North Carolina · United States

Outer Banks North Carolina fishing forecast

84 Good of 100

Outer Banks North Carolina is a saltwater fishing spot in North Carolina, United States. Anglers here target Red Drum, Striped Bass, Mahi-Mahi, Yellowfin Tuna. The most productive months are typically April, May, June, October, November, December.

Quick answer

Best monthsApril, May, June, October

Top speciesRed Drum, Striped Bass, Mahi-Mahi

Score now84/100

Local rulesUnited States — Federal Waters

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Today’s verdict

Ranks #108 of 409 spots FishRadar scored worldwide today

Trending down — 7 points below this spot’s 7-day average

Score confidence ±4 points, from 8 live signals

The statistical model disagrees with the physics model here today — treat this score with extra caution.

Helping the score most

Water temperature+25.0Chlorophyll+12.6Thermal front+6.4

Pressure trend

Pressure data unavailable

Best window today

07:00 · Light wind (0 km/h) and calm seas

Next solunar peak

minor 08:34

Current conditions

Sea surface temp	18.9 °C
Wind	35 km/h from NNE, gusting 44 km/h
Wave height	2.9 m at 9 s
Current	0.04 m/s toward WSW
Pressure	1019 hPa
Depth	1 m
Cloud cover	0%
Chlorophyll	5.20 mg/m³
Salinity	31.7 PSU
Mixed-layer depth	7 m
UV index	0
Wind sea	0.8 m at 3 s
Ground swell	0.9 m at 9 s from ENE
Current shear (surface vs 50 m)	0.04 → 0.00 m/s

Nearest buoy: Cape Hatteras East, NC (250) (21 km): water 18.9 °C, waves 2.9 m

The water here is 2.7 °C cooler than the October average of 21.6 °C. Cooler-than-normal water slows the bite for warm-water species and holds cool-water species shallower for longer. The water is mixed to about 45.0 m, so surface temperature carries well down the water column.

Tide now: Falling · turns in 185 minTide is an approximate harmonic prediction — confirm with local tide tables.

Updated 1 h ago.

What the score means at Outer Banks North Carolina

Outer Banks North Carolina currently scores 84 out of 100 (Good). Water temperature is 18.9 °C. 8 forecast signals are active in this score.

Water temperature +25.0: how close the water is to this species mix’s comfort band
Chlorophyll +12.6: plankton density — the base of the food chain
Thermal front +6.4: temperature edges concentrate bait and predators
Current +4.8: moving water concentrates bait
Chlorophyll front +4.1: a plankton edge — classic feeding line
Barometric pressure +3.3: falling pressure often triggers feeding

What’s biting now

The model expects today: striped-bass, bluefin-tuna, bluefish, red-drum, weakfish, northern-kingfish, amberjack, common-octopus

[object Object] — Protected here — release immediately

Bite windows

Moon

Waxing Gibbous · 90% lit

Solunar day rating

50 / 100

Best months for Outer Banks North Carolina:

Score history at this spot

30 days tracked at this exact location

Best recent day: 2026-10-09, 96/100

29 day(s) at 70+ in the tracked period

11 points below the same day last week

About this spot

Water type

Sea

Open coastal saltwater — conditions and safety depend heavily on the live wind, wave, and tide forecast, so check them before you head out.

Access & shore

Best reached by boat · offshore ground

What you can catch

Red Drum

Sciaenops ocellatus
Striped Bass

Morone saxatilis
Mahi-Mahi

Coryphaena hippurus
Yellowfin Tuna

Thunnus albacares

Best months by species at Outer Banks North Carolina

Red DrumSciaenops ocellatus
Striped BassMorone saxatilis
Mahi-MahiCoryphaena hippurus
Yellowfin TunaThunnus albacares

Typical months; local seasons and closures apply.

Local regulations

U.S. federal fisheries authority

United States — Federal Waters

Species	Bag limit	Min size	Open season
Red Drum	1/day	45.7–68.6 cm slot	Jan 1 – Dec 31
Federal waters Gulf of Mexico: 1 fish/day, 18–27" slot. Atlantic federal rules differ.
Striped Bass	1/day	71.1–78.7 cm slot	Jan 1 – Dec 31
Federal Atlantic EEZ: 1 fish, 28–31" slot limit. State waters have separate rules.

Licensing:

saltwater-recreational — residents Federal Recreational Fishing License may be required in addition to state license when fishing federal (EEZ) waters., non-residents Same as residents. Many states require their own license even in federal waters.

Some rules may have changed since our last verification — always confirm with the authority before you fish.

FishRadar regulations are summaries only. Federal and state waters rules overlap — always verify current federal and state agency rules before fishing.