UTERFlounder fishing in Wilmington & Crystal Coast
In Wilmington & Crystal Coast, flounder peak May–October and are around April–November, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. June: Big fish on the nearshore ARs and wrecks off Wrightsville and Morehead.
Big fish on the ocean reefs and in the inlets on the way out — release them outside the season.
Flounder in Wilmington & Crystal Coast, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilArrivingFlounder show in the inlets and the marsh.
- MayPeak
- JunePeakBig fish on the nearshore ARs and wrecks off Wrightsville and Morehead.
- JulyPeak
- AugustPeakRibbonfish and tarpon; drum on the shoals. Big drum on the Lookout shoals; Gotcha plugs off the piers at dawn.
- SeptemberPeakNorth Carolina allows harvest only in a short window — recently the first two weeks of September; check NCDMF.
- OctoberPeakBig fish on the ocean reefs and in the inlets on the way out — release them outside the season.
- NovemberLeavingThe last fish leave through the inlets.
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish flounder 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 flounder
- Mud minnows (killifish)Lip-hooked on a jig head or a 1/0 hook dragged along the bottom — the flounder bait.
- Finger mulletLip-hooked on a 2/0 to 4/0 circle hook and free-lined, or on a fish-finder rig in the surf. Cut mullet on the bottom for redfish and drum.
- 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.
- PinfishHooked through the back ahead of the dorsal on a 2/0 to 4/0 circle hook; the small ones free-lined, the big ones on a fish-finder rig.
- Leader20–30 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook1/0–2/0
- Jig head1/4–1/2 oz
- Braid10–20 lb
Feeds in 54–82°F water, best at 60–75°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch flounder in Wilmington & Crystal Coast?
Peak season is May–October. Flounder are in Wilmington & Crystal Coast April–November. June: Big fish on the nearshore ARs and wrecks off Wrightsville and Morehead.
Where do flounder hold in Wilmington & Crystal Coast?
Look on channel edge, dock / pilings, pass / inlet, beach / surf — around Calabash, Southport, Wilmington, Wrightsville Beach, Topsail, Swansboro.
What is the best bait for flounder in Wilmington & Crystal Coast?
Live bait: mud minnows (killifish), finger mullet, live shrimp, pinfish. Mud minnows (killifish): Lip-hooked on a jig head or a 1/0 hook dragged along the bottom — the flounder bait. Tackle: leader 20–30 lb fluorocarbon, hook 1/0–2/0, jig head 1/4–1/2 oz, braid 10–20 lb.
What are the rules for flounder 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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