When Sea Bass Are on the Swansboro Rocks
Black sea bass fishing out of Swansboro is bottom fishing on rocks and nearshore reefs through Bogue Inlet, with the nearest marks 2-3 miles out. For biology and general seasonality, read the black sea bass guide. The wider picture is in the black sea bass fishing in the Atlantic Southeast and the Atlantic Southeast region guide.
Capt. Manning names sea bass on the close-in rocks, which is the local marker for where to start. This page gives named marks, coordinates and run distances so you can choose where to look. It does not promise fish.
Where Boats Run From Bogue Inlet
Boats leave through Bogue Inlet and work two tiers: the close-in rocks and the nearshore reefs.
- Close-in rocks: 2-3 miles from Bogue Inlet
- Charter grounds: 4-12 nautical miles off the coast
Close-In Rocks
Station Rock and Keypost sit about 2-3 miles from Bogue Inlet, which makes them the short runs. Keypost lies directly out from the end of Bogue Inlet Fishing Pier.
Nearshore Reefs
Nancy Lee’s fishing grounds are 4-12 nautical miles off the coast. Boats also work the nearshore reefs, which are named in the next section.
Grounds and Structure
These are published marks, so verify each one on the sounder before you fish it. For the wider bottom-fishing picture, see the reef fish guides.
Natural Rocks
| Name | Type | Position or location |
|---|---|---|
| Station Rock | Rock | 34 35.27 N, 77 04.11 W. About 2-3 miles from Bogue Inlet. |
| Keypost Rocks (KP1 and KP2) | Rock | Directly out from the end of Bogue Inlet Fishing Pier. |
| East Rock (Bogue) | Rock | 34 35.33 N, 76 56.75 W |
Artificial Reefs and 14 Buoy
The nearshore artificial reefs are Swansboro Rotary Club Reef (AR-345), J. Paul Tyndall Reef (AR-340) and Onslow Bay Sport Fishing Club Reef (AR-342). Howard Chapin Reef (AR-330) and 14 Buoy complete the list.
Load the published coordinates as waypoints and check them against Chart Contours. Chart layers are not for navigation.
How It Is Fished Here
Fishing for black sea bass here means bottom fishing on structure. Nanny’s Revenge, Liquid Fire, Nancy Lee and Instigator all list sea bass.
Charters That List Sea Bass
- Nancy Lee Fishing Charters: Nancy Lee III, a 43 ft custom boat, fishing grounds 4-12 nautical miles off the coast.
- Liquid Fire Sportfishing: Capt. Josh Henderson.
- Instigator Fishing & Diving Charters: a 31′ Contender for fishing and freediving.
- Nanny’s Revenge Fishing Charter: Capt. Shane Gentry, with a 26 ft Sea Fox Commander center console.
FAQ About Black Sea Bass Fishing Out of Swansboro
How far do boats run from Bogue Inlet for sea bass?
Station Rock and Keypost are about 2-3 miles from Bogue Inlet. Nancy Lee’s grounds are 4-12 nautical miles off the coast.
What are the Station Rock coordinates?
Station Rock is at 34 35.27 N, 77 04.11 W. Verify the position on the sounder before you fish it.
Where are the Keypost Rocks?
KP1 and KP2 lie directly out from the end of Bogue Inlet Fishing Pier.
Which Swansboro charters list black sea bass?
Instigator, Nancy Lee, Liquid Fire and Nanny’s Revenge all list black sea bass.
Where are the rules for sea bass out of Swansboro?
The North Carolina and federal rules are linked in the Regulations section above. Check both before fishing.
