North Carolina Surf Fishing Guide
North Carolina coverage follows the Outer Banks from Nags Head to Hatteras Island and Ocracoke, then the Crystal Coast at Bogue Banks, the Cape Fear coast at Topsail Island and Wrightsville Beach, and Oak Island in the Brunswick Islands.
Striper Tracker covers 7 North Carolina surf-fishing locations: Nags Head, Hatteras Island – Buxton/Cape Point, Ocracoke, Bogue Banks (Emerald Isle–Atlantic Beach), Topsail Island, Wrightsville Beach and Oak Island. Each one has its own Surf Fishing HQ page with live ocean temperature, tides, waves, wind and moon, and the fish usually in season.
North Carolina beaches we cover
Nags Head
Outer Banks · surf and pier · also covers Kitty Hawk–Kill Devil Hills
Seasonal species: Red drum (surf), Bluefish, Spanish mackerel, Whiting / sea mullet, Spot & croaker, Speckled trout, Pompano, King mackerel and Cobia. Main surf target: Red drum (surf).
Tides: NOAA station 8652226 (semidiurnal) · Waves: NDBC buoy 44086, 44100
Hatteras Island – Buxton/Cape Point
Outer Banks · surf and pier · also covers Rodanthe–Avon and Frisco–Hatteras Village
Seasonal species: Red drum (surf), Bluefish, Spanish mackerel, Whiting / sea mullet, Spot & croaker, Speckled trout, Pompano, King mackerel and Cobia. Main surf target: Red drum (surf).
Tides: NOAA station 8654400 (semidiurnal) · Waves: NDBC buoy 41120, 44095
Ocracoke
Outer Banks · surf
Seasonal species: Red drum (surf), Bluefish, Spanish mackerel, Whiting / sea mullet, Spot & croaker, Speckled trout, Pompano and Cobia.
Tides: NOAA station 8654400 (semidiurnal) · Waves: NDBC buoy 41120
Bogue Banks (Emerald Isle–Atlantic Beach)
Crystal Coast · surf, pier and inlet · also covers Atlantic Beach / Fort Macon
Seasonal species: Red drum (surf), Bluefish, Spanish mackerel, Whiting / sea mullet, Spot & croaker, Speckled trout, Pompano, King mackerel and Cobia.
Tides: NOAA station 8656590 (semidiurnal) · Waves: NDBC buoy 41159
Topsail Island
Cape Fear Coast · surf and pier
Seasonal species: Red drum (surf), Bluefish, Spanish mackerel, Whiting / sea mullet, Spot & croaker, Speckled trout, Pompano, King mackerel and Cobia.
Tides: NOAA station 8657419 (semidiurnal) · Waves: NDBC buoy 41110
Wrightsville Beach
Cape Fear Coast · surf, pier and inlet · also covers Carolina/Kure Beach–Fort Fisher
Seasonal species: Red drum (surf), Bluefish, Spanish mackerel, Whiting / sea mullet, Spot & croaker, Speckled trout, Pompano, King mackerel and Cobia. Main surf target: Red drum (surf).
Tides: NOAA station 8658163 (semidiurnal) · Waves: NDBC buoy 41110
Oak Island
Brunswick Islands · surf, pier and inlet · also covers Holden, Ocean Isle and Sunset
Seasonal species: Red drum (surf), Bluefish, Spanish mackerel, Whiting / sea mullet, Spot & croaker, Speckled trout, Pompano, King mackerel and Cobia.
Tides: NOAA station 8659182 (semidiurnal) · Waves: NDBC buoy SSBN7
North Carolina surf fishing seasons
| Species | Usually around | Peak | How anglers fish it | Season source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red drum (surf) | Mar–Dec | Apr–May, Sep–Nov | Fish sloughs and cuts near inlets with fresh cut mullet or menhaden on a fish-finder rig. Big "bull" reds run the Outer Banks surf in fall. | regional research |
| Bluefish | Mar–Dec | Apr–May, Oct–Dec | Metal spoons or cut bait around dawn and dusk; watch for birds working bait. | regional research |
| Spanish mackerel | Apr–Oct | May–Sep | Small Gotcha plugs or flashy spoons from piers with a fast retrieve. | regional research |
| Whiting / sea mullet | Mar–Nov | Apr–May, Sep–Nov | Small hooks with shrimp or Fishbites in the first trough. | regional research |
| Spot & croaker | Aug–Nov | Sep–Oct | Bloodworms or shrimp on bottom rigs from piers; the fall spot run is the event. | regional research |
| Speckled trout | Sep–Dec occasional Jan–Mar | Oct–Dec | Inlets, jetties and sound shorelines in fall; soft plastics or suspending plugs at first light. | general guidance |
| Pompano | May–Nov | Jun–Oct | Sand fleas or Fishbites in the trough on an incoming tide. | regional research |
| King mackerel | May–Oct | May–Jun, Sep–Oct | Pier king rigs with live bait off the end of the longer fishing piers. | regional research |
| Cobia | May–Jul | May–Jun | Sight-cast to cruising fish from piers and the beach in late spring. | regional research |
Seasons are regional calendars from published sources, not checked for this exact beach. "Usually around" means the fish is normally present that month; it is not a rating of today's fishing, a catch report or a sighting.
Where the conditions come from
Ocean temperature comes from the nearest suitable NOAA buoy or water-level station, with NASA JPL MUR satellite temperature as a fallback; tides from NOAA tide stations; wind from the National Weather Service forecast; and moon phases from the U.S. Naval Observatory. Each beach page names its own stations and how old each reading is.
Licenses and regulations
Saltwater licenses, size limits and seasons change. Check the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries before you fish.
More surf fishing guides
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