Pier Fishing Tips for First-Timers at Topsail Island

Go earlier than you think

The best fishing is almost always at dawn and dusk. The pier opens at 5:30 AM on weekends for a reason — serious anglers are out there before sunrise, and the first two hours of the day are often the most productive. If you sleep in and arrive at 10 AM, you can still catch fish, but you will miss the best bite window.

Start with a simple bottom rig

Beginners often overthink the setup. A simple Carolina rig — a 1-oz egg sinker, barrel swivel, 18-inch leader, and a size 1 or 2 hook — catches almost everything that swims near Topsail Island. Bait it with cut mullet, squid, or shrimp and fish it on the bottom near the pilings. You can not go too wrong.

Ask the bait shop first

Before you rig up, walk into the bait shop and ask what is biting and what bait they recommend. The staff fish the pier regularly and they know what worked yesterday. This five-minute conversation will save you an hour of fishing with the wrong setup.

Rent a rod if you are not sure

Our rod rentals are $15 for the day and come pre-rigged with a saltwater setup. If you do not own gear or do not want to haul it, this is the easiest entry point. Add a bait pack and a day pass and you are ready to fish in five minutes.