Wanderlust World Wanderlust World Located on North Carolina's east coast, Wrightsville Beach brims with activities for visitors and residents alike. From the many beach activities to shopping to dining, there's something for everybody. One of the most popular pastimes is fishing. Wrightsville Beach offers a variety of fishing opportunities. Cast your line in the surf or charter a boat for some deep-sea sport fishing. Whether a visitor looking to land your first big catch or a lifetime angler, Wrightsville Beach won't disappoint.
Procure a North Carolina Coastal Recreational Fishing License. This allows you to legally fish in North Carolina saltwater. Everyone in your group 16 years of age or older must have a license to fish. Children under the age of 16 may be covered by your license. Buy your license from North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission agents. These include the offices of North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries, many Walmarts and many sports or bait and tackle stores.
As of 2011, an annual CRFL costs $15 for residents of North Carolina and $30 for non-residents. A 10-day CRFL costs $5 for residents and $10 for non-residents. A lifetime CRFL costs $250 for an adult resident and $500 for an adult non-resident.
Owners of a private boat longer than 23 feet and registered with the state of North Carolina or the U.S. Coast Guard also have the option to purchase a block of 10-day CRFLs for $150. Each block consists of 10 10-day licenses, and can be used by the owner of the vessel to cover that many friends or family members fishing from his own boat.
Get some fishing equipment. If you don't already own proper equipment, several bait and tackle shops like Tex's Tackle call Wrightsville Beach home. Buy rod and reel, tackle or just bait from these establishments. If you don't wish to buy all new gear, charter companies like Rod-Man Fishing Charters often provide customers with rental equipment.
Decide what type of fishing you'd like to do. Visitors to Wrightsville Beach have the option to fish from the beach for free, fish from a pier like Johnnie Mercer's for a small fee or charter a boat for deep-sea fishing. Though the most expensive option, charter boats are run by professional anglers able to make sure you catch some fish.