UTERTiger shark fishing in Wilmington & Crystal Coast
In Wilmington & Crystal Coast, tiger shark peak July–September and are around July–October, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. July: Tigers off the piers and the nearshore wrecks.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Tiger shark in Wilmington & Crystal Coast, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilNot here
- MayNot here
- JuneNot here
- JulyPeakTigers off the piers and the nearshore wrecks.
- AugustPeakRibbonfish and tarpon; drum on the shoals. Big drum on the Lookout shoals; Gotcha plugs off the piers at dawn.
- SeptemberPeak
- OctoberLeaving
- NovemberNot here
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish 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 tiger shark hold on.
What to use for tiger shark
- Blue runners (hardtails)Nose-hooked and slow-trolled on a wire stinger rig for kings; bridled for sailfish and cobia.
- 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 70–90°F water, best at 74–86°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch tiger shark in Wilmington & Crystal Coast?
Peak season is July–September. Tiger shark are in Wilmington & Crystal Coast July–October. July: Tigers off the piers and the nearshore wrecks.
Where do tiger shark hold in Wilmington & Crystal Coast?
Look on beach / surf, pass / inlet, artificial reef, wreck — around Calabash, Southport, Wilmington, Wrightsville Beach, Topsail, Swansboro.
What is the best bait for tiger shark in Wilmington & Crystal Coast?
Live bait: blue runners (hardtails), menhaden (pogies), cut ladyfish, bonito (cut). Blue runners (hardtails): Nose-hooked and slow-trolled on a wire stinger rig for kings; bridled for sailfish and cobia. Tackle: leader 80–150 lb mono, hook 8/0–16/0, braid 65–150 lb.
What are the rules for 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.
Fish it with the tide in your pocket
Fish Scouter scores tiger shark for this hour on this water, draws every reef, wreck and access point near you, and keeps your spots. $9.99 a month, 14 days free.
Start 14 free daysMore
All about tiger shark · The Southern Outer Banks & Cape Fear, the whole year