Cape Fear River Weather Forecast

Fishing reports straight from our guides in Cape Fear River

Jamie Rushing
Jamie R.
Wilmington, North Carolina
Reported 1 week ago
Hi captain Jamie here. Anglers have enjoyed good fishing for red drum in the upper slot size and over in the last few weeks and should only get better with big spacing fish, "bulls" should follow along late August and into September. Flounder fishing is good now as well. People need to go ahead and book now for the 2 week season beginning Sept 1. At that time everyone goes home with a nice un!!! There is an early Morning speckled trout bite on topwater and then falls off but get great in the months to come and last all...
Jamie Rushing
Jamie R. Wilmington, North Carolina Reported 1 week ago
Hi captain Jamie here. Anglers have enjoyed good fishing for red drum in the upper slot size and over in the last few weeks and should only get better with big spacing fish, "bulls" should follow along late August and into September. Flounder fishing is good now as well. People need to go ahead and book now for the 2 week season beginning Sept 1. At that time everyone goes home with a nice un!!! There is an early Morning speckled trout bite on topwater and then falls off but get great in the months to come and last all day. Please give me a shot at your next outing out of Wilmington and Wrightsville or Carolina beaches.
Fishing in Wilmington, North Carolina
Fishing in Wilmington, North Carolina
Fishing in Wilmington, North Carolina
Fishing in Wilmington, North Carolina
Fishing in Wilmington, North Carolina
Fishing in Wilmington, North Carolina
Fishing in Wilmington, North Carolina
Fishing in Wilmington, North Carolina
Fishing in Wilmington, North Carolina
Fishing in Wilmington, North Carolina
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Allen Jernigan
Allen J.
Holly Ridge, North Carolina
Reported 1 month ago
Summertime temps means sightcasting topwater plugs and spoons to large schools of redfish and that's exactly what we done today.
Allen Jernigan
Allen J. Holly Ridge, North Carolina Reported 1 month ago
Summertime temps means sightcasting topwater plugs and spoons to large schools of redfish and that's exactly what we done today.
Fishing in North Topsail Beach, North Carolina
Fishing in North Topsail Beach, North Carolina
Fishing in North Topsail Beach, North Carolina
Fishing in North Topsail Beach, North Carolina
Fishing in North Topsail Beach, North Carolina
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Allen Jernigan
Allen J.
Holly Ridge, North Carolina
Reported 2 months ago
We are catching black drum on cut shrimp. The redfish are coming on topwater plugs, soft plastics and gold spoons. The big 10# plus bluefish have shown up in the Neuse estuary are we are targeting them with topwater plugs, 1 1/8 ounce weedless spoons and 8" swimbaits
Allen Jernigan
Allen J. Holly Ridge, North Carolina Reported 2 months ago
We are catching black drum on cut shrimp. The redfish are coming on topwater plugs, soft plastics and gold spoons. The big 10# plus bluefish have shown up in the Neuse estuary are we are targeting them with topwater plugs, 1 1/8 ounce weedless spoons and 8" swimbaits
Fishing in North Topsail Beach, North Carolina
Fishing in North Topsail Beach, North Carolina
Fishing in North Topsail Beach, North Carolina
Fishing in North Topsail Beach, North Carolina
Fishing in North Topsail Beach, North Carolina
Fishing in North Topsail Beach, North Carolina
Fishing in North Topsail Beach, North Carolina
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Michael Moore
Michael M.
Carolina Beach, North Carolina
Reported 3 months ago
Atlantic Bonito have showed up
Michael Moore
Michael M. Carolina Beach, North Carolina Reported 3 months ago
Atlantic Bonito have showed up
Fishing in Carolina Beach, North Carolina
Fishing in Carolina Beach, North Carolina
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Allen Jernigan
Allen J.
Holly Ridge, North Carolina
Reported 3 months ago
We competed in Georgetown SC and brought home a 2nd place finish and last week I did a seminar for Salt Strong. Here at home the fish are ganged up and waiting for you to come on out and catch them. My young men on the boat yesterday landed 15 or so. Our fish are coming on MirrOlure topwater plugs, Saltwater Assassin plastics fished under 4Horsemen popping corks, Saltwater Assassin plastics fished weedless with Pro-Cure Bait Scents and the trusty old gold spoon. I have days available this week and the rest of March.
Allen Jernigan
Allen J. Holly Ridge, North Carolina Reported 3 months ago
We competed in Georgetown SC and brought home a 2nd place finish and last week I did a seminar for Salt Strong. Here at home the fish are ganged up and waiting for you to come on out and catch them. My young men on the boat yesterday landed 15 or so. Our fish are coming on MirrOlure topwater plugs, Saltwater Assassin plastics fished under 4Horsemen popping corks, Saltwater Assassin plastics fished weedless with Pro-Cure Bait Scents and the trusty old gold spoon. I have days available this week and the rest of March.
