Wilmington’s rivers

Four rivers are fishable around Wilmington, with the Cape Fear being the primary artery for travel and fishing activity. It begins where the Haw and Deep rivers merge below Jordan Lake near Moncure. The Cape Fear is also dammed near Riegelwood, Elizabethtown and Tar Heel, with locks at each to allow navigation.

Several rivers and numerous creeks flow into the Cape Fear as it runs 202 miles through North Carolina’s Piedmont and Sandhills to the ocean at Southport. Three intersect near Wilmington. The Black River originates near Clinton and flows about 50 miles before joining the Cape Fear at the southern end of Roan Island, 10 miles upriver from Wilmington. The Brunswick River is short and splits off the Cape Fear near Leland, then rejoins it across from the Wilmington state ports. The Northeast Cape Fear originates near Goldsboro and runs around 130 miles, joining the Cape Fear at the Battleship U.S.S. North Carolina Memorial.

While each of these rivers have different personalities, they are all tidal. The tide range is approximately 4 feet at Wilmington and gradually tapers off heading upstream.

The Brunswick River’s water movement is primarily influenced by tides. However, when the downriver flow in the Cape Fear is strong, it acts as an auxiliary channel of the Cape Fear. The Cape Fear has the strongest downstream flow, followed by the Northeast Cape Fear. The Black River, shorter and fed by fewer creeks, has the slowest flow.