Shallotte River 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

Try Pro free for 7 days · then $29/yr

PRO Stage timing, the bite read and tactics are part of Pro.

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.

Loading depth chart…

Recent catches at Shallotte River

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 Shallotte River on the board.

Fishing Shallotte River: what the data says

9 km of the Shallotte River navigation corridor, with channel depths from USACE hydrographic survey. The river tops out around 22 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. Every species below gets its seasonal read from the same numbers driving the chart.

Traced from the shoreline, Shallotte River runs 239 acres with 3.3 miles of edge. Index 1.5 on the shoreline: a few honest points and pockets, nothing labyrinthine. 98% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft) — cover, weeds and forage water. Figure 1.2 mi of water from one end to the other, 0.8 mi at the beam. Closest neighbour on DepthScout: Cape Fear River - Reach 2 of 2, 24 mi east of here.

Striped Bass fishing at Shallotte River

Spring striped bass on Shallotte River hold shallow, usually 5 to 20 ft. They move out to 7 to 22 ft in summer and finish the year down in 7 to 22 ft. Put Main-channel hole (mile 0.1) first on the milk run — a creek channel near 11 ft that grades prime for winter. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a flutter spoon (deep) or an umbrella rig (trolled).

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at	Go-to baits
Spring	5 to 20 ft	dawn & dusk	Main-channel hole (mile 0.1) (11 ft)	Bucktail jig + trailer, Walking topwater (dawn)
Summer	7 to 22 ft	dawn & dusk	Main-channel hole (mile 0.1) (11 ft)	Flutter spoon (deep), Umbrella rig (trolled)
Fall	6 to 22 ft	dawn & dusk	open water	Topwater walker, Jerkbait
Winter	7 to 22 ft	midday	Main-channel hole (mile 0.1) (11 ft)	Alabama rig (slow), Flutter spoon

Blue Catfish fishing at Shallotte River

Come spring, look for blue catfish tight to the bank in 4 to 22 ft. Through summer count on 6 to 22 ft; the winter hold is 7 to 22 ft. Start at Main-channel hole (mile 0.1). It's a creek channel holding about 11 ft of water and rates prime come spring. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at
Spring	4 to 22 ft	dusk	Main-channel hole (mile 0.1) (11 ft)
Summer	6 to 22 ft	dawn & dusk	Main-channel hole (mile 0.1) (11 ft)
Fall	7 to 22 ft	dusk	Main-channel hole (mile 0.1) (11 ft)
Winter	7 to 22 ft	midday	Main-channel hole (mile 0.1) (11 ft)

Flathead Catfish fishing at Shallotte River

Start shallow in spring: flathead catfish sit in 5 to 20 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 6 to 22 ft; cold water stacks them in 7 to 22 ft. Top water on the chart: Main-channel hole (mile 0.1), a creek channel in the 11 ft range, prime in summer. Fish it in after dark and the evening and you'll meet the bite.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at
Spring	5 to 20 ft	night & dusk	Main-channel hole (mile 0.1) (11 ft)
Summer	6 to 22 ft	night & dusk	Main-channel hole (mile 0.1) (11 ft)
Fall	6 to 22 ft	night & dusk	Main-channel hole (mile 0.1) (11 ft)
Winter	7 to 22 ft	midday	Main-channel hole (mile 0.1) (11 ft)

Channel Catfish fishing at Shallotte River

In spring, channel catfish run shallow here, mostly 3 to 12 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 7 to 22 ft before dropping to 7 to 22 ft for winter. Summer channel catfish concentrate at Main-channel hole (mile 0.1), a prime-rated creek channel around 11 ft. Fish it in after dark and the evening and you'll meet the bite.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at
Spring	3 to 12 ft	dusk	Main-channel hole (mile 0.1) (11 ft)
Summer	7 to 22 ft	night & dusk	Main-channel hole (mile 0.1) (11 ft)
Fall	7 to 22 ft	dusk	Main-channel hole (mile 0.1) (11 ft)
Winter	7 to 22 ft	midday	Main-channel hole (mile 0.1) (11 ft)

Largemouth Bass fishing at Shallotte River

In spring, largemouth bass run shallow here, mostly 2 to 10 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 8 to 20 ft before dropping to 7 to 22 ft for winter. Fall largemouth bass concentrate at Main-channel hole (mile 0.1), a prime-rated creek channel around 11 ft. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait most summer days.

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	Main-channel hole (mile 0.1) (11 ft)	Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait
Winter	7 to 22 ft	midday	Main-channel hole (mile 0.1) (11 ft)	Blade bait, Jigging spoon

Longnose Gar fishing at Shallotte River

Start shallow in spring: longnose gar sit in 2 to 10 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 1 to 12 ft; cold water stacks them in 7 to 22 ft. Top water on the chart: Main-channel hole (mile 0.1), a creek channel in the 11 ft range, prime in fall. Fish it in midday and the evening and you'll meet the bite. Throw a rope lure or a small white spinner until the fish tell you otherwise.

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 0.1) (11 ft)	Rope lure, Small jerkbait (pause-heavy)
Winter	7 to 22 ft	midday	Main-channel hole (mile 0.1) (11 ft)

Shallotte River also holds crappie (7 to 22 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.

Notable structure

Shallotte River carries 1 mapped structure features, topping out (or rather bottoming out) at Main-channel hole (mile 0.1), about 11 ft down.

Main-channel hole (mile 0.1): creek channel, around 11 ft

Shallotte River 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 Shallotte River specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.

Check the official North Carolina fishing regulations →

Common questions

How deep is Shallotte River?

Shallotte River is about 22 ft (7 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 Shallotte River?

Anglers target striped bass, blue catfish, flathead catfish, channel catfish, largemouth bass, longnose gar, crappie on Shallotte River. 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 Shallotte River?

Main-channel hole (mile 0.1) is the top-rated area: a creek channel in about 11 ft of water that rates prime for striped bass in winter. The interactive chart above rates every spot for each species and season.

When is the best time to fish Shallotte River?

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 Shallotte River?

Fishing on Shallotte River 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

Cape Fear River - Reach 2 of 2 24 mi · Lake Waccamaw 27 mi, NC · Cape Fear River - Reach 1 of 2 32 mi · Northeast Cape Fear River 33 mi · Great Pee Dee River 58 mi, SC/NC · Bogue Sound 99 mi, NC · Lake Moultrie 106 mi, SC · Lake Robinson 109 mi, SC · Cooper River 114 mi, SC · Lake Marion 117 mi, SC · Harris Lake 121 mi, NC · Jordan Lake 132 mi, NC

See how Shallotte River 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.