UTERWhite marlin fishing in Wilmington & Crystal Coast
In Wilmington & Crystal Coast, white marlin peak June–August and are around May–September, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. July: Whites on the Gulf Stream.
Not in Wilmington & Crystal Coast this month.
White marlin in Wilmington & Crystal Coast, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilNot here
- MayArriving
- JunePeak
- JulyPeakWhites on the Gulf Stream.
- AugustPeak
- SeptemberLeaving
- OctoberNot here
- NovemberNot here
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish white marlin 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 white marlin
- BallyhooRigged on a wire or mono trolling rig, skipping or swimming, behind a skirt or naked.
- Pilchards (whitebait)Free-lined or under a cork, hooked through the nose on a #1 to 2/0 circle hook. The one bait that catches everything inshore.
- Leader40–60 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook4/0–8/0
- Braid50–100 lb
Feeds in 72–86°F water, best at 76–82°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch white marlin in Wilmington & Crystal Coast?
Peak season is June–August. White marlin are in Wilmington & Crystal Coast May–September. July: Whites on the Gulf Stream.
Where do white marlin hold in Wilmington & Crystal Coast?
Look on ledge / hard bottom — around Calabash, Southport, Wilmington, Wrightsville Beach, Topsail, Swansboro.
What is the best bait for white marlin in Wilmington & Crystal Coast?
Live bait: ballyhoo, pilchards (whitebait). Ballyhoo: Rigged on a wire or mono trolling rig, skipping or swimming, behind a skirt or naked. Tackle: leader 40–60 lb fluorocarbon, hook 4/0–8/0, braid 50–100 lb.
What are the rules for white marlin 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 white marlin · The Southern Outer Banks & Cape Fear, the whole year