UTERBlueline tilefish fishing in Wilmington & Crystal Coast
In Wilmington & Crystal Coast, blueline tilefish peak May–September and are around year-round, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. June: Blueline tile deep-dropping the shelf edge.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Blueline tilefish in Wilmington & Crystal Coast, month by month
- JanuaryAround
- FebruaryAround
- MarchAround
- AprilAround
- MayPeak
- JunePeakBlueline tile deep-dropping the shelf edge.
- JulyPeak
- AugustPeak
- SeptemberPeak
- OctoberAround
- NovemberAround
- DecemberAround
Where to fish blueline 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 blueline 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 50–66°F water, best at 54–62°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch blueline tilefish in Wilmington & Crystal Coast?
Peak season is May–September. Blueline tilefish are here year-round. June: Blueline tile deep-dropping the shelf edge.
Where do blueline 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 blueline 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 blueline 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 blueline tilefish · The Southern Outer Banks & Cape Fear, the whole year