Beaufort North Carolina Fishing Charters

North Carolina and summer vacations go hand-in-hand.  With the warm climate and over 300 miles of coastline, how could they not? Whether you visit for a family vacation or you're taking a trip with friends, it's a vacation spot that's bound to please all walks of life.  From the beach bums to the sport fishermen, there's something for everyone.  Naturally, we'd like to focus on the fishermen for now.

Types of Fish

Beneath the surface of the warm Beaufort waters resides a diverse community of sea life.  From oysters to marlin, there are plenty of species to target during your next fishing adventure.  Below, you'll find some of the more popular ones caught by local Beaufort fishing charters.

Striped Bass: With the rise of stripers in the area, winter is no longer a dead season.  They've made inshore fishing a year round activity.  It's not uncommon to catch fish consistently weighing 25 to 35 pounds. Striped bass, commonly called stripers, have a silvery body marked with longitudinal dark stripes.  

Tuna: There are over 50 species of tuna.  Of those 50, you'll find three of the more popular species right here in Beaufort, North Carolina.  Yellowfin, Bluefin, and Blackfin tuna all frequent these waters.  Tuna, known for their meat, are speedy swimmers, capable of reaching speeds over 40 mph, and always put up a good fight. Naturally, this makes them one of the more exciting game fish to go after. 

Dolphin: Commonly known as mahi mahi, the dolphin is one of the most exhilarating offshore game fish to catch.  This colorful, surface-dwelling fish consists of golden sides with bright blues and greens on the sides and backs.  Males have prominent foreheads protruding well above the body while females have rounded foreheads.

Wahoo: Known as one of the fastest, meanest, and biggest fish in North Carolina, the wahoo presents an action-packed challenge for fishermen looking for a trophy. The best way to catch one of these speed demons is to fish around wrecks and reefs.

Sailfish: These Florida natives are a popular catch among Beaufort fishing charters.  You'll see a number of them darting around your boat from the surface to depths of 200 m.  It's estimated that sailfish can reach up to 55 kilometers per hour in short sprints.  The sailfish is a metallic blue fish with a large sail-like dorsal fin and a long, pointed bill.

Mackerel: Known for their meat and their fighting ability, mackerel are a popular recreational and commercial fish. Both Spanish and King mackerel are found off the coast of Beaufort.  They feature a slim, cylindrical shape with numerous finlets on the dorsal and ventral sides.

Marlin: The marlin is actually related to the sailfish.  It spends most of its life in the open sea, far away from land. The biggest females are more than four times as heavy as the biggest males.  The marlin has a blue-black body on top and a silvery white underside.  It has two dorsal fins, the first of which has 39 to 43 rays and the second has 6 to 7 rays.

Best Times To Fish

As with any fishing location, what you catch largely depends on the season. So, if you plan on booking a fishing charter with a specific catch in mind, be mindful of the seasons. Below, you'll find a list of what fish are typically caught during specific months.

Jan-Feb: Bluefin Tuna, Stripers, Bottom Fish

Mar-Apr: Yellowfin Tuna, Wahoo, Dolphin, Kings, Offshore/Inshore Bottom Fish

May-Jun: Yellowfin Tuna, Blue Marlin, White Marlin, Dolphin, Wahoo, Bill Fish, Kings, Spanish, Amberjack, Offshore/Inshore Bottom Fish

Jul-Aug: Dolphin, Blue Marlin, White Marlin, Wahoo, Bill Fish, Kings, Spanish, Amberjack

Sep-Nov: Wahoo, Tuna, Kings, Spanish, Sail Fish, Offshore/Inshore Bottom Fish

Dec: Bluefin Tuna, Kings, Offshore/Inshore Bottom Fish

Best Places To Fish

Beaufort, which is protected by a stretch of barrier islands, offers premier inshore fishing.  Fishing charters in Beaufort, often prowl the Beaufort Inlet Channel as well as Crab Point Bay, Davis Bay, and Money Island Bay.

If you're looking to catch stripers, one of the best areas is at the mouth of local rivers, such as the Newport River. Stripers usually travel into freshwater to spawn, leaving them vulnerable to fishermen as they return to the sea.

In addition to inshore fishing, most Beaufort fishing charters venture offshore for deep sea fishing adventures. This is where you'll be more likely to catch marlin, wahoo, tuna, sailfish, and other bigger game fish.

There are 38 charters in the Beaufort, NC area.  Please see the list below: