Topsail Sound Fishing
Pender County, coastal fishing waters.
Pick for striped bassPiscifun Viper X spinning reel50% OFFSale $39.99 Photo of Surf City Pier: Phoebe, CC BY-SA 4.0
An overview of Topsail Sound
Topsail Sound is a coastal sound reaching Pender County. The named water covers about 1.7 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 4 fishing piers, 12 coastal launches and 34 DCM access sites.
For the striped bass herePiscifun AlumiX spinning reel46% OFFSale $64.99 Topsail Sound access, mapped
NCDMF reef guide, NC DCM access sites, NCWRC access areas and OpenStreetMap, checked October 2026.
Walk-on spots near Topsail Sound
Piers to fish near Topsail Sound
- Jolly Roger Pierocean fishing pier, 4 miles, blanket license
- Surf City Public Fishing Areapublic fishing area pier, 10 miles
- Surf City Pierocean fishing pier, 10 miles
- Johnnie Mercer's Fishing Pierocean fishing pier, 10 miles
Shoreline access around Topsail Sound
- South End, Topsail Beach27 parking, restrooms, both
- O-20, Topsail Beachocean
- O-19, Topsail Beachocean
- Boryk Ave (O-18), Topsail Beachocean
- Trout Ave (O-17), Topsail Beachocean
- Ocean Blvd (O-16), Topsail Beachrestrooms, ocean
- Smith Avenue Soundside Access, Topsail Beach3 parking, estuarine
- Smith Ave (O-15), Topsail Beach6 parking, ocean
- Darden Ave (O-14), Topsail Beach6 parking, ocean
- O-13, Topsail Beach6 parking, ocean
- O-12, Topsail Beach6 parking, ocean
- Hines Ave (O-11), Topsail Beach6 parking, ocean
There are 34 DCM beach and waterfront access points within 8 miles of Topsail Sound.
NCDMF pier list and NC DCM Beach and Waterfront Access sites.
Launches within a drive of Topsail Sound
- Unnamed slipway (Pender County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 1 mile
- Unnamed slipway (Pender County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 1 mile
- Unnamed slipway (Pender County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 3 miles
- Unnamed slipway (Pender County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 3 miles
- Unnamed slipway (Pender County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 3 miles
- Unnamed slipway (Pender County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 4 miles
- Unnamed slipway (Pender County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 4 miles
- Unnamed slipway (Pender County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 5 miles
- Unnamed slipway (Pender County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 5 miles
- Unnamed slipway (Pender County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 6 miles
- Unnamed slipway (New Hanover County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 6 miles
- Hampstead3 lanes, 55 trailer spaces, 3 docks, coastal waters, 7 miles
NCWRC Boating Access Areas and OpenStreetMap slipways.
NCDMF reef sites near Topsail Sound
| Reef | Depth (ft) | Materials | Built | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AR-360 Topsail Reef | 44 | Concrete (2), Reef Ball (1) | 1992 to 2023 | 5 miles |
| AR-364 Billy Murrell Reef | 44 | Vessel (5), Concrete (2), Fiberglass (1), Atlantic Pods (1) | 1988 to 2015 | 6 miles |
| AR-362 Tom Boyette Reef | 54 | Concrete (2), Metal (1) | 1986 to 2002 | 11 miles |
| AR-370 Meares Harris Reef | 52 | Vessel (7), Concrete (4), Atlantic Pods (1) | 1970 to 2015 | 12 miles |
| AR-372 Veteran's Memorial Reef | 48 | Concrete (4), Vessel (2), Reef Ball (2), Metal (1), Atlantic Pods (1) | 1986 to 2024 | 17 miles |
| AR-366 | 66 | Concrete (4), Metal (2) | 1986 to 2004 | 17 miles |
| AR-368 | 66 | Vessel (2), Concrete (2), Metal (1) | 1986 to 2022 | 19 miles |
| AR-376 | 60 | Concrete (2), Metal (1) | 1986 to 1997 | 20 miles |
NCDMF Artificial Reef Program. All North Carolina reefs.
Inlet structure around Topsail Sound
- New Topsail Inletinlet, 2 miles
- Rich Inletinlet, 3 miles
- Mason Inletinlet, 8 miles
- Unnamed breakwater (Wrightsville Beach)breakwater, 13 miles
- Masonboro Inletinlet, 13 miles
USGS GNIS, NC DCM inlet hazard areas and OpenStreetMap.
Topsail 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 Topsail Sound
Hire help on Topsail Sound
- Spring Tide Guide Servicecoastal charter (trip type not stated), Surf City, (910) 330-7344
- Topsail Charter Fishingcoastal charter (trip type not stated), Surf City, (910) 358-4912
- Topsail Island Fishing Guidescoastal charter (trip type not stated), Hampstead, (910) 619-8509
- Topsail Fishing Charters Headboat Vonda Kayhead boat / party boat, Holly Ridge, (910) 545-3474
Bait counters nearest Topsail Sound
- Hampstead Marina Inc, 128 Broadview Lnmarina, Hampstead, 1 mile
- Forest Sound Marinamarina, Pender, 1 mile
- Marsh Creek Marine & Dry Storage, 57 McFayden Ctmarina, Hampstead, 3 miles
- Marsh Creek Marine & Dry Storage, 2570 Scotts Hill Loop Rdmarina, Wilmington, 3 miles
- Bush Marinamarina, Holly Ridge, 4 miles
- Harbour Villagemarina, Hampstead, 4 miles
Just around Topsail Sound
Towns encircling Topsail Sound
- Topsail Beach3 miles
- Hampstead4 miles
- Ogden8 miles
- Murraysville10 miles
More sounds near Topsail Sound
- Middle Sound7 miles southwest
- Greenville Sound13 miles southwest
- Stump Sound15 miles northeast
- Everett Bay16 miles northeast
Counties that share Topsail Sound
Reels and a lip grip from Piscifun
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Before a trip to Topsail Sound
Which stretch of the coast holds Topsail Sound?
Look along Pender County, mapped as coastal fishing waters.
Will an inland license work on Topsail Sound?
Coastal waters take a Coastal Recreational Fishing License from age 16 ($20 resident, $40 nonresident).
Which red drum rules apply on Topsail Sound?
Red drum: 1 a day, 18-27 in; Year-round.
What are the flounder rules on Topsail Sound?
Flounder: 1 a day, 15 in minimum; season Sept. 1-14, 2026.
Can I keep striped bass from Topsail 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 Topsail Sound?
Unnamed slipway (Pender County), among 12 coastal launches.
Which piers are close to Topsail Sound?
Jolly Roger Pier is nearest of 4 piers.
Is there a head boat near Topsail Sound?
4 charters and guides in the bordering counties.
Who sells bait close to Topsail Sound?
Hampstead Marina Inc, about 1 mile away.
Get to Topsail Sound this year
Know the water class and the limits first.