Cape Fear River — Reach 2 of 2 Fishing Map & Spots (NC/SC)

Hatch outlook

Willow fly (summer mayfly)Active window

Typical here: Apr 1 – Oct 31 · recurring broods all summer — the heart of it is June–July, famously around July 4th on the Tennessee River lakes; any one hatch lasts days to ~3 weeks

dunhatches at dusk — clouds of bugs just before dark, continuing into the night — after hatching they fly to shoreline foliage — trees near lighted docks get covered; the feeding zone is the water under bug-loaded overhanging bushes and willows
spinnerthe following days: mating, egg drop and spent flies falling from the overhangs — the bream bite under the bushes runs as long as the bugs do

A two-level event: bream stack under the bug trees, and the big bass stack under the bream. Fish the same bushes twice — small for bream, big for the bass just outside them.

Crickets or small poppers under a float tight to the bug-covered bushes for bream; beetle spins and hair jigs just under the surface; for the bass, run a bluegill-pattern topwater or squarebill down the outside edge of the overhangs.

The event happens over under and just outside overhanging willows and bushes on steep banks; trees near lighted docks after dark

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Next on this water

Spring crawfish emergence · forageFeb 15 – May 15 · in ~6 months

Recommendations come from depth structure and seasonal species behavior. Treat them as a starting point, not a guarantee. Contours here are interpolated from real agency depth surveys (state DNR / USACE). Never use for navigation. Always check local regulations.

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Recent catches at Cape Fear River - Reach 2 of 2

Shared by DepthScout anglers. Exact spots stay private, always.

No shared catches here yet — be the first.Log a catch from the map above and share it to put Cape Fear River - Reach 2 of 2 on the board.

Fishing Cape Fear River - Reach 2 of 2: what the data says

22 km of the Cape Fear River navigation corridor, with channel depths from USACE hydrographic survey. The river tops out around 56 ft. The depth chart is built from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the humps, channels and drop-offs you see are measured, not guessed. Species by species, here's what the data says the year looks like.

The outline encloses 5,652 acres, worked by 32.9 miles of shoreline. With a shoreline index of 3.1, this water is all arms and coves — edge habitat well beyond its acreage. 7% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft) — cover, weeds and forage water. End to end it runs roughly 14.9 mi, about 4.2 mi across. If the bite dies, Northeast Cape Fear River is 16 mi to the north.

Striped Bass fishing at Cape Fear River - Reach 2 of 2

Spring puts striped bass in skinny water — 5 to 20 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 17 to 56 ft; cold water stacks them in 20 to 50 ft. Main-channel hole (mile 0.6) is the standout, a creek channel at roughly 37 ft, rated prime for winter striped bass. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A flutter spoon (deep) or an umbrella rig (trolled) covers the summer program.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at	Go-to baits
Spring	5 to 20 ft	dawn & dusk	Channel current seam (mile 2.5) (40 ft)	Bucktail jig + trailer, Walking topwater (dawn)
Summer	17 to 56 ft	dawn & dusk	Channel current seam (mile 2.5) (40 ft)	Flutter spoon (deep), Umbrella rig (trolled)
Fall	10 to 35 ft	dawn & dusk	Channel bar / point (mile 6.2) (36 ft)	Topwater walker, Jerkbait
Winter	20 to 50 ft	midday	Main-channel hole (mile 0.6) (37 ft)	Alabama rig (slow), Flutter spoon

Blue Catfish fishing at Cape Fear River - Reach 2 of 2

The spring pattern is a shallow one: blue catfish in 5 to 25 ft. As the season builds they drop to 10 to 40 ft, wintering in 20 to 50 ft. Top water on the chart: Main-channel hole (mile 0.6), a creek channel in the 37 ft range, prime in summer. Time it for early morning and the evening.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at
Spring	5 to 25 ft	dusk	Main-channel hole (mile 0.6) (37 ft)
Summer	10 to 40 ft	dawn & dusk	Main-channel hole (mile 0.6) (37 ft)
Fall	15 to 45 ft	dusk	Main-channel hole (mile 0.6) (37 ft)
Winter	20 to 50 ft	midday	Main-channel hole (mile 0.6) (37 ft)

Flathead Catfish fishing at Cape Fear River - Reach 2 of 2

Early season flathead catfish use the shallows, holding in 5 to 20 ft. Expect a summer slide to 8 to 30 ft, then a winter hold in 20 to 45 ft. Put Slackwater eddy (mile 4.4) first on the milk run — an eddy pocket near 42 ft that grades prime for winter. In summer the feeding windows fall in after dark and the evening.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at
Spring	5 to 20 ft	night & dusk	Slackwater eddy (mile 4.4) (42 ft)
Summer	8 to 30 ft	night & dusk	Main-channel hole (mile 0.6) (37 ft)
Fall	10 to 35 ft	night & dusk	Main-channel hole (mile 0.6) (37 ft)
Winter	20 to 45 ft	midday	Slackwater eddy (mile 4.4) (42 ft)

