Chadwick Bay Fishing
Onslow County, coastal fishing waters.
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An overview of Chadwick Bay
Chadwick Bay is a coastal bay reaching Onslow County. The named water covers about 0.7 square miles in Census data. Under 15A NCAC 03Q .0202 its center point lies in coastal fishing waters. For striped bass, the Central Southern Management Area applies.
Mapped access near it includes 2 fishing piers, 12 coastal launches and 43 DCM access sites.
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NCDMF reef guide, NC DCM access sites, NCWRC access areas and OpenStreetMap, checked October 2026.
Walk-on spots near Chadwick Bay
Piers to fish near Chadwick Bay
- Seaview Fishing Pierocean fishing pier, 3 miles
- Morris Landingsound/river access pier, 9 miles
Shoreline access around Chadwick Bay
- Beach Access #1, North Topsail Beach30 parking, restrooms, ocean
- Dolphin Shores (NTB BA-45), North Topsail Beachocean
- Beach Access #44, North Topsail Beachocean
- Beach Access #43, North Topsail Beach12 parking, ocean
- Beach Access #42, North Topsail Beach12 parking, ocean
- Beach Access #3, North Topsail Beach30 parking, ocean
- Ocean Bay Village (NTB BA-40), North Topsail Beachocean
- Beach Access #41, North Topsail Beach20 parking, ocean
- Beach Access #40, North Topsail Beachocean
- Beach Access #39, North Topsail Beachocean
- Emerald Dunes, North Topsail Beachocean
- NTB BA-35, North Topsail Beachocean
There are 43 DCM beach and waterfront access points within 8 miles of Chadwick Bay.
NCDMF pier list and NC DCM Beach and Waterfront Access sites.
Launches within a drive of Chadwick Bay
- Unnamed slipway (Onslow County)boat ramp, coastal waters, under a mile
- Unnamed slipway (Onslow County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 1 mile
- Unnamed slipway (Onslow County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 2 miles
- Sneads Ferry2 lanes, 35 trailer spaces, 4 docks, coastal waters, 2 miles
- Unnamed slipway (Onslow County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 3 miles
- Unnamed slipway (Onslow County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 3 miles
- Unnamed slipway (Onslow County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 3 miles
- Unnamed slipway (Onslow County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 3 miles
- Unnamed slipway (Onslow County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 4 miles
- Unnamed slipway (Onslow County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 4 miles
- Unnamed slipway (Onslow County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 4 miles
- West Onslow Beach2 lanes, 18 trailer spaces, 2 docks, coastal waters, 4 miles
NCWRC Boating Access Areas and OpenStreetMap slipways.
NCDMF reef sites near Chadwick Bay
| Reef | Depth (ft) | Materials | Built | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AR-398 New River | 15 | Concrete (9) | 2010 to 2010 | 9 miles |
| AR-355 New River Reef | 50 | Concrete (7), Metal (1) | 1986 to 1993 | 13 miles |
| AR-381 | 18 miles | |||
| AR-360 Topsail Reef | 44 | Concrete (2), Reef Ball (1) | 1992 to 2023 | 18 miles |
| AR-342 Onslow Bay Sport Fishing Club Reef | 49 | Concrete (10), Metal (1), Tires (1) | 1983 to 2007 | 20 miles |
| AR-362 Tom Boyette Reef | 54 | Concrete (2), Metal (1) | 1986 to 2002 | 20 miles |
| AR-366 | 66 | Concrete (4), Metal (2) | 1986 to 2004 | 22 miles |
| AR-345 Swansboro Rotary Club Reef | 60 | Reef Ball (3), Concrete (3), Vessel (1), Metal (1) | 1986 to 2006 | 22 miles |
NCDMF Artificial Reef Program. All North Carolina reefs.
Inlet structure around Chadwick Bay
- New River Inletinlet, 2 miles
- Browns Inletinlet, 9 miles
- Bear Inletinlet, 12 miles
USGS GNIS, NC DCM inlet hazard areas and OpenStreetMap.
