UTERRedfish fishing in Wilmington & Crystal Coast
In Wilmington & Crystal Coast, redfish peak May and July–November and are around year-round, spawning in August–September, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. May: Marsh shorelines and oyster rocks; a soft plastic on a light jig head.
Best month: reds schooled on the flats and creeks, bulls in the surf at the Point.
Redfish in Wilmington & Crystal Coast, month by month
- JanuaryAroundGiant bluefin off Cape Lookout; sea bass on the wrecks. Live bait or ballyhoo east of the shoals for giants (NOAA HMS permit); squid on the nearshore wrecks.
- FebruaryAround
- MarchAround
- AprilArrivingPuppy drum push out of the winter creeks onto the marsh points from Cape Fear to Bogue Sound.
- MayPeakMarsh shorelines and oyster rocks; a soft plastic on a light jig head.
- JuneAround
- JulyPeakFlood-tide tailers in the marsh behind Masonboro and Topsail.
- AugustSpawningBig drum on the Cape Lookout shoals and the Cape Fear inlets; spawning fish start.
- SeptemberSpawningBull drum at the inlets and the Lookout shoals; puppy drum in every creek.
- OctoberPeakBest month: reds schooled on the flats and creeks, bulls in the surf at the Point.
- NovemberPeakSchools in the creeks and inlets as the water cools; cut mullet on the bottom.
- DecemberAround
Where to fish redfish 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 redfish
- 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.
- 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.
- Blue crabsWhole and small for permit and tarpon; halved or quartered on the bottom for black drum, redfish and cobia.
- CroakersHooked through the back on a 2/0 to 3/0 circle hook, free-lined or on a Carolina rig — big trout and redfish can't leave them alone.
- Leader20–30 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook1/0–3/0
- Jig head1/8–3/8 oz
- Braid10–20 lb
Feeds in 58–90°F water, best at 65–82°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch redfish in Wilmington & Crystal Coast?
Peak season is May and July–November, with fish spawning in August–September (often a closed or catch-and-release window — check the rule). Redfish are here year-round. May: Marsh shorelines and oyster rocks; a soft plastic on a light jig head.
Where do redfish hold in Wilmington & Crystal Coast?
Look on grass flat, dock / pilings, pass / inlet, channel edge, bridge — around Calabash, Southport, Wilmington, Wrightsville Beach, Topsail, Swansboro.
What is the best bait for redfish in Wilmington & Crystal Coast?
Live bait: live shrimp, pinfish, finger mullet, blue crabs. Live shrimp: Under 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. Tackle: leader 20–30 lb fluorocarbon, hook 1/0–3/0, jig head 1/8–3/8 oz, braid 10–20 lb.
What are the rules for redfish 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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