Fishing in North Topsail Beach, North Carolina
Fishing in North Topsail Beach, North Carolina
Fishing in North Topsail Beach, North Carolina
Fishing in North Topsail Beach, North Carolina
Fishing in North Topsail Beach, North Carolina
Fishing in North Topsail Beach, North Carolina
Fishing in North Topsail Beach, North Carolina
Fishing in North Topsail Beach, North Carolina
Fishing in North Topsail Beach, North Carolina
Fishing in North Topsail Beach, North Carolina
Fishing in North Topsail Beach, North Carolina
Fishing in North Topsail Beach, North Carolina
Fishing in North Topsail Beach, North Carolina
Fishing in North Topsail Beach, North Carolina
Fishing in North Topsail Beach, North Carolina
Fishing in North Topsail Beach, North Carolina
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Drew Tyndall
Drew T.
Wilmington, North Carolina
Reported 4 months ago
Getting customers on big schools of Redfish the last couple weeks. Here are a couple really nice fish from some of those big schools I am finding
Drew Tyndall
Drew T. Wilmington, North Carolina Reported 4 months ago
Getting customers on big schools of Redfish the last couple weeks. Here are a couple really nice fish from some of those big schools I am finding
Fishing in Wilmington, North Carolina
Fishing in Wilmington, North Carolina
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Michael Moore
Michael M.
Carolina Beach, North Carolina
Reported 6 months ago
Pretty good tuna and wahoo bike offshore now
Michael Moore
Michael M. Carolina Beach, North Carolina Reported 6 months ago
Pretty good tuna and wahoo bike offshore now
Fishing in Carolina Beach, North Carolina
Fishing in Carolina Beach, North Carolina
Fishing in Carolina Beach, North Carolina
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Michael Moore
Michael M.
Carolina Beach, North Carolina
Reported 7 months ago
Wahoo and Blackfin tuna have been the catch lately. Wahoo has been 2 to 3, every trip, fin has been 5 to 10 every Trip. A few of the trips we would've been able to get a lot more black Fin but after you get your first few on the rock, the sharks find us and start eating them before we can get them to the boat so we had to move and find another group to catch.
Michael Moore
Michael M. Carolina Beach, North Carolina Reported 7 months ago
Wahoo and Blackfin tuna have been the catch lately. Wahoo has been 2 to 3, every trip, fin has been 5 to 10 every Trip. A few of the trips we would've been able to get a lot more black Fin but after you get your first few on the rock, the sharks find us and start eating them before we can get them to the boat so we had to move and find another group to catch.
Fishing in Carolina Beach, North Carolina
Fishing in Carolina Beach, North Carolina
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Guion Lee III
Guion L.
Wilmington, North Carolina
Reported 1 year ago
Bonito bite is on fire. With Black Sea bass and big sheep's head on the wrecks. The fishing for reds and black drum has been steady as well on cut bait, and tip water during during the mid day suns.
Guion Lee III
Guion L. Wilmington, North Carolina Reported 1 year ago
Bonito bite is on fire. With Black Sea bass and big sheep's head on the wrecks. The fishing for reds and black drum has been steady as well on cut bait, and tip water during during the mid day suns.
Fishing in Wilmington, North Carolina
Fishing in Wilmington, North Carolina
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Luke M.
Wilmington, North Carolina
Reported 1 year ago
The red drum have started to break up from their winter schools and have become much more active. Catching fish on cut baits and fresh shrimp as well as artificial and top water baits. The black drum bite has been very productive catching fishing along boat docks fishing fresh shrimp. The near shore action has by far been the best. The Atlantic bonito have shown up and have been all up and down the beach trolling deep divers and casting at fish on the surface. There have been a few Spanish mackerel around but the numbers have not shown up...
Luke Moser
Luke M. Wilmington, North Carolina Reported 1 year ago
The red drum have started to break up from their winter schools and have become much more active. Catching fish on cut baits and fresh shrimp as well as artificial and top water baits. The black drum bite has been very productive catching fishing along boat docks fishing fresh shrimp. The near shore action has by far been the best. The Atlantic bonito have shown up and have been all up and down the beach trolling deep divers and casting at fish on the surface. There have been a few Spanish mackerel around but the numbers have not shown up but expect to see them any day now!
Fishing in Wilmington, North Carolina
Fishing in Wilmington, North Carolina
Fishing in Wilmington, North Carolina
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Recent Cape Fear River Reviews

