Fall is here which can only mean one thing. Fall fishing...and no place has better fall fishing than Topsail Island. If you are new to the Topsail Island or to fall fishing on the North Carolina coast, you are in for a treat and this post is for you. If you are an avid angler you'll love all the fishing opportunities Topsail Island offers. With lots of tips, tricks and places to fish, from beginner to advanced, Topsail Island is an anglers paradise. With dozens of properties located within minutes of great fishing, we are sure you'll love your Topsail Island vacation. So grab your rod, pack a cooler, grab a license and come join us for fall fishing, Topsail Island style.
5 Things To Get Started
- Book your Topsail Island vacation rental now! Check out our many Fall Specials. We're sure to have the perfect home near your favorite fishing spot.
- All anglers over the age of 16 who are not fishing from a pier or charter boat will need a North Carolina Fishing License. These can be purchased at many local shops or online.
- Check out one of the many fishing reports or stop by a local shop for some guidance on what is biting and where.
- If you looking for an offshore or inshore charter, make sure to book early for the best deals.
- Plan your attack. Surf Fish on Monday, Charter on Friday, take the family to the piers on Thursday. With so much fishing you are sure to have a fun and different experience at each location.
5 Places You'll Want to Fish on Topsail Island
- Pier fishing is a passion here on Topsail Island. Perfect for families, or the solo angler as well, pier fishing is fun and loaded with conveniences that make for a fun day of fishing. Topsail Island is lucky to have three great piers. I know, I know you're dying to know what you're going to catch. Keep reading! We have so many fish that we had to create a separate list!. Now back to the Piers. In Surf City, you have the Surf City Ocean Pier and in Topsail Beach is the Jolly Roger Pier. If you chose a vacation home farther north, check out the Seaview Pier in North Topsail.
- Pack up the kids and head out on a 1/2 day or evening fishing trip on Queen Jean. This spacious vessel boasts a full snack bar, restrooms, lots of covered space to warm up and includes all the gear you need to enjoy a day on the water.
The Queen Jean is an easy and fun way to experience fishing on Topsail Island. - Offshore Charters likely provide the most exciting fishing on Topsail Island. 20 miles offshore is the crown jewel for fisherman, the Gulf Stream. We don't want to overhype this, but let's just say things are heating up offshore! Take a look at Topsail Charter Fishing the friendly staff will help you find the perfect charter.
- Surf fishing is perhaps one of the easiest and most fun ways to fish. Cast a line into the rolling Surf on any of our beautiful beaches and your almost sure to be telling tall tales a few hours later. Like pier fishing, Surf fishing is a great way to bring the whole family together for a day of fishing and playing on the beach. Starting October 1, of each year you can purchase a Beach Driving Permit for the purposes of surf fishing the Topsail Island Beaches. Take advantage of this fun and an exciting way to explore the beaches.
- Looking for a casual way to fish. We have the perfect solution. With many canal front, sound front, and oceanfront homes to choose from you can fish within feet of your vacation home!
Note: Driving on the beach is a great adventure, but comes with great responsibility. Never drive on vegetation or the dunes. Help us keep Topsail Island beautiful for years to come!
10 Fish Every Angler Dreams Of and How to Find Them
Inland, Offshore, Surf Fishing, and Pier Fishing all offer unique experiences. So what exactly is on the menu? Well, that all depends, but here is an idea of what you can expect and where to expect them. Go ahead and load up on propane or charcoal...you're going to need it!
- Albacore-Offshore and some report catching Albacore while surf casting and at the end of the piers.
- Bluefish- Piers are reporting catches coming in on the end of the piers with bottom rigs.
- Flounder-Likely to be found in the inland waters of the sound.
- Red Drum- Seaview Pier has been reporting good catches at the end of the pier. Drum also being reported in back creeks during higher tides.
- Speckled Trout- All along the shore, as it gets colder you'll find these guys more active as they prefer cooler waters.
- Pompano-Perfect for pier fishing they love the fall and are always active along the piers.
- SeaBass-Offshore charters are the best for finding these delicious fish.
- Sheepshead- Look for these sound side. Locals are reporting catches with sand fleas.
- Mahi-About 20 miles offshore reports are currently coming in of great Mahi. Be sure to book your charter to capture these fighters.
- Spanish- Biting right off the beach, perfect for that surf casting day. Piers are also are a consistent place for Spanish fishing.
Wondering how to prepare all this fresh catch? Take a look at our previous post: 5 of the Healthiest Ways to Cook Fresh Fish.
The Tackle Box
Fishing is like all sports, it is easy to become obsessed with the latest equipment, tips, tricks, and pro-advice. Lures, baits, and jigs have names like Diamond Jigs, Popping Corks, Z-Man, Top Pups, Skitterwalks, and Jack Shades. You'll find the Topsail Island fishing community is a friendly and inviting group, always looking to share some local knowledge,... and a fish story or two. Stop by one of the many tackle shops, or piers, you'll be set up and have just the right equipment and advice to guarantee a great day of fishing.
We hope you enjoy your fall fishing vacation here on Topsail Island. Beautiful fall Carolina weather is upon us, and the fishing is getting better with each day. There is still plenty of time to book that last minute late season vacation to enjoy some Topsail Island fall fishing. See you on the water!
If you have a great fishing story or comment we would love to hear from you. Add a comment below or visit our Facebook page and share your fishing story with us.
