Black sea bass fishing out of Ocean Isle Beach starts close to the beach. The nearshore artificial reefs sit about 3 miles offshore, and the named structure runs from 30 ft off Little River Inlet to 53 ft on Dale McDowell Reef. Boats leave through Ocean Isle Beach port conditions and inlets, meaning Shallotte, Lockwood Folly and Little River. This guide covers when the fish are here, how far boats run, which reefs and ledges to look at, the local rig, and who fishes them. The wider picture is in the black sea bass fishing in the Atlantic Southeast and the Atlantic Southeast region guide.
When black sea bass fishing out of Ocean Isle Beach is at its best
Local operators fish black sea bass year-round, and winter is the strongest period, per Salty Dawg. For biology and range, the black sea bass species guide covers the general picture. This page stays with the port.
| Period | What local operators report |
|---|---|
| Year-round | Black sea bass fished by local operators |
| Winter | Strongest period, per Salty Dawg |
Where boats run and the structure that holds them
The nearshore artificial reefs sit about 3 miles offshore, per Salty Dawg. Follow Me’s 4-hour trips run out to about 10 nautical miles. The named reefs and ledges below are listed by AR number so you can find them on a chart layer, following the numbering in the state artificial reef guide.
| Name | AR number | Depth (ft) | Distance/location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jolly Mon Reef (Fisherman’s Reef) | AR-460 | 38 | Just outside Shallotte Inlet |
| Dale Ward Reef | AR-455 | 46 | About 7 nm from Shallotte Inlet |
| Dale McDowell Reef | AR-445 | 53 | About 9.3 nm from Lockwood Folly Inlet |
| Jim Knight Reef | AR-430 | 35 | |
| Brunswick County Fishing Club Reef | AR-440 | ||
| Jim Caudle Reef | PA-01 | 30 | Just outside Little River Inlet |
| Shallotte Inlet ledges | 100 | ||
| Lockwood Folly Inlet ledges | 100 |
Reefs off Shallotte Inlet
Jolly Mon Reef, AR-460, sits in 38 ft just outside Shallotte Inlet and is the closest named reef to the inlet. One vendor list calls it Fisherman’s Reef. Dale Ward Reef, AR-455, sits in 46 ft about 7 nm from Shallotte Inlet.
Reefs toward Lockwood Folly Inlet
Dale McDowell Reef, AR-445, sits in 53 ft about 9.3 nm from Lockwood Folly Inlet. Jim Knight Reef, AR-430, sits in 35 ft. The Brunswick County Fishing Club Reef carries AR-440.
Little River Inlet: Jim Caudle Reef
Jim Caudle Reef, PA-01, sits in 30 ft just outside Little River Inlet. It is the shallowest structure on this list.
Ledges in 100 ft off Shallotte and Lockwood Folly
The Shallotte Inlet and Lockwood Folly Inlet ledges both sit in 100 ft. The AR reefs run from 30 to 53 ft, which makes the ledges the deeper option.
Reading conditions: NDBC 41013 Frying Pan Shoals
The nearest NOAA buoy is NDBC 41013 Frying Pan Shoals, at 33.44 N, 77.76 W. It sits far offshore, so its readings do not reflect conditions at these reefs and are useful only for the offshore picture. For wind and seas near the beach, read the NWS Wilmington marine forecasts.
For the broader reef-fish picture, see the wider reef fish guides. Chart layers are not for navigation.
How black sea bass are fished here
Local anglers run simple bottom gear, with jigging as the alternative.
Two-hook chicken rig, 4 to 6 oz of lead
The local standard is a two-hook chicken rig with 4 to 6 oz of lead, built to hold bottom over reef structure.
Squid or cut bait on the bottom
Bait the rig with squid or cut bait and fish it on the bottom.
Vertical and slow-pitch jigging over structure
Vertical and slow-pitch jigging over structure are the alternative to bait. Work them over the reefs and ledges in the table above.
Who fishes for them out of this port
Each of these operators lists black sea bass among its targets.
- Salty Dawg Fishing Charters: Capt. Harvey Wall. Salty Dawg is the source here for the nearshore reefs about 3 miles out and for winter as the strongest period.
- Ocean Isle Fishing Center charters: Capt. Brant’s Fishing Adventures, Inc. Boats are a 33-ft World Cat / Carolina Cat, and the 22-ft Get Busy and Tiberias.
- Follow Me offshore trips: Follow Me Two, a 42-ft Prowler, with Capt. Fred and Capt. Forest. Its 4-hour trips run to about 10 nm.
- Hey Now Charters: a 33-ft Contender tournament center console with twin 350 Yamaha outboards.
- Little River Fishing Fleet: Captains Cameron and Brittany Sebastian.
- Calabash Fishing Fleet: Cyclone, Miss Calabash and Nauti Bobber.
FAQ: black sea bass fishing out of Ocean Isle Beach
When is the best time for black sea bass off Ocean Isle Beach?
Year-round per operators. Winter is the strongest period, per Salty Dawg.
How far do boats run for black sea bass?
The nearshore artificial reefs sit about 3 miles offshore, per Salty Dawg. Follow Me’s 4-hour trips run out to about 10 nm.
What is the closest or shallowest reef?
Jolly Mon Reef, AR-460, sits in 38 ft just outside Shallotte Inlet. Jim Caudle Reef, PA-01, sits in 30 ft just outside Little River Inlet.
What rig and weight should I bring?
A two-hook chicken rig with 4 to 6 oz of lead, baited with squid or cut bait on the bottom.
Can you jig black sea bass here?
Yes. Vertical and slow-pitch jigging over structure are both used locally.
Where do I read conditions before running out?
The nearest NOAA buoy is NDBC 41013 Frying Pan Shoals (33.44 N, 77.76 W). It sits far offshore, so its readings do not reflect nearshore conditions. Check the official marine forecast for wind and seas near the beach.
