Shallotte Sound Fishing
Brunswick County, coastal fishing waters.
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An overview of Shallotte Sound
Shallotte Sound is a coastal sound reaching Brunswick County. 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 7 fishing piers, 12 coastal launches and 83 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 Shallotte Sound
Piers to fish near Shallotte Sound
- Ocean Isle Beach Pierocean fishing pier, 2 miles, blanket license
- Holden Beach Fishing Pierocean fishing pier, 6 miles
- Sunset Beach Public Fishing Areapublic fishing area pier, 7 miles
- Sunset Beach Fishing Pierocean fishing pier, 7 miles
- Holden Beach Pavilion and Fishing Piersound/river access pier, 8 miles
- Halstead Parksound/river access pier, 8 miles
- Sunset Harbor Public Fishing Areapublic fishing area pier, 11 miles
Shoreline access around Shallotte Sound
- Ferry Landing Park, Ocean Isle Beach32 parking, estuarine
- Durham St, Ocean Isle Beach2 parking, ocean
- Lumberton Access, Ocean Isle Beachocean
- Charlotte Street – TEMP CLOSED, Ocean Isle Beach16 parking, ocean
- Shalotte Blvd, Ocean Isle Beach61 parking, ocean
- Highpoint Street, Ocean Isle Beachocean
- 391 E. First Street Access, Ocean Isle Beachocean
- Fourth Street, Ocean Isle Beachocean
- Greensboro Access, Ocean Isle Beachocean
- Winnabow Access, Ocean Isle Beach25 parking, ocean
- Chadbourn Access, Ocean Isle Beach25 parking, ocean
- Goldsboro Access, Ocean Isle Beach21 parking, ocean
There are 83 DCM beach and waterfront access points within 8 miles of Shallotte Sound.
NCDMF pier list and NC DCM Beach and Waterfront Access sites.
Launches within a drive of Shallotte Sound
- Bricklanding Road1 lane, 23 trailer spaces, 1 dock, coastal waters, under a mile
- Unnamed slipway (Brunswick County)boat ramp, coastal waters, under a mile
- Unnamed slipway (Brunswick County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 2 miles
- Ocean Isle Beach2 lanes, 58 trailer spaces, 1 dock, coastal waters, 2 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
- 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, 5 miles
NCWRC Boating Access Areas and OpenStreetMap slipways.
NCDMF reef sites near Shallotte Sound
| Reef | Depth (ft) | Materials | Built | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AR-460 Fisherman's Reef | 38 | Concrete (5), Reef Ball (3), Metal (3), Vessel (2) | 1986 to 2010 | 5 miles |
| AR-455 Dale Ward Reef | 46 | Concrete (9), Reef Ball (4), Vessel (1) | 1992 to 2008 | 10 miles |
| AR-440 Brunswick County Fishing Club Reef | 42 | Concrete (12), Metal (3), Vessel (2), Reef Ball (1) | 1987 to 2010 | 12 miles |
| AR-430 Jim Knight Reef | 34 | Concrete (17), Vessel (1) | 2013 to 2022 | 14 miles |
| AR-445 Dale McDowell Reef | 53 | Concrete (5), Reef Ball (3), Vessel (2), Other (2) | 1991 to 2008 | 14 miles |
| AR-425 Yaupon Beach Reef | 30 | Concrete (18), Reef Ball (5) | 1986 to 2006 | 17 miles |
| AR-420 Tom McGlammery Reef | 30 | Concrete (8), Reef Ball (3), Vessel (2), Metal (1) | 1987 to 2008 | 17 miles |
NCDMF Artificial Reef Program. All North Carolina reefs.
Inlet structure around Shallotte Sound
- Unnamed groin (Ocean Isle Beach)groin, under a mile
- Shallotte Inletinlet, 1 mile
- Tubbs Inletinlet, 5 miles
- Lockwood Folly Inletinlet, 9 miles
USGS GNIS, NC DCM inlet hazard areas and OpenStreetMap.
Shallotte Sound 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 Shallotte Sound
Hire help on Shallotte Sound
- 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
Bait counters nearest Shallotte Sound
- West Docksmarina, Ocean Isle Beach, 2 miles
- Ocean Isle Boat Harbormarina, Ocean Isle Beach, 2 miles
- Island Tackle / Dana Sportsbait and tackle shop, Ocean Isle Beach, 4 miles
- Ocean Isle Marinamarina, Ocean Isl Bch, 4 miles
- Dave's Outpostcountry store with bait, Sunset Beach, 7 miles
- The Rod & Reel Shopbait and tackle shop, Holden Beach, 8 miles
Just around Shallotte Sound
Towns encircling Shallotte Sound
- Ocean Isle Beach4 miles
- Holden Beach5 miles
- Shallotte5 miles
- Sunset Beach6 miles
More sounds near Shallotte Sound
- Shallotte River3 miles northeast
- Myrtle Grove Sound33 miles northeast
- Masonboro Sound36 miles northeast
- Greenville Sound39 miles northeast
Counties that share Shallotte Sound
Spinning, baitcasting and a weigh grip
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Before a trip to Shallotte Sound
Which stretch of the coast holds Shallotte Sound?
Look along Brunswick County, mapped as coastal fishing waters.
Will an inland license work on Shallotte Sound?
Coastal waters take a Coastal Recreational Fishing License from age 16 ($20 resident, $40 nonresident).
Which red drum rules apply on Shallotte Sound?
Red drum: 1 a day, 18-27 in; Year-round.
What are the flounder rules on Shallotte Sound?
Flounder: 1 a day, 15 in minimum; season Sept. 1-14, 2026.
Can I keep striped bass from Shallotte Sound?
Central Southern Management Area applies. Was open April 1-30, 2026; 1 fish, 18 in minimum, 22-27 in protected
Does a ramp reach Shallotte Sound?
Bricklanding Road, among 12 coastal launches.
Which piers are close to Shallotte Sound?
Ocean Isle Beach Pier is nearest of 7 piers.
Is there a head boat near Shallotte Sound?
22 charters and guides in the bordering counties.
Who sells bait close to Shallotte Sound?
West Docks, about 2 miles away.
Get to Shallotte Sound this year
Know the water class and the limits first.