UTERBlue marlin fishing in Wilmington & Crystal Coast
In Wilmington & Crystal Coast, blue marlin peak June–September and are around May–October, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. June: The Big Rock month: blues on the Gulf Stream off Morehead City.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Blue marlin in Wilmington & Crystal Coast, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilNot here
- MayArriving
- JunePeakThe Big Rock month: blues on the Gulf Stream off Morehead City.
- JulyPeak
- AugustPeak
- SeptemberPeak
- OctoberLeaving
- NovemberNot here
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish blue marlin 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.
What to use for blue marlin
- Blue runners (hardtails)Nose-hooked and slow-trolled on a wire stinger rig for kings; bridled for sailfish and cobia.
- Goggle-eyesBridled through the eye sockets for sailfish and kingfish, kite-fished or slow-trolled.
- Opelu (mackerel scad)Bridled live and slow-trolled or drifted down for ahi, ono and marlin; cut for bottom fishing.
- Leader40–60 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook4/0–8/0
- Braid50–100 lb
Feeds in 74–88°F water, best at 78–84°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch blue marlin in Wilmington & Crystal Coast?
Peak season is June–September. Blue marlin are in Wilmington & Crystal Coast May–October. June: The Big Rock month: blues on the Gulf Stream off Morehead City.
Where do blue marlin hold in Wilmington & Crystal Coast?
Look on ledge / hard bottom — around Calabash, Southport, Wilmington, Wrightsville Beach, Topsail, Swansboro.
What is the best bait for blue marlin in Wilmington & Crystal Coast?
Live bait: blue runners (hardtails), goggle-eyes, opelu (mackerel scad). Blue runners (hardtails): Nose-hooked and slow-trolled on a wire stinger rig for kings; bridled for sailfish and cobia. Tackle: leader 40–60 lb fluorocarbon, hook 4/0–8/0, braid 50–100 lb.
What are the rules for blue marlin 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.
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All about blue marlin · The Southern Outer Banks & Cape Fear, the whole year