UTERSand tiger shark fishing in Wilmington & Crystal Coast
In Wilmington & Crystal Coast, sand tiger shark peak May–October and are around year-round, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. May: Sand tigers hang over the Morehead City wrecks — the Papoose, the Aeolus. Release only.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Sand tiger shark in Wilmington & Crystal Coast, month by month
- JanuaryAround
- FebruaryAround
- MarchAround
- AprilAround
- MayPeakSand tigers hang over the Morehead City wrecks — the Papoose, the Aeolus. Release only.
- JunePeak
- JulyPeakSpanish on the beaches; fluke on the ARs. Troll Clark spoons along the beaches; bucktails on the ocean reefs.
- AugustPeak
- SeptemberPeakStill on the wrecks; never land one.
- OctoberPeak
- NovemberAround
- DecemberAround
Where to fish sand tiger shark 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 sand tiger shark hold on.
What to use for sand tiger shark
- Menhaden (pogies)Nose-hooked on a circle hook and free-lined or slow-trolled; cut in chunks for the bottom.
- 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.
- Leader80–150 lb mono
- Hook8/0–16/0
- Braid65–150 lb
Feeds in 60–82°F water, best at 66–78°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch sand tiger shark in Wilmington & Crystal Coast?
Peak season is May–October. Sand tiger shark are here year-round. May: Sand tigers hang over the Morehead City wrecks — the Papoose, the Aeolus. Release only.
Where do sand tiger shark hold in Wilmington & Crystal Coast?
Look on wreck, artificial reef, pass / inlet, beach / surf — around Calabash, Southport, Wilmington, Wrightsville Beach, Topsail, Swansboro.
What is the best bait for sand tiger shark in Wilmington & Crystal Coast?
Live bait: menhaden (pogies), finger mullet. Menhaden (pogies): Nose-hooked on a circle hook and free-lined or slow-trolled; cut in chunks for the bottom. Tackle: leader 80–150 lb mono, hook 8/0–16/0, braid 65–150 lb.
What are the rules for sand tiger shark 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 sand tiger shark · The Southern Outer Banks & Cape Fear, the whole year