Shallotte River Fishing
Brunswick County, coastal fishing waters.
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Angling Shallotte River
You will find Shallotte River, a river estuary, in Brunswick County. Roughly 1 square miles of water carry the name on Census maps. The coastal-joint-inland map marks its center as coastal fishing waters. Striped bass rules here follow the Central Southern Management Area.
Close by sit 7 fishing piers, 12 coastal launches and 58 DCM access sites.
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NCDMF reef guide, NC DCM access sites, NCWRC access areas and OpenStreetMap, checked October 2026.
Bank access, Shallotte River
Piers ringing Shallotte River
- Holden Beach Fishing Pierocean fishing pier, 4 miles
- Ocean Isle Beach Pierocean fishing pier, 5 miles, blanket license
- Holden Beach Pavilion and Fishing Piersound/river access pier, 6 miles
- Halstead Parksound/river access pier, 6 miles
- Sunset Harbor Public Fishing Areapublic fishing area pier, 9 miles
- Sunset Beach Public Fishing Areapublic fishing area pier, 9 miles
- Sunset Beach Fishing Pierocean fishing pier, 9 miles
Coastal access sites near Shallotte River
- PW500, Holden Beachocean
- PW460, Holden Beachocean
- PW440, Holden Beachocean
- PW420, Holden Beachocean
- Ferry Landing Park, Ocean Isle Beach32 parking, estuarine
- Fourth Street, Ocean Isle Beachocean
- Shallotte Riverwalk, Shallotte20 parking, estuarine
- PW400, Holden Beach12 parking, ocean
- Shalotte Blvd, Ocean Isle Beach61 parking, ocean
- Charlotte Street – TEMP CLOSED, Ocean Isle Beach16 parking, ocean
- Durham St, Ocean Isle Beach2 parking, ocean
- Lumberton Access, Ocean Isle Beachocean
58 NC DCM access sites lie within 8 miles; DCM records parking and restrooms but no fishing field.
NCDMF pier list and NC DCM Beach and Waterfront Access sites.
Ramps by Shallotte River
- Unnamed slipway (Brunswick County)boat ramp, coastal waters, under a mile
- Unnamed slipway (Brunswick County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 2 miles
- Unnamed slipway (Brunswick County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 2 miles
- Unnamed slipway (Brunswick County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 2 miles
- Unnamed slipway (Brunswick County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 2 miles
- Unnamed slipway (Brunswick County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 2 miles
- Bricklanding Road1 lane, 23 trailer spaces, 1 dock, coastal waters, 3 miles
- Unnamed slipway (Brunswick County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 3 miles
- Unnamed slipway (Brunswick County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 3 miles
- Unnamed slipway (Brunswick County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 4 miles
- Unnamed slipway (Brunswick County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 4 miles
- Unnamed slipway (Brunswick County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 4 miles
NCWRC Boating Access Areas and OpenStreetMap slipways.
NCDMF artificial reefs off Shallotte River
| Reef | Depth (ft) | Materials | Built | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AR-460 Fisherman's Reef | 38 | Concrete (5), Reef Ball (3), Metal (3), Vessel (2) | 1986 to 2010 | 7 miles |
| AR-455 Dale Ward Reef | 46 | Concrete (9), Reef Ball (4), Vessel (1) | 1992 to 2008 | 11 miles |
| AR-440 Brunswick County Fishing Club Reef | 42 | Concrete (12), Metal (3), Vessel (2), Reef Ball (1) | 1987 to 2010 | 11 miles |
| AR-430 Jim Knight Reef | 34 | Concrete (17), Vessel (1) | 2013 to 2022 | 12 miles |
| AR-445 Dale McDowell Reef | 53 | Concrete (5), Reef Ball (3), Vessel (2), Other (2) | 1991 to 2008 | 15 miles |
| AR-425 Yaupon Beach Reef | 30 | Concrete (18), Reef Ball (5) | 1986 to 2006 | 15 miles |
| AR-420 Tom McGlammery Reef | 30 | Concrete (8), Reef Ball (3), Vessel (2), Metal (1) | 1987 to 2008 | 16 miles |
NCDMF Artificial Reef Program. All North Carolina reefs.
