Greater amberjack fishing out of Sneads Ferry is a nearshore game on artificial reefs and wrecks, fished on the bottom within about 15 miles of New River Inlet. From Sneads Ferry, the decisions are when to go, how far to run, which structure to mark, what to drop and who already fishes it. For the biology and the wider picture, read the greater amberjack species guide. The wider picture is in the greater amberjack fishing in the Atlantic Southeast and the Atlantic Southeast region guide.
When greater amberjack are off Sneads Ferry
October is the month on the board. Pelagic Hunter lists amberjack on its trips with no month attached.
October
Badfish Fishing Charters lists greater amberjack for October at average odds, which is the rating as the operator prints it.
On the trip lists
Pelagic Hunter’s half-day and full-day trips both list amberjack.
How far boats run
This is a nearshore fishery. The listed half-day amberjack trips stay inside 15 miles of the inlet, so the structure is within reach of a center console on a short run.
Half-day range
Three operators publish half-day distances:
- Pelagic Hunter half-day: 5-15 miles
- OMC half-day: 0-15 miles
- Badfish half-day: 10 miles, lists amberjack
Starting from the sea buoy
Measure your runs from the New River Inlet sea buoy area. The trips above use it as a common reference point, so it makes a useful first waypoint. Chart and map layers are not for navigation.
Grounds and structure
Four names matter off this port. The state reef sites are described in the NC DMF artificial reef guide, which lists AR-355 and AR 398 among them.
| Name | Type | Depth |
|---|---|---|
| New River Reef (AR-355) | artificial reef | |
| Divers Rock | 45 ft | |
| AR 398 (New River estuarine reef) | estuarine reef | 8 ft |
| New River Inlet sea buoy area | reference point |
New River Reef (AR-355)
New River Reef (AR-355) is the named artificial reef among the nearshore structure off the inlet. Mark it along with your other wrecks and reefs.
Divers Rock
Divers Rock sits in 45 ft.
AR 398
AR 398 is an 8 ft estuarine reef inside the New River. It is a different kind of site from the nearshore ocean reefs and wrecks and shouldn’t be counted among the ocean amberjack grounds.
New River Inlet sea buoy area
Use the sea buoy area as the anchor point for your waypoint list. Every run to the structure above can be measured from it.
How it’s fished locally
Local anglers bottom fish the nearshore wrecks. Those same wrecks are fished for reef fish generally, so other species will be sharing the structure.
Bottom fishing the wrecks
The method is bottom fishing on nearshore wrecks, dropping cut squid or metal jigs.
Cut squid and metal jigs
Cut squid goes to the bottom on the wreck. Metal jigs are the alternative drop on the same wrecks.
Who fishes for them
Three charters list greater amberjack fishing out of Sneads Ferry. Each is below with captain, boat, capacity and trip lengths where listed.
Pelagic Hunter Sportfishing
- Captain: Capt. John C. Cruise III
- Boat: the Pelagic Hunter II
- Trips: half-day trip of 5-15 miles. Half-day and full-day trips both list amberjack.
OMC Fishing Adventures
OMC is also known as One More Cast Fishing Adventures.
- Boat: 31 ft Pursuit
- Capacity: up to 6 guests
- Trips: half-day trip of 0-15 miles. OMC lists amberjack among targets.
Badfish Fishing Charters
- Captain: Capt. Daniel Powell
- Boat: 31 ft Luhrs with twin diesels
- Trips: 10 mile half-day trip that lists amberjack. Badfish also lists amberjack for October.
FAQ about greater amberjack fishing out of Sneads Ferry
When are amberjack listed off Sneads Ferry?
Badfish lists greater amberjack for October at average odds. Pelagic Hunter lists amberjack on its half-day and full-day trips.
How far do boats run for amberjack from New River Inlet?
Listed half-day trips run 0-15 miles (OMC), 5-15 miles (Pelagic Hunter) and 10 miles (Badfish).
What do local anglers drop on the wrecks?
Cut squid or metal jigs, bottom fishing nearshore wrecks.
How deep is Divers Rock?
45 ft.
Which Sneads Ferry charters list greater amberjack?
Pelagic Hunter Sportfishing (Capt. John C. Cruise III), OMC Fishing Adventures (31 ft Pursuit) and Badfish Fishing Charters (Capt. Daniel Powell, 31 ft Luhrs).
