Topsail Beach

Fishing spots, fishing reports, and regulations in

North Carolina, United States

5.0·188 catches

188

Logged catches

5.0

Top fish species at Topsail Beach

Inshore lizardfish

Summer flounder

Bluefish

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Topsail Beach fishing reports

Southern flounder

length · weight

Blue crab

length · weight

Red drum

length · weight

Pinfish

4 in · 2 oz

Florida pompano

18 in · 2 lb 5 oz

Atlantic stingray

12 in · 2 lb

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Fishing regulations at Topsail Beach, NC

Disclaimer: Always check local fishing regulations, water access rights and land ownership before fishing, regardless of any catches logged in that area by the Fishbrain community. Fishbrain has mapped millions of acres of government-owned land across the USA to help you identify potential fishing access, but you are responsible for ensuring compliance with all legal requirements.

Fishing regulations in North Carolina can change throughout the year. Make sure to check this page before fishing for the most up to date rules and regulations for the current season. Local regulations govern when you can fish, the max size of the fish you can keep, how many fish you can keep, and more.

Local laws and licenses

North Carolina fishing license

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Regulations for top species

Season closed: September 15 - August 31

Summer flounder

Regulation boundaryNC North Carolina Coastal, Joint, & Inland Fishing Waters

Bag limit1

The maximum number of individual fish legally harvested per harvester per day. Bag limits are only for properly licensed anglers actively harvesting the species. People who are not actively harvesting or are not properly licensed (if a license is required) may NOT be counted for the purpose of bag limits.

Min size15" (Total Length)

No person shall harvest any individual fish less than the minimum size limit.

Total length means the straight line distance from the most forward point of the head with the mouth closed, to the farthest tip of the tail with the tail compressed or squeezed, while the fish is lying on its side.

Restrictions & requirements

Hook & Line Only

Allowable gear: hook and line.

Required licenses

Eligible for NC Saltwater Fishing Tournament managed by Division of Marine Fisheries.

Additional information

Regulatory NotesThe N.C. Department of Environmental Quality's Division of Marine Fisheries today announced that the 2026 recreational flounder season will open in Coastal and Joint waters of the state Sept. 1 at 12:01 a.m. and close Sept. 14 at 11:59 p.m. The two-week season will open with the following provisions for both the recreational hook-and-line and gig fisheries:A one-fish per person per day creel limit.A 15-inch total length minimum size limit (from the tip of the snout to the tip of the tail).Harvest of flounder with a Recreational Commercial Gear License will be prohibited. Season: Opens Sept. 1 at 12:01 a.m. and closes Sept. 14 at 11:59 p.m.Bag Limit: One-fish per person per day.Minimum Size Limit: 15-inch total length (from the tip of the snout to the tip of the tail).Mandatory Harvest Reporting Requirement: All flounder that are kept must be reported to the Division of Marine Fisheries through an online form or iPhone App. Learn more.Gears: Hook and line and gig fisheries only. Harvest of flounder with a Recreational Commercial Gear License prohibited. The season, size and bag limits comply with provisions of the N.C. Southern Flounder Fishery Management Plan Amendment 4. The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission's flounder season will open Sept. 1-14 as well, so the season, size limit and daily bag limit will be consistent across jurisdictions. For more specifics on the recreational flounder season in Coastal and Joint Fishing Waters, see Proclamation FF-27-2026. The commercial flounder season for internal Coastal and Joint Fishing Waters (rivers, creeks and sounds) will be announced in the coming weeks through a separate news release and proclamation.

Edibility

Excellent

Season open: year-round

Bluefish

Regulation boundaryNC North Carolina State Waters

Bag limit5

Required licenses

Eligible for NC Saltwater Fishing Tournament managed by Division of Marine Fisheries.

Additional information

No minimum size. Recreational anglers engaged on a for-hire vessel can possess up to 5 bluefish per person per day.For seasons, bag limits, size limits, or closures see Current Fisheries Proclamations.

Edibility

Good, but may contain elevated mercury levels. Catch, Clean, Cook Bluefish by DMFD

Synonyms

Pomatomus saltatrix

Local laws and licenses

North Carolina fishing license

Get license

Cities nearby

4.3 miles away

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11.2 miles away

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35.2 miles away

36.6 miles away

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FAQ about Topsail Beach fishing

📍 Where is Topsail Beach located?

Topsail Beach is an inshore water located in Pender County, North Carolina, United States. Its coordinates are:

34°20′52.6″N 77°39′33.7″W

🎣 Where on Topsail Beach is it best to fish?

Find the best fishing spots on Topsail Beach by looking at where other anglers have caught fish. This can easily be done in the where it is also possible to see big fish potential and how good fishing is right now along with Garmin® depth maps.

🐟 What species are in Topsail Beach?

The most common species in Topsail Beach are:

Inshore lizardfish - 13 members reported to have caught this fish
Summer flounder - 11 members reported to have caught this fish
Bluefish - 9 members reported to have caught this fish

📢 What are the latest Topsail Beach fishing reports?

The latest Topsail Beach fishing reports are:

@drtaytay reported a nice Southern flounder.
@drtaytay reported a nice Blue crab.
@johnny.canterbury reported a nice Red drum.
@anthonybringman reported a nice Pinfish.
@keeganpasswaters reported a nice Florida pompano.

🗓️ What species are in season at Topsail Beach right now?

According to fishing regulations at Topsail Beach, some of the species in season this November include: Striped bass, Spotted seatrout, Cobia, Red grouper, and Atlantic bluefin tuna. For full details on other species — including bag limits, minimum and maximum size limits, and seasonal closures — download the .

🪪 Do I need a fishing license to fish at Topsail Beach?

Fishing in North Carolina requires a valid state fishing license for anglers. Licenses include resident and non-resident, annual, short-term, and combination options, purchasable online or at vendors.

In North Carolina, no fishing license is required for anglers under 16. Residents 70 and older qualify for a discounted lifetime license. A few other exceptions worth knowing:

Free fishing days — most states designate 1–2 weekends a year where anyone can fish without a license
Tribal waters — tribal members fishing on tribal land operate under separate tribal regulations
Private ponds — landowners fishing their own water typically don't need a license

Non-residents usually pay more for a license than residents. Some species also require an extra stamp or endorsement on top of your base license.

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Topsail Beach

Top fish species at Topsail Beach

Topsail Beach fishing reports

General info

Location

Fishing regulations at Topsail Beach, NC

Regulations for top species

Summer flounder

Bluefish

Reviews of Topsail Beach

Other fishing waters nearby

Cities nearby

Anything missing or inaccurate?

FAQ about Topsail Beach fishing