  • ★★★★★
    Even though we chose a tough time of the year to catch fish, we enjoyed the expertise and conversation with Michael. He is a very knowledgeable young man and we enjoyed our time with him.

    Craig W. | June 19, 2026

    Trip: Five-Star Inshore Fishing

  • ★★★★★
    This was purchased as a birthday gift for our grandson and he had a blast! Capt Drew was wonderful and the fishing was great. Highly recommend!

    Jana B. | June 14, 2026

    Trip: Wilmington NC Inshore Trip

  • ★★★★★
    Very friendly and knowledgeable, a pleasure to have him as our guide.

    Joseph L. | April 24, 2026

    Trip: Carolina Beach Inshore Trip

  • ★★★★★
    Great guide and a greater person just to hang with!

    James S. | April 23, 2026

    Trip: Five-Star Inshore Fishing

  • ★★★★★
    Great experience! I'm fairly certain the man speaks fish. They were cold from the recent storm, but Mike knew just where to put us and the moment the sun came up we were on 'em. Cannot speak highly enough of Mike

    Tiffany T. | March 24, 2026

    Trip: Half Day Charter

  • ★★★★★
    Drew was very professional and easy going, me and my wife had an amazing time fishing, I would highly recommend booking him for your next inshore trip.

    Andrew L. | March 17, 2026

    Trip: Kure Beach/Fortfisher Inshore Trip

  • ★★★★★
    My 10y/o son and I were looking to catch our first redfish and learn how to do it ourselves in the future. Michael was phenomenal! Not only did he get us on the fish, but he was a true professional and kind hearted teacher. He broke down each spot and the techniques needed to catch em. It was an all around exceptional experience; we will certainly be using Michael again for some spring time action!

    Joshua G. | January 1, 2026

    Trip: Five-Star Inshore Fishing

  • ★★★★★
    Great guide. Knowledgeable and friendly. Keeps putting you where you at least have a good chance of putting one in the boat.

    Donald H. | September 22, 2025

    Trip: Half Day Charter

  • ★★★★★
    Couldn’t go on charter due to problems with the boat, however I need to give a shout out to captain Drew, who found us a very last minute replacement to make our trip a big success with captain Mason thank you very much

    Ted G. | August 19, 2025

    Trip: Bald Head Island Inshore Trip

  • ★★★★★
    Drew was a phenomenal guide. Myself and a friend were able to smoke 3 redfish between us thanks to his tips. Drew was super patient and extremely knowledgeable. As a more novice fisherman, he was very good at teaching basic casting and presentation techniques with artificial lures. This was a great introduction to fishing from a vessel without the stress of a large multi-party charter. Worth every penny!

    David S. | May 26, 2025

    Trip: Wilmington NC Inshore Trip

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