Greater amberjack at Carolina Beach
This is a port page for running your own boat to amberjack structure offshore. Greater amberjack fishing out of Carolina Beach starts at Carolina Beach Inlet, and everything past the inlet is open Atlantic. For the inlet, the ramps and the named grounds, use the Carolina Beach port guide. For the wider coast, see the greater amberjack fishing in the Atlantic Southeast and the wider Atlantic Southeast guide.
Greater amberjack hold on wrecks, reefs and hard bottom. They leave it when water temperature and season push them elsewhere.
When they are around
Amberjack movement along this coast follows water temperature and the time of year. Fish arrive and leave as the water changes, and the bite on a given piece of structure shifts with it. For the general timing picture, read the greater amberjack fishing guide.
The run offshore and reading conditions
Check the buoy and the forecast before you clear the inlet. Boats run out from Carolina Beach Inlet to offshore wrecks and hard bottom, and the sea state on that run decides the day.
Buoy 41013, Frying Pan Shoals
The nearest NOAA buoy for the offshore side of this run is NDBC 41013 Frying Pan Shoals, NC:
- Station: NDBC 41013, Frying Pan Shoals, NC
- Position: 33.436 N, 77.764 W
- Water depth: 30.8 m (about 101 ft)
A buoy gives a reading at one point. It shows what the water did at that spot, not what it will do along your route.
The numbers to read
Pull three numbers from the buoy before you commit to the run:
- Wave height: the size of the sea at the buoy.
- Dominant period: the seconds between wave crests.
- Wind: speed and direction.
Period matters as much as height. The same wave height feels different on a short period than on a long one, and a short, steep sea is harder on a boat and the people in it.
Read those numbers alongside the NWS Wilmington marine forecast. The forecast covers your route and the next several hours, which the buoy cannot. Chart layers are not for navigation, so use official charts for that.
Grounds, structure and how it is fished
Amberjack hold on relief. You fish it by dropping bait or a jig on the structure and being ready for the first run.
Structure
Look for wrecks, artificial reefs, ledges and hard bottom, the kind of relief that holds bait and gives a big fish somewhere to be. For more on how reef fish use this kind of bottom, see reef fish fishing on wrecks and ledges.
Local approach
Two methods carry most of the fishing on structure:
- Live bait fished on the structure.
- Vertical jigging over the structure.
The fight starts the moment the hook sets. The fish heads for the structure, so the first seconds decide it. The species guide covers the rest of the general technique.
Who fishes for amberjack out of Carolina Beach
Both charter sites list the fish as "Amberjack," not "greater amberjack." Confirm the target species with the operator before you book.
| Operator | Boats or captain as published | Where listed |
|---|---|---|
| Wet N Wild Sportfishing | 54 ft custom "Wet N Wild" (flagship); 31 ft Contender "No Mercy" | Operator site |
| Second Sport Charters | No boat names published; Captain Daniel Harris named | Operator site |
Wet N Wild Sportfishing
Wet N Wild Sportfishing runs two boats: the 54 ft custom "Wet N Wild," the flagship, and the 31 ft Contender "No Mercy."
Second Sport Charters
Second Sport Charters names Captain Daniel Harris as its only captain. See the Second Sport Charters species list for what the operator lists.
FAQ: greater amberjack out of Carolina Beach
Do Carolina Beach charters target greater amberjack?
Both charter sites list "Amberjack," not "greater amberjack." Confirm the species with the operator when you book, so you know which fish the trip targets.
Which buoy do I check?
Check NDBC 41013 Frying Pan Shoals, NC, at 33.436 N, 77.764 W. Pair it with the NWS marine forecast, since the buoy is a point reading and the forecast covers your route.
What boats do local charters run?
Wet N Wild Sportfishing runs a 54 ft custom "Wet N Wild" and a 31 ft Contender "No Mercy." Second Sport Charters publishes no boat names.
Where are the rules?
The North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries sets state-water rules, and the state regulations page on this site points to them. Check it before you fish.
Do Gulf amberjack rules apply here?
No. Carolina Beach is South Atlantic water with separate management, so Gulf rules do not carry over.
