Red grouper fishing out of Morehead City: season and run
Red grouper fishing out of Morehead City is bottom fishing over structure offshore of Beaufort Inlet. The Pelagic calendar rates grouper good or better in every month, but fish being present does not mean the season is open for harvest. See Regulations below. The wider picture is in the red grouper fishing in the Atlantic Southeast and the Atlantic Southeast fishing guide.
The closest named structure, AR-315, sits 3.5 nm from Beaufort Inlet at the Fort Macon jetty. Big Rock lies about 39 nm southeast. Every distance on this page is measured from the inlet unless noted.
For the fish itself, see our red grouper guide. This page covers the water off this port: which structure, at what depth, and how far from the inlet.
Where boats run from Beaufort Inlet
Boats run to bottom structure offshore, measured here from Beaufort Inlet at the Fort Macon jetty. Catching grouper from Beaufort Inlet comes down to picking a ground and making the run.
- Nearshore start: AR-315 Atlantic Beach Reef, 3.5 nm out, in 49 ft.
- Other artificial reefs: AR-320 Clifton Moss Reef, and AR-330 Howard Chapin Reef, which is referenced off Bogue Inlet.
- Deeper wrecks: the U-352 submarine wreck in 90 ft and the Aeolus at AR-305 in 98 ft.
- Far grounds: Big Rock, about 39 nm southeast. West Rock and Swansboro Hole are also named grounds.
Before the run, check wind, wave height and period on the NWS Newport/Morehead City marine forecast.
Grounds and structure
Each ground below is listed with its structure, depth and position where we have them.
| Site | Structure | Depth | Distance or position |
|---|---|---|---|
| AR-315 Atlantic Beach Reef | Theodore Parker Liberty ship, rubble, aircraft | 49 ft | 3.5 nm from Beaufort Inlet |
| AR-320 Clifton Moss Reef | Artificial reef | ||
| AR-330 Howard Chapin Reef | Artificial reef | Buoy 34.5563 N, 76.8527 W, off Bogue Inlet | |
| U-352 | German submarine wreck | 90 ft | |
| AR-305 CCSA Reef | Aeolus, 439-ft former cable ship | 98 ft | |
| Big Rock | Offshore ground | About 39 nm SE of Beaufort Inlet | |
| West Rock | Offshore ground | ||
| Swansboro Hole | Bottom ground |
Published positions and our chart layers are for planning, not navigation.
AR-315 Atlantic Beach Reef
AR-315 Atlantic Beach Reef sits in 49 ft, 3.5 nm from Beaufort Inlet at the Fort Macon jetty. The structure includes the Theodore Parker Liberty ship, rubble and aircraft. It is the nearest named structure on this list.
AR-320 Clifton Moss Reef
AR-320 Clifton Moss Reef is an artificial reef among the Morehead City grounds.
AR-330 Howard Chapin Reef
The AR-330 Howard Chapin Reef buoy sits at 34.5563 N, 76.8527 W, off Bogue Inlet. That position is referenced to Bogue Inlet, not Beaufort Inlet.
U-352
The U-352 German submarine wreck lies in 90 ft.
AR-305 and the Aeolus
AR-305, the Carteret County Sportfishing Association Reef, holds the Aeolus, a 439-ft former cable ship, in 98 ft.
Big Rock
Big Rock lies about 39 nm southeast of Beaufort Inlet. It is the longest run on this list.
West Rock and Swansboro Hole
West Rock and Swansboro Hole are named bottom grounds fished from this port.
How it is fished here
Red grouper off Morehead City are caught by bottom fishing over the reefs, wrecks and rocks above. The structure holds the fish, so the work is in getting to the right ground.
Private boats and for-hire boats both run bottom trips from the Morehead City waterfront.
For rigging and technique on reef species, see our reef fish guides.
FAQ
When can you find red grouper fishing out of Morehead City?
The Pelagic calendar rates grouper good or better in every month. Presence is separate from harvest eligibility, so read the Regulations section above before you plan a trip.
How far do you run to the closest structure?
AR-315 Atlantic Beach Reef is 3.5 nm from Beaufort Inlet at the Fort Macon jetty, in 49 ft.
How deep is the U-352?
The U-352 German submarine wreck lies in 90 ft. The Aeolus at AR-305 is the other deeper wreck, in 98 ft.
Where is Big Rock from Beaufort Inlet?
Big Rock is about 39 nm southeast of Beaufort Inlet. It is the longest run among the named grounds.
Where is the Howard Chapin Reef buoy?
The AR-330 Howard Chapin Reef buoy is at 34.5563 N, 76.8527 W, off Bogue Inlet. Published positions are for planning, not navigation.
