Have you planned your vacation on Oak island and are excited to do a little fishing? Or perhaps you’ve recently thought about going fishing and are ready to fill a cooler? You’ve got your rod, reel, and bait all ready to go. To go, but to go where? Where can one go fishing on Oak Island? Well don’t worry. That’s what this post is all about. We’ll look at the top seven places you can wet a line on Oak Island. We’ll even tell you what fish you can expect to catch when you get there. The SurfThis is perhaps the most obvious spot to fish. All you need to do is walk out onto the beach and cast your line. And really, it is as simple as that and chances are you will catch a fish or two. However, there are a few things you can do to improve those chances. First, walk the beach at low tide and look for holes and troughs. These are areas in the sand that are deeper than other areas. When the tide is high, fish will be attracted to this type of structure. Mark your location, then come back later and fish the spot and hour or two before high tide and an hour or two after high tide. The PointThe Point is located at the West end of Oak Island, at Lockwood Folly Inlet. There are two access points, one on the ocean side and one on the ICW side. To reach the Point, drive to the end of the island down W Beach Drive. To access the ICW side of the point, turn right on Kings Lynn Drive. To access the ocean side, follow W Beach Drive till it ends at the public parking area. The ocean side of the Point is a very popular area for fishing as well as for swimmers and sun bathers. Whiting, Spanish mackerel, bluefish and sharks run the Point all summer long. In the fall, many fishermen will bait their rigs with spot heads in search of bull red drums. The ICW side of the point offers access to the opening of the channel that leads to Montgomery Slough. It is also a short walk in the sand to the ICW or the inlet. The channel and ICW are great places to catch black drum and trout. Bluefish stack up at varies spots along the inlet. In the fall, at low tide, this side of the Point is a great place to throw a cast net and catch finger mullet. ICWThe Intracoastal Waterway, or ICW for short, runs the entire length of the north side of Oak Island. You see it every time you cross over the bridge and it’s a great place to fish. Black drum, red drum, trout, and the occasional bluefish can all be caught in the ICW. It’s also a great place to catch panfish, especially croaker, spot and puffer. Public access is technically available at the end of the roads that lead to the ICW. However, these access points are not always easy places to fish. For those looking for an easy in and out, the town provides a few places with available parking. Veterans Park is located off of E Yacht Drive between 14th and 15th streets. There is ample parking and room for fishermen to spread out, even when it’s busy. While there is no shortage of croaker and pinfish there, it is still possible to land a nice black drum. Another place to fish the ICW is at the end of West Island Drive where it meets West Yacht Drive. There is a t-pier there however, it is smaller than Veteran’s Park. There is limited parking and it only comfortably holds a few fishermen. Still, it is a great little dock to fish from. Like Veterans Park, it has its fair share of croaker and pinfish but it still possible to catch a decent black drum or occasional trout. Davis CanalDavis Canal holds plenty of fish from red and black drum, to trout, spot, croaker, and even the occasional whiting or bluefish. However, accessing the canal is more challenging than other fishing locations on Oak Island. There are a few public docks, including 40th Street Inlet Park, but your best bet is to fish Davis Canal from a boat. Fishing from a kayak offers one of the best solutions. Certain spots of the Davis Canal are skinny, especially during low tide. A kayak will allow you to navigate those waters as well as reach holes in the grassy areas. The PierOak Island has two piers, the Oak Island Pier (formerly called the Yaupon Pier) and the Ocean Crest Pier. There are several advantages to fishing the pier. First, if you don’t have a fishing license, don’t worry about it. The pier carries a blanket fishing license that covers all guests who purchase a fishing pass. Second, fish like structure and the pier is structure. This ups the chances of fish being caught. Third, as someone once told me, “They sell beer and they have restrooms”. Artificial Reef About a mile off shore from the Oak Island Pier is the Yaupon Reef (AR 425). You will need a boar to reach it but it is worth the short ride. For years, this artificial reef has been stockpiled with approved reef materials such as concrete pipes and ruble, bridge railings, and manhole covers. This structure attracts fish making AR425 possibly the best place to fish on (or near) Oak Island. Flounder, black bass, black and red drum, sharks, and spanish and king mackerel are just some of the fish that are caught fishing the reef. Fishing on Oak Island, NC
1 Comment
Rick Alessandrini
5/17/2023 08:36:30 am
Best way to reach the point iam new here just moved to winnabow looking to fish
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Ian SandsFish along with Ian Sands of 'Sands in the Surf' on beautiful Oak Island, NC. We’re fishing the surf and surrounding areas targeting everything from puffer, to blues, to black and red drum, to sharpnose and bonnetheads. Archives
February 2021
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