If you’re vacationing in Carolina Beach, deep sea fishing may not be not high on your to-do list, but it definitely should be! Leave the town’s picturesque boardwalk and sandy beaches behind and head offshore for a deep sea adventure well worth the trip times.
The waters offshore from Carolina Beach are riddled with deep-water wrecks which draw in a huge range of big game species. If you make the journey out to the edges of the Gulf Stream, you will be greeted by White Marlin, Mahi Mahi, Yellowfin and even Bluefin Tuna. It may not be the Outer Banks, but the North Carolina big game fishing spirit certainly shines through here.
What can I expect from a deep sea fishing trip?
In short, long trips and big fish. The best deep sea fishing Carolina Beach has to offer is found way out in the gulf stream, over 50 miles offshore. 10 and 12-hour charters are very common, and the definition of a “full day” varies from captain to captain. Overnight charters are also offered by many of the town’s larger charter boats and are the best option for serious sport anglers looking for trophy catches.
And boy are there some trophies out there! North Carolina is well-known for its big numbers of White Marlin, which dominate the deep during the hot summer months. And they’re far from the only fish in town. Sailfish, Wahoo, Mahi Mahi, Yellowfin Tuna, and even the occasional Blue Marlin enjoy vacationing at this quintessential tourist town. In the winter, big Bluefin Tuna often show up right off the coast, with a 900-pound Bluefin caught just a mile from land in January 2017.
Most of the time you’re not that lucky, though. If you’re planning on going monster hunting, chances are you’ll be heading out to spots like the Steeples, nestled among the sloping banks of the continental drop off a solid 60 miles from town. You can expect to hit some reefs on the way out for big King Mackerel, Grouper, and other good food fish, so don’t bank on sleeping through the journey, either.
How much will it cost?
A full day deep sea fishing trip will cost you around $800-$1000 dollars, depending on the boat, and will last 8-9 hours, depending on the captain. Extended Gulf Stream trips start at around $1400 for 12 hours aboard one of Carolina Beach’s many sportfishing boats, although hardy anglers can pick up one of these trips for under $1000 if you don’t mind fishing aboard a bare-bones center console.
After that, you start getting into the big leagues. 14-hour trips can easily cost you $2000 and overnight charters are closer to $3000. This may seem like a lot but when you factor in 120 miles of travel and a full day of awesome deep sea action, all split four ways, it starts looking seriously good value.
Fishing Techniques
Most of the blue water action out of Carolina Beach focuses on trolling. You will be using dressed Ballyhoo and heavy tackle to bring in the area’s many heavy-hitters. Most captains will have some lighter tackle to coax an acrobatic display out of White Marlin or Sailfish but when it comes to big Tuna a no-nonsense approach rules the waves: Heavy mono line with fluorocarbon leaders and the widest reels you can find.
What should I bring?
You should come well-supplied for these long offshore marathons. You will normally be supplied with fishing licenses and you can count on having the best equipment available but other than that Carolina Beach charter boats are usually pretty bare. Load up with whatever food and drinks you want for the day and don’t forget to pack an extra layer (or three) because when the wind kicks up offshore, even the summer sun can turn chilly.
