When gray triggerfish are around Morehead City
Gray triggerfish fishing out of Morehead City is bottom fishing on reefs and wrecks a short run from Beaufort Inlet. The Brilliant guide says bottom species on AR-315 are productive nearly year-round. The wider picture is in the gray triggerfish fishing in the Atlantic Southeast and the Atlantic Southeast region guide.
Every distance on this page is measured from Beaufort Inlet at the Fort Macon jetty. Where you fish depends on how far you want to run.
- Year-round bottom fishing: AR-315 is the main nearshore ground.
- Close-in runs: The nearshore reefs sit a short distance off the inlet.
- Longer runs: Deeper wrecks and Big Rock sit farther out.
Where boats run from Beaufort Inlet
Boats run to AR-315 and other nearshore reefs and wrecks. The table below lists the grounds from the inlet outward, with depths and positions where we have them.
| Ground | Structure | Depth | Distance/position |
|---|---|---|---|
| AR-315 Atlantic Beach Reef | Theodore Parker Liberty ship, rubble, aircraft | 49 ft | 3.5 nm from Beaufort Inlet at the Fort Macon jetty |
| AR-320 Clifton Moss Reef | |||
| AR-330 Howard Chapin Reef | Buoy at 34.5563 N, 76.8527 W, off Bogue Inlet | ||
| AR-305 Carteret County Sportfishing Association Reef | Aeolus, 439-ft former cable ship | 98 ft | |
| U-352 | German submarine wreck | 90 ft | |
| Swansboro Hole | |||
| West Rock | |||
| Big Rock | About 39 nm southeast of Beaufort Inlet |
For more on bottom species along this coast, see our reef fish guides.
AR-315 Atlantic Beach Reef
AR-315 sits in 49 ft, 3.5 nm from Beaufort Inlet at the Fort Macon jetty. The structure is the Theodore Parker Liberty ship, rubble and aircraft.
AR-320 and AR-330
AR-320 is Clifton Moss Reef. AR-330 is Howard Chapin Reef, with its buoy at 34.5563 N, 76.8527 W, off Bogue Inlet. You can plot the AR-330 buoy position and these reef names in Breakpoint.
Chart layers and coordinates are for planning, not navigation. Use official NOAA nautical charts for navigation.
The deeper wrecks: AR-305 and U-352
AR-305 is the Aeolus, a 439-ft former cable ship in 98 ft. U-352 is a German submarine wreck in 90 ft.
AR-315 is the shallow option at 49 ft, and the two wrecks put you in 90 to 98 ft. The AR numbers come from the state artificial reef guide.
Swansboro Hole, West Rock and Big Rock
Swansboro Hole and West Rock are named grounds on this stretch of coast. Big Rock sits about 39 nm southeast of Beaufort Inlet, the outer distance marker for runs from this port.
How triggerfish are fished here
The local method is bottom fishing over the reefs and wrecks above: anchor or hold position on structure and fish the bottom.
For biology and general tackle, see our gray triggerfish guide.
- Method: bottom fishing
- Grounds: nearshore reefs and wrecks
- Starting point: Beaufort Inlet
Who fishes for them out of Morehead City
These operations list gray triggerfish.
Capt. Stacy Fishing Center
Capt. Stacy Fishing Center runs the Capt. Stacy IV headboat plus private charter boats.
Breakwater Charters
Breakwater Charters appears in a Guidesly listing as a 50-foot Buddy Davis custom Carolina sportfish.
Captain Ashley Forrest
Captain Ashley Forrest lists gray triggerfish.
FAQ about gray triggerfish fishing out of Morehead City
How far is AR-315 from Beaufort Inlet?
AR-315 sits in 49 ft, 3.5 nm from Beaufort Inlet at the Fort Macon jetty. The structure is the Theodore Parker Liberty ship, rubble and aircraft.
Is there a season for gray triggerfish fishing out of Morehead City?
The Brilliant guide says bottom species on AR-315 are productive nearly year-round.
What depth is the Aeolus wreck?
The Aeolus at AR-305 is a 439-ft former cable ship in 98 ft.
Where is AR-330?
The AR-330 Howard Chapin Reef buoy is at 34.5563 N, 76.8527 W, off Bogue Inlet. Verify positions on official charts before you run.
How far is Big Rock?
Big Rock is about 39 nm southeast of Beaufort Inlet.
