Wrightsville Beach is blessed with great deep sea fishing almost year-round. Throughout the summer, large numbers of Sailfish, Yellowfin Tuna, White Marlin, and even a few Blue Marlin show up offshore while in the winter huge Bluefin Tuna can be found well within sight of land – just ask the guys who caught a 900-pound Bluefin a mile off the coast in January 2017.
Events like the Cape Fear Marlin Tournament and the Capt. Eddy Haneman Sailfish Tournament draw anglers from around the country to target the area’s awesome pelagic species. In fact, Saltwater Sportsman lists the Wrightsville Beach area as their number one destination for summer Sailfishing.
What can I expect from a deep sea fishing trip?
North Carolina is famous for its strong fishing pedigree and long trip times and Wrightsville Beach is no exception. The best blue water action happens out in the Gulf Stream, a good 60-mile ride from Mansboro Inlet. Here you’ll find any of a wide mix of big game pelagic species, depending on when you’re in town.This obviously means long travel times to get to the best waters.
Don’t let the journey put you off the trip, though, as there’s plenty of great fishing to be had along the way. Deep-water reefs like 23-mile Rock and the Frying Pan Tower will give you plenty of action, with Mahi Mahi, Sailfish, and monster King Mackerel taking anything you throw their way. You may have to spend 12 hours on the water to enjoy the best deep sea fishing Wrightsville Beach has to offer, but since when was more water time a bad thing?
How much will it cost?
An 8-9 hour offshore trip will cost you just short of $1,000 and will get you on good catches of Sailfish, Mahi Mahi, and Tuna around the deepest wrecks and structures. Gulf Stream trips start at 10 hours long, with 12-hour, 14-hour, and overnight trips making a frequent appearance on the price lists of larger vessels.
The longer trip times really are worth the money. Not only do they give you more fishing time out in the warm currents on the continental shelf, they also let you hit some of the awesome structures on the way out without constantly checking your watch. Our advice? Book a 12-hour trip in the summer (usually around $1,500), but keep an eye out for ¾ day “inshore Bluefin” charters in the winter. These can cost as little as $700, and make for a truly unique fishing experience if you get lucky.
Fishing techniques
Trolling really wins the day in the deep waters off Wrightsville Beach. You can expect some seriously heavy tackle when going after big Tuna (these are an important fishery in North Carolina and local charter captains don’t mess about.) You will be pleased to find lighted tackle when fishing for White Marlin, though, and especially if you’re chasing the area’s awesome summer Sailfish migration. Expect Penn TLD 25s and 30s, or even spinning reels like Penn 560s. No matter what you’re targeting, dressed Ballyhoo are the go-to option for deep sea trolling, as is so often the case.
Need to know
Most local charter boats will come loaded for battle with everything you will need for the actual angling: tackle, bait, lures, and licenses (larger boats tend to have a license which covers anyone on board, although this is always important to check.) What you will need to bring is everything else you may want on your trip: food, drinks, extra layers, sunscreen etc. Big game fly fishing is not really catered for here but most captains will be happy to work with your preferences if you bring your fly gear along.