Channel Catfish fishing at Cape Fear River - Reach 2 of 2

Early season channel catfish use the shallows, holding in 3 to 12 ft. Summer is an 8 to 25 ft game here, winter a 20 to 40 ft one. The chart's best answer is Main-channel hole (mile 0.6) — creek channel, 37 ft, prime for winter. Best bite is after dark and the evening.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at
Spring	3 to 12 ft	dusk	Slackwater eddy (mile 4.4) (42 ft)
Summer	8 to 25 ft	night & dusk	Main-channel hole (mile 0.6) (37 ft)
Fall	10 to 30 ft	dusk	Main-channel hole (mile 0.6) (37 ft)
Winter	20 to 40 ft	midday	Main-channel hole (mile 0.6) (37 ft)

Largemouth Bass fishing at Cape Fear River - Reach 2 of 2

Early season largemouth bass use the shallows, holding in 2 to 10 ft. Summer is an 8 to 20 ft game here, winter a 15 to 35 ft one. The chart's best answer is Main-channel hole (mile 0.6) — creek channel, 37 ft, prime for winter. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Tie on a texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait and you're in the game.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at	Go-to baits
Spring	2 to 10 ft	dawn & dusk	open water	Spinnerbait, Chatterbait
Summer	8 to 20 ft	dawn & dusk	open water	Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait
Fall	4 to 15 ft	midday & dawn	Channel bar / point (mile 6.2) (36 ft)	Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait
Winter	15 to 35 ft	midday	Main-channel hole (mile 0.6) (37 ft)	Blade bait, Jigging spoon

Longnose Gar fishing at Cape Fear River - Reach 2 of 2

Early season longnose gar use the shallows, holding in 2 to 10 ft. Expect a summer slide to 1 to 12 ft, then a winter hold in 10 to 25 ft. Put Main-channel hole (mile 0.6) first on the milk run — a creek channel near 37 ft that grades good for fall. In summer the feeding windows fall in midday and the evening. Tie on a rope lure or a small white spinner and you're in the game.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at	Go-to baits
Spring	2 to 10 ft	midday	open water	Rope lure (hookless nylon), Inline spinner (slow)
Summer	1 to 12 ft	midday & dusk	open water	Rope lure, Small white spinner
Fall	4 to 15 ft	midday	Main-channel hole (mile 0.6) (37 ft)	Rope lure, Small jerkbait (pause-heavy)
Winter	10 to 25 ft	midday	Slackwater eddy (mile 4.4) (42 ft)

Cape Fear River - Reach 2 of 2 also holds crappie (10 to 25 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.

Notable structure

Cape Fear River - Reach 2 of 2 carries 8 mapped structure features, topping out (or rather bottoming out) at Channel bar / point (mile 13.7), about 46 ft down.

Channel bar / point (mile 13.7): point, around 46 ft
Slackwater eddy (mile 11.8): eddy pocket, around 43 ft
Slackwater eddy (mile 4.4): eddy pocket, around 42 ft
Channel current seam (mile 2.5): current seam, around 40 ft
Channel current seam (mile 10.0): current seam, around 40 ft
Main-channel hole (mile 8.1): creek channel, around 39 ft
Main-channel hole (mile 0.6): creek channel, around 37 ft
Channel bar / point (mile 6.2): point, around 36 ft

Cape Fear River - Reach 2 of 2 fishing regulations

Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for North Carolina waters are set by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission — and special regulations can apply to Cape Fear River - Reach 2 of 2 specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.

Check the official North Carolina fishing regulations →

Common questions

How deep is Cape Fear River - Reach 2 of 2?

Cape Fear River - Reach 2 of 2 is about 56 ft (17 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart here comes from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the contours reflect measured depths.

What fish are in Cape Fear River - Reach 2 of 2?

Anglers target striped bass, blue catfish, flathead catfish, channel catfish, largemouth bass, longnose gar, crappie on Cape Fear River - Reach 2 of 2. This isn't a survey of the water — none is published for it — but an informed estimate from the species common to the region, narrowed by this water's depth, size and each species' range.

Where is the best fishing spot on Cape Fear River - Reach 2 of 2?

Main-channel hole (mile 0.6) is the top-rated area: a creek channel in about 37 ft of water that rates prime for striped bass in winter. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.

When is the best time to fish Cape Fear River - Reach 2 of 2?

For striped bass, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.

What are the fishing regulations for Cape Fear River - Reach 2 of 2?

Fishing on Cape Fear River - Reach 2 of 2 is regulated by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. Check the official North Carolina regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.

Nearby waters

Northeast Cape Fear River 16 mi · Shallotte River 24 mi · Cape Fear River - Reach 1 of 2 29 mi · Lake Waccamaw 36 mi, NC · Bogue Sound 76 mi, NC · Great Pee Dee River 82 mi, SC/NC · Harris Lake 122 mi, NC · Lake Robinson 129 mi, SC · Lake Moultrie 131 mi, SC · Jordan Lake 134 mi, NC · Cooper River 137 mi, SC · Lake Marion 141 mi, SC

See how Cape Fear River - Reach 2 of 2 stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in North Carolina · best crappie lakes in North Carolina · best channel catfish lakes in North Carolina · best striped bass lakes in North Carolina

Browse all North Carolina fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: state fisheries survey programs. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.