UTERBlack sea bass fishing in Wilmington & Crystal Coast
In Wilmington & Crystal Coast, black sea bass peak October–May and are around year-round, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. January: Sea bass on the nearshore wrecks and ARs off Wrightsville and Morehead.
Sea bass move onto the nearshore reefs.
Black sea bass in Wilmington & Crystal Coast, month by month
- JanuaryPeakSea bass on the nearshore wrecks and ARs off Wrightsville and Morehead.
- FebruaryPeak
- MarchPeakQuiet inshore; the offshore bottom bite. Sea bass on the wrecks; first sheepshead at the inlet rocks.
- AprilPeak
- MayPeak
- JuneAround
- JulyAround
- AugustAround
- SeptemberAround
- OctoberPeakSea bass move onto the nearshore reefs.
- NovemberPeak
- DecemberPeakTrout in the creeks; bluefin show. Deep creek holes; watch the reports for the first giants off Lookout.
Where to fish black sea bass near Calabash, Southport, Wilmington
South-facing beaches between Cape Fear and Cape Lookout, the Cape Fear River, marsh creeks and ICW behind Masonboro, Topsail and Bogue banks, Core Sound and Harkers Island — with the Cape Lookout and Frying Pan shoals, hundreds of nearshore wrecks and ARs, and the Big Rock and the Gulf Stream 30–50 miles out.
Fish Scouter charts 272 artificial reef, 208 wreck spots in the The Southern Outer Banks & Cape Fear map area — the kinds black sea bass hold on.
What to use for black sea bass
- SquidStrips on a bottom rig for snapper, grunts and porgies; whole on a deep-drop rig.
- Live shrimpUnder a popping cork or free-lined, hooked under the horn on a #1 to 2/0 circle hook; on a jig head for the bottom. The universal inshore bait.
- Leader30–60 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook2/0–7/0
- Braid30–65 lb
Feeds in 52–78°F water, best at 58–72°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch black sea bass in Wilmington & Crystal Coast?
Peak season is October–May. Black sea bass are here year-round. January: Sea bass on the nearshore wrecks and ARs off Wrightsville and Morehead.
Where do black sea bass hold in Wilmington & Crystal Coast?
Look on artificial reef, ledge / hard bottom, wreck — around Calabash, Southport, Wilmington, Wrightsville Beach, Topsail, Swansboro.
What is the best bait for black sea bass in Wilmington & Crystal Coast?
Live bait: squid, live shrimp. Squid: Strips on a bottom rig for snapper, grunts and porgies; whole on a deep-drop rig. Tackle: leader 30–60 lb fluorocarbon, hook 2/0–7/0, braid 30–65 lb.
What are the rules for black sea bass in Wilmington & Crystal Coast?
Size and bag limits and closed seasons are set by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) and change — read the current rule at https://www.deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/marine-fisheries/rules-proclamations-and-size-and-bag-limits before you keep a fish. A licence is sold at https://www.ncwildlife.org/licensing.
Fish it with the tide in your pocket
Fish Scouter scores black sea bass for this hour on this water, draws every reef, wreck and access point near you, and keeps your spots. $9.99 a month, 14 days free.
Start 14 free daysMore
All about black sea bass · The Southern Outer Banks & Cape Fear, the whole year