Fishing Seasons
If you’re interested in going on an offshore fishing charter, but you’re not quite certain which time or year or experience is right for you, this might help! Find out what you can expect to catch by reading more about the seasons below!
sPRING
Spring is a fast moving season that brings big changes to the water. The gulfstream is alive this time of year as water temps climb and bait gets pushed north creating a perfect storm of pelagic action! Trolling for pelagic species like tuna, wahoo, mahi-mahi, sailfish, and blue marlin can be world class off our coast. In addition there are excellent jigging and popping opportunities this time of year for the same species. Closer to the beach there is a bunch of action for seasonal favorites like Atlantic bonito, false albacore, Spanish mackerel, bluefish, and king mackerel. Even with lots of changing water conditions this is an exciting tie to be off the coast of NC!
SUMMER
Summer is family time here on the beach and the fishing opportunities are endless! With warm ocean temps, we get a great run of Spanish mackerel, king mackerel, bluefish, and more close to the beach that are perfect for kids and family fun. We also have cobia, Sharks, and tarpon if you are looking for a BIG fight close to the beach. Farther offshore we will see mahi-mahi, king mackerel, amberjacks, and all kinds of bottom fish with multiple species of groupers and snappers. Blue marlin season in the deep gulfstream waters is prime in the summer months and we see good numbers of them here off of Wrightsville Beach.
FALL
One of the best times to visit NC, Fall has it all. From the beach to the deep there are opportunities to troll, jig, pop, and bottom fish. Close to the beach we have Spanish mackerel, king mackerel, false albacore, bluefish. Nearshore, there is a chance for mahi-mahi, amberjacks, king mackerel, African pompano, and all types of grouper and snappers. Offshore we see a big push of wahoo, blackfin tuna, sailfish, and white marlin. You can target more than one type of fish and fish multiple styles this time of year without wasting time traveling. The weather is sometimes more volatile during the Fall but with all the options we can get you on the bite.
WINTER
Even if the cold air has us wearing big jackets and boots, fishing offshore can be hot! In the winter we are normally taking any weather window we can get to head to the edge of the continental shelf for wahoo, blackfin tuna, and sailfish. Trolling is excellent along with jigging this time of year. Other species we can target are triggerfish, beelines, porgies, and grunts on the bottom since they get pushed off in search of warmer temps.