Chadwick Bay rules
Coastal limits plus the Central Southern Management Area striped bass rule.
| Species | Daily creel | Size | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red drum | 1 a day | 18-27 in | Year-round |
| Flounder (all species) | 1 a day | 15 in minimum | Sept. 1-14, 2026 |
| Spotted seatrout | 3 a day | 14-20 in, plus 1 over 26 in | Open (reopened July 1, 2026) |
| Weakfish | 1 a day | 12 in minimum | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| Black drum | 10 a day | 14-25 in, plus 1 over 25 in | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| Sheepshead | 5 a day | 14 in minimum | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| Striped bass (Central Southern Management Area) | none may be kept | no size limit | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| Bluefish | 5 a day | no size limit | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| Spanish mackerel | 15 a day | 12 in minimum | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| Cobia | 1 a day | 36 in minimum | May 1 – Dec. 31, 2026 |
| Spot | 3 a day | 14-20 in, plus 1 over 26 in | Open (reopened July 1, 2026) |
| Atlantic croaker | 50 a day | no size limit | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| Blue crab (recreational) | 50 a day | no size limit | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
NCDMF recreational size and bag limits and 2026 proclamations, checked October 2026. Coastal and joint limits.
Guides and tackle around Chadwick Bay
Hire help on Chadwick Bay
- Atlantic Blue Charterscoastal charter (trip type not stated), Sneads Ferry, (252) 508-5576
- Charter Gladys Mcoastal charter (trip type not stated), Sneads Ferry, (910) 327-3865
- Dock Shocker Fishing Charterscoastal charter (trip type not stated), Sneads Ferry, (910) 507-9679
- Friendly City Fishingcoastal charter (trip type not stated), Swansboro, (910) 330-4764
- Hot Pursuit Fishing Charterscoastal charter (trip type not stated), Sneads Ferry, (910) 606-4661
- Joyful Noise Fishing Chartercoastal charter (trip type not stated), Jacksonville, (910) 358-9723
- Lotta Luck Fishingcoastal charter (trip type not stated), Swansboro, (252) 413-7674
- Nancy Lee Fishing Charterscoastal charter (trip type not stated), Swansboro, (252) 354-3474
Bait counters nearest Chadwick Bay
- Bayshore Marinamarina, Onslow, under a mile
- Swan Point Marinamarina, Sneads Ferry, under a mile
- New River Marina, 129 Sail Waymarina, Sneads Ferry, 1 mile
- Sneads Ferry Marinamarina, Onslow, 2 miles
- Old Ferry Marinamarina, Sneads Ferry, 3 miles
- Courthouse Bay Marinamarina, Onslow, 3 miles
Just around Chadwick Bay
Towns encircling Chadwick Bay
- Sneads Ferry2 miles
- North Topsail Beach5 miles
- Holly Ridge11 miles
- Surf City11 miles
More sounds near Chadwick Bay
- Courthouse Bay4 miles north
- Stones Bay6 miles northwest
- Everett Bay7 miles southwest
- Stump Sound7 miles southwest
Counties that share Chadwick Bay
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Before a trip to Chadwick Bay
Which stretch of the coast holds Chadwick Bay?
Look along Onslow County, mapped as coastal fishing waters.
Will an inland license work on Chadwick Bay?
Coastal waters take a Coastal Recreational Fishing License from age 16 ($20 resident, $40 nonresident).
Which red drum rules apply on Chadwick Bay?
Red drum: 1 a day, 18-27 in; Year-round.
What are the flounder rules on Chadwick Bay?
Flounder: 1 a day, 15 in minimum; season Sept. 1-14, 2026.
Can I keep striped bass from Chadwick Bay?
Central Southern Management Area applies. Was open April 1-30, 2026; 1 fish, 18 in minimum, 22-27 in protected
Does a ramp reach Chadwick Bay?
Unnamed slipway (Onslow County), among 12 coastal launches.
Which piers are close to Chadwick Bay?
Seaview Fishing Pier is nearest of 2 piers.
Is there a head boat near Chadwick Bay?
12 charters and guides in the bordering counties.
Who sells bait close to Chadwick Bay?
Bayshore Marina, about under a mile away.
Get to Chadwick Bay this year
Know the water class and the limits first.