UTERSandbar shark fishing in Wilmington & Crystal Coast
In Wilmington & Crystal Coast, sandbar shark peak June–September and are around May–October, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. June: Sandbars in the surf and the inlets — release them.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Sandbar shark in Wilmington & Crystal Coast, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilNot here
- MayArriving
- JunePeakSandbars in the surf and the inlets — release them.
- JulyPeak
- AugustPeak
- SeptemberPeak
- OctoberLeaving
- NovemberNot here
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish sandbar 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 spots in the The Southern Outer Banks & Cape Fear map area — the kinds sandbar shark hold on.
What to use for sandbar shark
- 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.
- Menhaden (pogies)Nose-hooked on a circle hook and free-lined or slow-trolled; cut in chunks for the bottom.
- Cut ladyfishA whole ladyfish or a head on a 9/0 circle hook and wire for sharks; chunks on the bottom for redfish and drum. The best shark bait in Florida.
- Bonito (cut)Whole on cable for tiger and bull sharks; fillets and chunks on the bottom for grouper and snapper; strips trolled for wahoo.
- Leader80–150 lb mono
- Hook8/0–16/0
- Braid65–150 lb
Feeds in 62–86°F water, best at 68–80°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch sandbar shark in Wilmington & Crystal Coast?
Peak season is June–September. Sandbar shark are in Wilmington & Crystal Coast May–October. June: Sandbars in the surf and the inlets — release them.
Where do sandbar shark hold in Wilmington & Crystal Coast?
Look on beach / surf, pass / inlet, artificial reef — around Calabash, Southport, Wilmington, Wrightsville Beach, Topsail, Swansboro.
What is the best bait for sandbar shark in Wilmington & Crystal Coast?
Live bait: finger mullet, menhaden (pogies), cut ladyfish, bonito (cut). Finger mullet: Lip-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. Tackle: leader 80–150 lb mono, hook 8/0–16/0, braid 65–150 lb.
What are the rules for sandbar 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 sandbar shark · The Southern Outer Banks & Cape Fear, the whole year