High Tide Rentals

🎣 SEPTEMBER FISHING REPORT — SUNSET BEACH & OCEAN ISLE 🌊

September is here, and this is when fishing along the Brunswick County coast really starts getting GOOD! As we transition from summer into fall, bait begins moving, the water slowly starts cooling, and we get a great mix of both warm-water and fall species.

Here’s what to expect this month 👇

🔴 REDFISH
September should be an excellent month for reds. Look for puppy drum along oyster beds, creek mouths, docks and grass edges throughout the ICW and backwaters. Live finger mullet, shrimp and cut mullet are all great choices. As we get later into September, keep an eye out for the BIG bull reds beginning to show around the inlets and nearshore bait schools.

🐟 SPECKLED TROUT
The trout bite should continue improving as the month progresses and we start getting cooler mornings. Early morning topwater can be excellent, with live shrimp, finger mullet and soft plastics producing around creek mouths, deeper holes, docks and moving water. September is really the beginning of our better fall trout fishing.

🐠 FLOUNDER
September is prime time for flounder around docks, creek mouths, grass edges and deeper structure. Live finger mullet on a Carolina rig is hard to beat, while jigheads paired with paddletails are great for covering water.

⚠️ North Carolina’s 2026 recreational flounder harvest season runs SEPTEMBER 1–14. The limit is ONE flounder per person per day with a 15-inch minimum. Harvested fish must also be reported. Always check current NC regulations before fishing.

⚫ BLACK DRUM
Black drum should remain a dependable target around docks, bridges, oyster beds and deeper structure. Fresh shrimp or small pieces of crab fished on the bottom are usually the ticket. Don’t overlook deeper ICW docks, especially when you’ve got good current moving.

🐑 SHEEPSHEAD
The sheepies are still around! Fish vertically around bridge pilings, docks and other barnacle-covered structure. Fiddler crabs and small pieces of crab are excellent baits. Keep your line tight — these guys are professional bait thieves!

💨 SPANISH MACKEREL
Don’t put away the trolling gear yet. September can produce some AWESOME Spanish fishing right along the beaches. Watch for diving birds and bait getting pushed to the surface. Clarkspoons, Got-Cha plugs and small casting jigs will all catch fish. Bigger Spanish can often be found around nearshore reefs and larger bait schools.

👑 KING MACKEREL
September is when things can really start getting interesting close to the beach. As menhaden and other bait stack up, kings can move surprisingly shallow. Slow-trolling live pogies around bait pods, nearshore reefs and along the beachfront can produce some quality fish. The king bite should only get better as we move toward October.

🦈 SHARKS
With the water still warm, there are plenty of sharks around. Inshore channels, inlets, the beachfront and nearshore waters can all hold sharks. Fresh cut bait is the way to go. Blacktips, spinners and other coastal sharks can provide some serious action — especially for anyone looking to hook something that can really pull!

🌊 SEPTEMBER GAME PLAN

The big key this month is BAIT.

Finger mullet, shrimp and menhaden will be moving throughout the area, and the predators won’t be far behind. Watch creek mouths, oyster bars, docks, inlets and anywhere you see bait getting pushed around.

Early September still fishes a lot like summer. By the second half of the month, cooler nights and the fall bait migration can really turn things on.

Whether you’re fishing the creeks, ICW, surf or heading just off the beach, September is one of our favorite months to be on the water around Sunset Beach & Ocean Isle.

🎣 Tight lines from High Tide Rentals!

Kayaks • Paddle Boards • Beach Gear • Electric Scooters
Serving Sunset Beach & Ocean Isle Beach, NC

🌊 DID YOU KNOW?

The Intracoastal Waterway Changed Everything

If you’ve spent any time at Sunset Beach, you’ve crossed it, fished it, boated on it or watched boats travel down it.

But did you know the Intracoastal Waterway wasn’t always there as we know it today?

Before the waterway was dug through this part of Brunswick County, the area between the mainland and the ocean consisted largely of marshes, tidal creeks and shallow waterways. Getting around the coast looked very different than it does today.

Construction of the section running from the Cape Fear River toward Little River and South Carolina began around 1930. The project used a combination of existing rivers, creeks and sounds along with newly dredged channels.

The North Carolina portion reaching the South Carolina line opened to traffic in 1934, with additional work continuing afterward.

🚢 Why build it?

The goal was to create a protected inland navigation route where commercial vessels could move up and down the coast without having to travel through the open Atlantic.

That became especially important during World War II, when the Intracoastal provided a route for important cargo to travel through North Carolina waters while avoiding German submarines operating offshore.

🏝️ But it also helped reshape our beaches.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dredged the Intracoastal through Brunswick County during the 1930s. Afterward, the county’s barrier islands became increasingly attractive for development, particularly following World War II. Beach development accelerated during the 1950s and really began booming during the 1960s.

Before the waterway, some areas could even be reached differently from the mainland. At nearby Ocean Isle, for example, historical accounts describe vehicular access before the Intracoastal was cut. Afterward, people needed boats and eventually a ferry to cross the new waterway.

Today we mostly think of the Intracoastal as a place for boats, fishing, waterfront homes and recreation.

But nearly a century ago, cutting that channel through coastal Brunswick County helped transform the geography, transportation and ultimately the development of communities like Sunset Beach and Ocean Isle Beach.

Pretty amazing to think about the next time you’re crossing the waterway headed to the beach.

🌊 Next time you cross it, remember — it wasn’t always there like it is today.

Stay tuned for #7 in our Sunset Beach History Series!

🌊 NO MATTER WHICH DIRECTION YOU’RE GOING… JUST GET OUT ON THE WATER.

Your beach vacation shouldn’t be spent sitting around wondering what to do next.

Grab a paddleboard or kayak and explore Sunset Beach & Ocean Isle Beach from the water. ☀️

High Tide Beach Rentals makes it easy with:

🏄 Paddleboards
🛶 Single & Tandem Kayaks
🎣 Fishing Kayaks
🛵 Electric Scooters
⛱️ Shibumi Shades

We deliver directly to your vacation rental, so your gear is there when you’re ready for your next adventure.

🌊 Explore more. Paddle farther. Make the week count.

👉 Reserve your beach gear today!
HighTideBeachRentals.com

High Tide Beach Rentals
Serving Sunset Beach & Ocean Isle Beach, NC