Masonboro Sound Fishing
New Hanover County, coastal fishing waters.
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Groundwork on Masonboro Sound
On the map, Masonboro Sound is a sound along New Hanover County. TIGER hydrography measures it near 0.5 square miles. Its center falls in coastal fishing waters on the joint boundary map. Striped bass limits come from the Central Southern Management Area.
Within a short drive are 4 fishing piers, 12 coastal launches and 68 DCM access sites.
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NCDMF reef guide, NC DCM access sites, NCWRC access areas and OpenStreetMap, checked October 2026.
Bank and pier fishing on Masonboro Sound
Pier fishing by Masonboro Sound
- Trails End Parksound/river access pier, under a mile
- Johnnie Mercer's Fishing Pierocean fishing pier, 6 miles
- Belville Riverwalk Parksound/river access pier, 9 miles
- Kure Beach Fishing Pierocean fishing pier, 11 miles, blanket license
Walk-on access points by Masonboro Sound
- Trails End Park, Wilmington
- 44, Wrightsville Beach6 parking, ocean
- 43, Wrightsville Beach27 parking, ocean
- 42, Wrightsville Beach7 parking, ocean
- 41, Wrightsville Beachocean
- 40, Wrightsville Beachocean
- 39, Wrightsville Beachocean
- 38, Wrightsville Beachocean
- 37, Wrightsville Beachocean
- 36, Wrightsville Beach86 parking, restrooms, ocean
- 35, Wrightsville Beachocean
- 34, Wrightsville Beachocean
68 public access sites from DCM sit inside 8 miles.
NCDMF pier list and NC DCM Beach and Waterfront Access sites.
Boating access near Masonboro Sound
- Trails End1 lane, 40 trailer spaces, 4 docks, coastal waters, under a mile
- Unnamed slipway (New Hanover County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 5 miles
- Wrightsville Beach5 lanes, 62 trailer spaces, 4 docks, coastal waters, 5 miles
- Unnamed slipway (New Hanover County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 7 miles
- Snows Cut5 lanes, 81 trailer spaces, 5 docks, coastal waters, 7 miles
- Unnamed slipway (New Hanover County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 8 miles
- Dram Tree Park2 lanes, 36 trailer spaces, 2 docks, joint waters, 8 miles
- Kayak Launch, Brunswick Countypaddle access, coastal waters, 9 miles
- Unnamed slipway (New Hanover County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 9 miles
- Survey Hand-carry Boat Slipboat ramp, coastal waters, 9 miles
- Unnamed slipway (New Hanover County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 10 miles
- Unnamed slipway (Brunswick County)boat ramp, joint waters, 10 miles
NCWRC Boating Access Areas and OpenStreetMap slipways.
NCDMF reefs near Masonboro Sound
| Reef | Depth (ft) | Materials | Built | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AR-370 Meares Harris Reef | 52 | Vessel (7), Concrete (4), Atlantic Pods (1) | 1970 to 2015 | 6 miles |
| AR-372 Veteran's Memorial Reef | 48 | Concrete (4), Vessel (2), Reef Ball (2), Metal (1), Atlantic Pods (1) | 1986 to 2024 | 6 miles |
| AR-491 | 8 miles | |||
| AR-378 Phillip Wolfe Reef | 40 | Concrete (7), Reef Ball (2), Vessel (1), Atlantic Pods (1) | 1993 to 2015 | 8 miles |
| AR-378B | 39 | Vessel (3) | 1982 to 1982 | 9 miles |
| AR-364 Billy Murrell Reef | 44 | Vessel (5), Concrete (2), Fiberglass (1), Atlantic Pods (1) | 1988 to 2015 | 10 miles |
| AR-376 | 60 | Concrete (2), Metal (1) | 1986 to 1997 | 12 miles |
| AR-382 Dredge Wreck Reef | 58 | Reef Ball (4), Vessel (3) | 1931 to 2001 | 15 miles |
NCDMF Artificial Reef Program. All North Carolina reefs.
Jetties and inlets by Masonboro Sound
- Masonboro Inletinlet, 3 miles
- Unnamed breakwater (Wrightsville Beach)breakwater, 3 miles
- Carolina Beach Inletinlet, 6 miles
- Unnamed breakwater (Wilmington)breakwater, 8 miles
- Unnamed breakwater (Wilmington)breakwater, 8 miles
- Mason Inletinlet, 8 miles
USGS GNIS, NC DCM inlet hazard areas and OpenStreetMap.
Coastal limits on Masonboro Sound
NCDMF limits with the Central Southern Management Area striped bass row.
| 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.
Charters and bait around Masonboro Sound
Captains and guides by Masonboro Sound
- Cape Fear Charters & Guide Servicecoastal charter (trip type not stated), Wilmington, (910) 620-1683
- Cape Fear Guidecoastal charter (trip type not stated), Carolina Beach, (910) 619-0928
- Capt. Jot Owens / Jot It Down Fishing Charterscoastal charter (trip type not stated), Wrightsville Beach, (910) 233-4139
- Capture Charters Fishingcoastal charter (trip type not stated), Carolina Beach, (910) 262-1450
- Corona Daze Charterscoastal charter (trip type not stated), Wilmington, (910) 619-8509
- Eastern Anglingcoastal charter (trip type not stated), Wrightsville Beach, (910) 660-9631
- Fish Hunter Charters Inccoastal charter (trip type not stated), Carolina Beach, (910) 458-3362
- Fish Witch Charterscoastal charter (trip type not stated), Carolina Beach, (910) 458-5855
Counters a drive from Masonboro Sound
- Helms Port Marinamarina, New Hanover, 1 mile
- Marsh Creek Marine and Dry Storagemarina, Wilmington, 3 miles
- Intracoastal Anglerbait and tackle shop, Wilmington, 5 miles
- Bradley Creek Marinamarina, Wilmington, 5 miles
- Dockside Marinamarina, Wilmington, 5 miles
- Wrightsville Beach Marinamarina, Wrightsville Beach, 5 miles
The area around Masonboro Sound
Towns within a drive of Masonboro Sound
- Myrtle Grove3 miles
- Wilmington5 miles
- Wrightsville Beach5 miles
- Sea Breeze6 miles
Nearby bays to Masonboro Sound
- Greenville Sound3 miles northeast
- Myrtle Grove Sound4 miles south
- Middle Sound9 miles northeast
- Topsail Sound16 miles northeast
Counties that hold Masonboro Sound
Piscifun reels for this water
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Masonboro Sound, the common questions
Where in North Carolina is Masonboro Sound?
New Hanover County; its center is coastal fishing waters.
Is Masonboro Sound coastal or joint water?
Coastal waters take a Coastal Recreational Fishing License from age 16 ($20 resident, $40 nonresident).
What size red drum can I keep on Masonboro Sound?
Red drum: 1 a day, 18-27 in; Year-round.
Is flounder open on Masonboro Sound?
Flounder: 1 a day, 15 in minimum; season Sept. 1-14, 2026.
Which striped bass rules cover Masonboro Sound?
Central Southern Management Area applies. Was open April 1-30, 2026; 1 fish, 18 in minimum, 22-27 in protected
Where does a trailer go into Masonboro Sound?
Try Trails End, one of 12 coastal launches.
Are there fishing piers near Masonboro Sound?
Yes, 4 piers, starting with Trails End Park.
Who runs fishing trips on Masonboro Sound?
31 charters and guides work its counties.
Which counter sits nearest Masonboro Sound?
Drive 1 mile to reach Helms Port Marina.
Make for Masonboro Sound
Each pier and ramp above links to its details.