Atlantic Spadefish

Season in Southern NC

Peak months: Jun, Jul, Aug.

FishOS's Myrtle Beach chart for this species (same Carolina beach type, about 60 to 150 miles south) carried north with slightly cooler water: NCEI averages at Wrightsville Beach are 52 to 58 F December to February and 78 to 83 F June to September. (Our inference)

Season by region

Where to find them

Around pier pilings and nearshore reefs and wrecks in summer.

Schools around pier pilings, buoys, wrecks and reefs, from the bottom to the surface.

What to look for

Schools of disc-shaped, black-barred fish circling pilings; jellyballs drifting by.

Bait

Pieces of cannonball jellyfish (jellyballs), Fresh peeled shrimp, Clam. Small hook (No. 1 to 4 or a 1/0 light wire) on a short fluorocarbon leader with little or no weight; chum with jellyballs.

Leader

About 5 ft of fluorocarbon on 20 lb braid.

Common mistakes

• Hooks too big for their small mouths
• Fishing cut fish instead of jellyball or shrimp

Landing

Strong fighters that run for the pilings; keep them out of the structure and use a pier net.

Handling

• Spiny first dorsal fin

Hold the body firmly; smooth the dorsal spines down.

Keep or release

Edible. Check state rules.

Recipes for atlantic spadefish

Typical: 12 to 18 in. Large: 5 to 7 lb. SC record 14 lb 2 oz (2005).

Limits

FishOS has not checked the NC limits yet. Check the size, bag and season rules with the NC Division of Marine Fisheries before you keep a fish.

Sources

• NC Division of Marine Fisheries: Atlantic spadefish (Official source)
• SCDNR species profile: Atlantic spadefish (Official source)
• Carolina Sportsman: spadefish (Georgetown, SC) (Angler knowledge)
• SCDNR saltwater game fish records (Official source)

All the fish of Southern NC