Passes to the sea near Shallotte River
- Shallotte Inletinlet, 2 miles
- Unnamed groin (Ocean Isle Beach)groin, 3 miles
- Lockwood Folly Inletinlet, 8 miles
- Tubbs Inletinlet, 8 miles
USGS GNIS, NC DCM inlet hazard areas and OpenStreetMap.
What you may keep from Shallotte River
Rows for coastal and joint waters and the Central Southern Management Area.
| 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.
Hired help on Shallotte River
Guided trips on Shallotte River
- Blackbeard Scuba and Fishing Chartercoastal charter (trip type not stated), Southport, (910) 465-1902
- Boss Lady Charter Boatcoastal charter (trip type not stated), Bald Head Island, (910) 278-3433
- Buster's Outdoor Guide Servicecoastal charter (trip type not stated), Shallotte, (910) 754-6169
- Calabash Fishing Fleetcoastal charter (trip type not stated), Calabash, (910) 575-0017
- Cape Fear Charter Cocoastal charter (trip type not stated), Southport, (910) 214-1504
- Follow Me Charterscoastal charter (trip type not stated), Ocean Isle Beach, (910) 575-5738
- Get Reel Fishing Charterscoastal charter (trip type not stated), Southport, (910) 386-8568
- Getreelin Fishing Charters Inccoastal charter (trip type not stated), Southport, (910) 386-8568
Pick up bait near Shallotte River
- West Docksmarina, Ocean Isle Beach, 4 miles
- Ocean Isle Boat Harbormarina, Ocean Isle Beach, 5 miles
- Rigged & Ready Fishing Centerbait and tackle shop, Supply, 5 miles
- The Rod & Reel Shopbait and tackle shop, Holden Beach, 6 miles
- Holden Beach Marinamarina, Holden Beach, 6 miles
- Seaside Marinamarina, Brunswick, 6 miles
Out from Shallotte River
Where to sleep near Shallotte River
- Holden Beach3 miles
- Shallotte3 miles
- Ocean Isle Beach6 miles
- Varnamtown8 miles
Sounds around Shallotte River
- Shallotte Sound3 miles southwest
- Myrtle Grove Sound31 miles east
- Masonboro Sound33 miles northeast
- Greenville Sound36 miles northeast
Shallotte River, county by county
Spinning, baitcasting and a weigh grip
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Species around Shallotte River, pictured
Photo: Steve Hillebrand, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain
Photo: Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, CC BY 2.0
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Photo: Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, CC BY 2.0
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Photo: Stefanie Tellex. (talk) (Uploads), Public domain
Questions people send about Shallotte River
Which county borders Shallotte River?
In Brunswick County, coastal fishing waters at its center.
Do I need a CRFL on Shallotte River?
Coastal waters take a Coastal Recreational Fishing License from age 16 ($20 resident, $40 nonresident).
Can I keep a red drum from Shallotte River?
Red drum: 1 a day, 18-27 in; Year-round.
How many flounder can I keep on Shallotte River?
Flounder: 1 a day, 15 in minimum; season Sept. 1-14, 2026.
Is Shallotte River in the Albemarle striped bass area?
Central Southern Management Area applies. Was open April 1-30, 2026; 1 fish, 18 in minimum, 22-27 in protected
Which ramp reaches Shallotte River?
12 coastal launches; the nearest is Unnamed slipway (Brunswick County).
Is there pier fishing close to Shallotte River?
7 piers within 12 miles; try Holden Beach Fishing Pier.
Can I book a guide for Shallotte River?
County listings show 22 charters and guides.
Where do I stock up for Shallotte River?
West Docks, roughly 4 miles from the water.
Add Shallotte River to the plans
Limits change by proclamation; check before you go.