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Saltwater & Coast

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Spin, Cast & Bait

Cape Fear River (Carolina Beach) Fishing Guide

North Carolina

The lower Cape Fear at Carolina Beach State Park, with a marina, a fishing deck, and riverbank spots for flounder, sheepshead, and speckled trout.

Trip at a Glance

Anglers come to Cape Fear River (Carolina Beach) for speckled trout, flounder and sheepshead. In October, speckled trout and flounder are in season, and Clouser Minnow, Walking Topwater and Paddle-Tail Swimbait are a good place to start. There are 12 shops within 25 miles (2 fly, 10 bait and tackle); the closest is Fishermans Warehouse in Carolina Beach, about 3 mi away. Lower New River is about 47 mi away if you want to make a trip of it.

Season at a Glance

Speckled Trout
Flounder
Sheepshead
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What You'll Catch

Cape Fear River (Carolina Beach) Species

Speckled Trout

Speckled Trout

Prime Now
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F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Best: Mar to May, Oct to Dec

Flounder

Flounder

Prime Now
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Best: Apr to May, Sep to Nov

Sheepshead

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Best: Dec to Apr

Images: Duane Raver, USFWS; NOAA Fisheries. Public domain.

Plan by Month

What to Use

Month
Fish

7 picks for October. marks species in season in October.

  • Clouser Minnow #1/0-8

    Fly

    Streamer · Speckled Trout

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  • Paddle-Tail Swimbait 3 to 5 in

    Lure

    Soft Plastic · Flounder, Speckled Trout

    Shop This Lure

  • Walking Topwater 4 to 5 in

    Lure

    Topwater · Speckled Trout · Big trout at dawn.

    Shop This Lure

  • Bucktail Jig 1/4 to 2 oz

    Lure

    Jig · Flounder

    Shop This Lure

  • Popping Cork Rig 18 to 30 in leader

    Lure

    Rig · Speckled Trout

    Shop This Lure

  • Live Shrimp 2 to 4 in

    Bait

    Live Bait · Sheepshead, Speckled Trout

  • Live Minnows 1 to 3 in

    Bait

    Live Bait · Flounder · Mud minnows or finger mullet.

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Rod & Reel

Recommended Setups

Speckled Trout

Fly 9 ft 7 wt rod, floating or intermediate line, 15 lb leader, Clousers and shrimp flies.

Spin / Cast 7 ft medium-light spinning rod, 2500 reel, 10 lb braid with a 15 to 20 lb fluorocarbon leader.

Flounder

Spin / Cast 7 ft medium-light spinning rod, 3000 reel, 15 lb braid, Carolina rig or bucktail.

Sheepshead

Spin / Cast 7 ft medium spinning rod with a sensitive tip, 3000 reel, 20 lb braid, fiddler crabs on a small strong hook.

Matched to These Species

Gear for Cape Fear River (Carolina Beach)

Fly Lines

RIO Redfish Fly Line

A heavy front taper for quick shots at tailing fish in warm, humid conditions.

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Jigs

Spro Bucktail Jigs

Durable hair jigs for stripers, fluke, and anything that eats baitfish.

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Reels

Penn Battle III Spinning Reel

A metal-bodied reel built to survive saltwater and big runs.

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Rods

Penn Battalion II Inshore Spinning Rod

A medium inshore rod for jigs, popping corks, and live bait.

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Line

PowerPro Spectra Braided Line

Thin, strong braid for long casts, sensitivity, and pulling fish from cover.

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Terminal Tackle

Egg Sinkers and Swivels

Egg sinkers, swivels, and beads for slip-sinker and Carolina rigs.

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Soft Plastics

Berkley Gulp! Shrimp

Scented shrimp that out-fish plain plastics on a jighead or under a cork.

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Soft Plastics

Z-Man DieZel MinnowZ

A tough, stretchy paddle tail that survives toothy fish.

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Within 25 Miles

Shops Near Cape Fear River (Carolina Beach)

Within 25 Miles

Guides and Charters Near Cape Fear River (Carolina Beach)

Make It a Trip

Nearby Water

Saltwater & Coast · North Carolina · About 47 mi

Lower New River

The salty lower New River from Jacksonville down to New River Inlet near Sneads Ferry, fished for spotted seatrout, red drum, and flounder.

Speckled Trout · Redfish · Flounder

Saltwater & Coast · South Carolina · About 71 mi

Murrells Inlet

A small, salty estuary of roughly 2.4 square miles at high tide with almost no river flow, and a red drum fishery the state studies and stocks.

Redfish