Topsail Island offers year-round fishing for a diverse range of species. The most popular inshore targets are Red Drum, Speckled Trout, and Flounder. Nearshore anglers pursue Spanish Mackerel, King Mackerel, and Cobia, while offshore enthusiasts fish for Mahi-Mahi, Wahoo, Tuna, and Sailfish. Less common but equally exciting species include Black Drum, Sheepshead, and Bluefish. Water temperature, season, and tide all influence which species are most active on any given day, check our weekly fishing summaries and captain reports for real-time updates on what's biting right now.

It depends on where and how you are fishing. If you are booking an excursion through our Topsail Island Charter Captains Directory, or if you are fishing from a licensed public pier (like the Surf City Pier or Jolly Roger Pier), you are fully covered by their overarching blanket commercial licenses. However, if you are surf fishing directly from the sand, paddling an inshore kayak, or operating your own private vessel in the sound, every angler over the age of 16 must purchase a standard North Carolina Coastal Recreational Fishing License (CRFL).