UTERGolden tilefish fishing in Wilmington & Crystal Coast
In Wilmington & Crystal Coast, golden tilefish peak May–September and are around year-round, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. June: Golden tile on the deep mud.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Golden tilefish in Wilmington & Crystal Coast, month by month
- JanuaryAround
- FebruaryAround
- MarchAround
- AprilAround
- MayPeak
- JunePeakGolden tile on the deep mud.
- JulyPeak
- AugustPeak
- SeptemberPeak
- OctoberAround
- NovemberAround
- DecemberAround
Where to fish golden tilefish 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 golden tilefish
- SquidStrips on a bottom rig for snapper, grunts and porgies; whole on a deep-drop rig.
- Leader80–150 lb mono
- Hook8/0–14/0
- Braid65–100 lb
Feeds in 48–60°F water, best at 50–56°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch golden tilefish in Wilmington & Crystal Coast?
Peak season is May–September. Golden tilefish are here year-round. June: Golden tile on the deep mud.
Where do golden tilefish hold in Wilmington & Crystal Coast?
Look on ledge / hard bottom — around Calabash, Southport, Wilmington, Wrightsville Beach, Topsail, Swansboro.
What is the best bait for golden tilefish in Wilmington & Crystal Coast?
Live bait: squid. Squid: Strips on a bottom rig for snapper, grunts and porgies; whole on a deep-drop rig. Tackle: leader 80–150 lb mono, hook 8/0–14/0, braid 65–100 lb.
What are the rules for golden tilefish 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 golden tilefish · The Southern Outer Banks & Cape Fear, the whole year