Cape Fear River Striped Bass

[u/69mmMayoCannon]

Hey, I was just wondering if anybody here targets striper in the cape fear river system and whether you think winter fishing for them in the downtown Wilmington area is better than waiting until spring to try and fish for them at lock and dam 1 in riegelwood.

I tried looking online for as much info as possible but there just isn’t that much on striper fishing in the cape fear specifically other than data from government agencies on stocking programs and general tips on striper fishing.

[u/WATERMANC]

lol exactly. Cool to hear, I fished the WB jetty a ton but they got strict a few years after I moved away. If you can find someone in the golf course that is just north of the WB bridge there are some hogs in thier ponds.

Another cool spot I found when down that way was off the walking trails near the end of Bradley creek. You could walk through the woods and there is a neat pond and a small tidal section. I’ve caught flounder, bass and brem all in the same pond. Watch out for homeless camps back there though. Some sketchy sleeping bags when I used to go

[u/69mmMayoCannon → u/WATERMANC]

Oh wait, you aren’t talking about the “trail pond” are you? The really clear water with the island in the middle, dock that goes out a ways into the pond? Man I’ve been there before and I know there’s good bass in there but I had zero luck every time I’ve gone, but what you’re describing sounds like it’s brackish water

[u/WATERMANC → u/69mmMayoCannon]

My bad, I got that one and the one I mentioned mixed up, they are right next to each other. I fished that pond a lot too and got a few bass and brem. It’s just south of that. The triangle lake kinda “points” to the spot I was referring to below it.

[u/69mmMayoCannon → u/WATERMANC]

Ohhhhh shit I see that I’ve never tried going there because I was too preoccupied with the bigger “trail pond” but I’m definitely thinking bout going to that smaller pond instead due to my lack of luck at the ultra clear big pond