Sailfish fishing out of Swansboro centers on the Southeast Bottoms, a summer ground less than 10 miles southeast of Bogue Inlet. This guide covers when the fish are around, how the run goes, the named structure nearby, how the local fleet fishes it, and where to check the rules.
When sailfish are off Swansboro
Summer is the season, and boats from this port fish a tournament in late May. Our sailfish fishing guide and the Southeast regional sailfish guide (see also the Atlantic Southeast offshore fishing guide) cover the species and the coast in more detail.
Summer on the Southeast Bottoms
Capt. Manning names sailfish in summer on the Southeast Bottoms, so that is the ground to plan around.
| Season | Ground | Run |
|---|---|---|
| Summer | Southeast Bottoms | Less than 10 miles, southeast of Bogue Inlet |
| Late May | Tournament | Same port, same boats |
The late-May tournament
The tournament in late May marks the start of the competitive season for boats out of Swansboro. Tournament teams fish the same port and grounds as everyone else.
The run from Bogue Inlet
Inlet and port detail is in the Swansboro port guide. Boats leave through Bogue Inlet and head southeast into Onslow Bay.
The Southeast Bottoms is less than 10 miles out on that heading. It is one of the Crystal Coast rocks and bottoms that local boats work.
- Exit: Bogue Inlet
- Heading: southeast
- Distance: less than 10 miles to the Southeast Bottoms
- Water: Onslow Bay
Grounds and structure near Swansboro
These are the named reefs and rocks near Swansboro. Only the Southeast Bottoms is tied to summer sailfish here. Chart layers are not for navigation, so verify every position on your chartplotter and official NOAA nautical charts.
Southeast Bottoms
The summer sailfish ground, less than 10 miles out of Bogue Inlet on a southeasterly course.
Artificial reefs: AR-342, AR-340, AR-345 and AR-330
The North Carolina artificial reef guide lists these reefs near the port:
- Onslow Bay Sport Fishing Club Reef (AR-342)
- J. Paul Tyndall Reef (AR-340)
- Swansboro Rotary Club Reef (AR-345)
- Howard Chapin Reef (AR-330)
14 Buoy
A named local ground near Swansboro.
Station Rock
Station Rock sits at 34 35.27 N, 77 04.11 W, about 2 to 3 miles from Bogue Inlet.
Keypost Rocks (KP1 and KP2)
Keypost Rocks lie directly out from the end of Bogue Inlet Fishing Pier.
East Rock
East Rock (Bogue) sits at 34 35.33 N, 76 56.75 W.
| Ground | Position or note |
|---|---|
| Southeast Bottoms | Less than 10 miles southeast of Bogue Inlet |
| Station Rock | 34 35.27 N, 77 04.11 W |
| East Rock (Bogue) | 34 35.33 N, 76 56.75 W |
| Keypost Rocks (KP1 and KP2) | Directly out from the end of Bogue Inlet Fishing Pier |
How sailfish are fished here
Local boats use one method on the summer bottoms, and the same owner-operators and tournament teams work the same ground.
Trolling deep with blue and white skirts
The local method is trolling deep with blue and white skirts. Other billfish are covered in our billfish guides.
Who fishes for them
Private owner-operators work the summer bottoms, and tournament teams fish the late-May window. Season and ground come from local knowledge.
- Owner-operators: run out of Bogue Inlet in summer
- Tournament teams: fish the late-May event
- Grounds: the Southeast Bottoms and the named structure above
FAQ: sailfish fishing out of Swansboro
When are sailfish off Swansboro?
Capt. Manning names sailfish in summer on the Southeast Bottoms. A tournament runs in late May.
How far and which way is the run to the Southeast Bottoms?
It is less than 10 miles out of Bogue Inlet, on a southeasterly course.
What do local boats troll for sailfish?
They troll deep with blue and white skirts.
What are the coordinates for Station Rock and East Rock?
Station Rock is 34 35.27 N, 77 04.11 W, about 2 to 3 miles from Bogue Inlet. East Rock is 34 35.33 N, 76 56.75 W. Verify both on your chartplotter and official charts.
Where are the rules for sailfish out of Swansboro?
Sailfish fall under both North Carolina rules and Atlantic billfish federal rules. Check both before fishing.
