluded stretch of beach. When
the fishing is good here – it’s exceptional; with spring and fall being the
best time to cast a line for North Carolina’s renowned red drum and king
mackerel. The Carolina Beach Pier is
lighted for night fishing and has a bait and tackle store and a small
restaurant on site.
The Kure Beach Pier,
built in 1923, is the oldest fishing pier on the Atlantic coast. It’s a family-friendly pier (no alcohol
allowed) and is open to anglers of all ages, 24 hours a day from April through
November. This is a great place to fish
for shark, barracuda and spot.
Carolina Beach State
Park/Cape Fear River
At this scenic park on the Cape Fear River the fishing is
excellent from docks, banks, kayaks or motor craft. A marina with two launching ramps and 40 boat
slips is just minutes away from Snow’s Cut, where the Cape Fear meets the
Intracoastal Waterway, providing a multitude of fishing opportunities. Camping
and hiking is also available at the park.
Charter Fishing
A variety of charter boats offer inshore, offshore and
deep-sea excursions that will have you reeling in everything from mahi, tuna,
marlin and wahoo in the Gulf Stream, to flounder, red drum, bluefish and
Spanish Mackerel closer to shore. More
than 20 fishing charters depart from the Carolina Beach Fishing Center and
Marina, conveniently located in the heart of Carolina Beach. Browse our Member Directory to
find your perfect charter adventure.
Fishing License
Keep in mind, you will need a NC fishing license to fish in any of these locations. Find more information here: http://www.ncwildlife.org/Licensing/HuntingFishingTrappingLicenses.aspx
