Gear & Tackle

Saltwater & Coast

Fly Fishing

Spin, Cast & Bait

Lower New River Fishing Guide

North Carolina

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

Trip at a Glance

Anglers come to Lower New River for redfish, speckled trout and flounder. In October, redfish, speckled trout and flounder are in season, and Clouser Minnow, EP Baitfish and Spoon Fly are a good place to start. There are 7 shops within 25 miles (1 fly, 6 bait and tackle); the closest is The Hook Up bait and tackle. Jacksonville in Jacksonville, about 16 mi away. Cape Fear River (Carolina Beach) is about 47 mi away if you want to make a trip of it.

Season at a Glance

Redfish
Speckled Trout
Flounder
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What You'll Catch

Lower New River Species

Redfish

Redfish

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

Best: Mar to May, Sep to Nov

Speckled Trout

Speckled Trout

Prime Now
J
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

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

Plan by Month

What to Use

Month
Fish

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

  • Clouser Minnow #1/0-8

    Fly

    Streamer · Speckled Trout, Redfish

    Shop This Fly

  • EP Baitfish #2/0-2

    Fly

    Streamer · Redfish

    Shop This Fly

  • Spoon Fly #1/0-2

    Fly

    Flats Fly · Redfish

    Shop This Fly

  • Paddle-Tail Swimbait 3 to 5 in

    Lure

    Soft Plastic · Flounder, Speckled Trout, Redfish

    Shop This Lure

  • Walking Topwater 4 to 5 in

    Lure

    Topwater · Speckled Trout, Redfish · Big trout at dawn.

    Shop This Lure

  • Popping Cork Rig 18 to 30 in leader

    Lure

    Rig · Speckled Trout, Redfish

    Shop This Lure

  • Bucktail Jig 1/4 to 2 oz

    Lure

    Jig · Flounder

    Shop This Lure

  • Weedless Gold Spoon 1/4 to 1/2 oz

    Lure

    Spoon · Redfish

    Shop This Lure

  • Live Shrimp 2 to 4 in

    Bait

    Live Bait · Speckled Trout, Redfish

  • Live Minnows 1 to 3 in

    Bait

    Live Bait · Flounder · Mud minnows or finger mullet.

  • Sand Fleas Small

    Bait

    Live Bait · Redfish · Surf.

  • Cut Mullet Chunk or strip

    Bait

    Natural Bait · Redfish · Surf and passes.

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Rod & Reel

Recommended Setups

Redfish

Fly 9 ft 8 wt rod, floating redfish line, 16 to 20 lb fluorocarbon leader.

Spin / Cast 7 ft medium spinning rod, 3000 reel, 15 lb braid with a 20 lb fluorocarbon leader.

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.

Matched to These Species

Gear for Lower New River

Fly Lines

RIO Redfish Fly Line

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

Check Price

Floats & Rigs

Cajun Thunder Popping Cork

The clacking cork that calls trout and reds to shrimp or a soft plastic.

Check Price

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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Soft Plastics

Berkley Gulp! Shrimp

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

Check Price

Soft Plastics

Z-Man DieZel MinnowZ

A tough, stretchy paddle tail that survives toothy fish.

Check Price

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Within 25 Miles

Shops Near Lower New River

Within 25 Miles

Guides and Charters Near Lower New River

Make It a Trip

Nearby Water

Saltwater & Coast · North Carolina · About 47 mi

Cape Fear River (Carolina Beach)

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

Flounder · Sheepshead · Speckled Trout

Saltwater & Coast · North Carolina · About 48 mi

Cape Lookout

A fall false albacore destination off Harkers Island with surf and inlet fishing.

False Albacore · Spanish Mackerel · Redfish