Skip to content
Bield:Fish
Inshore migration calendar

North Carolina Outer Banks migration calendar.

Mid-AtlanticNorth Carolina7 species tracked

The Outer Banks is the meeting point of cold-water and warm-water Atlantic species — striped bass winter here, cobia and Spanish mackerel show up each spring, and the fall bull red drum run on Cape Lookout and Cape Hatteras is one of the most famous events in American saltwater fishing.

Verify with current conditions

Migration timing varies year over year with water temperature, weather, and bait movement. Cross-reference with NOAA marine forecast and a local source before planning a trip.

What's running now — May

6 active species

Auto-updated based on the current month. The planning section that matters for trips this week.

North Carolina Outer Banks hotspots

Productive locations
  • Cape Lookout
  • Oregon Inlet
  • Hatteras Inlet
  • Pamlico Sound
Active this month
  • Red DrumGood
  • Speckled TroutGood
  • Southern FlounderGood
  • Spanish MackerelGood
  • BluefishGood
  • CobiaGood

All species — sorted by current month

  • Red DrumSciaenops ocellatus
    Good
    JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJan — Good Schooling fish in deep marsh holes. Typical water temp: 50–58°FFeb — Good Same — winter cluster pattern. Typical water temp: 52–60°FMar — Good Fish spreading back onto flats. Typical water temp: 58–66°FApr — Good Spring redfish on flats and oyster bars. Typical water temp: 62–70°FMay — Good Strong flats fishing. Typical water temp: 68–76°FJun — Good Summer pattern — tailing fish on flooded flats. Typical water temp: 76–82°FJul — Good Same. Typical water temp: 80–86°FAug — Good Hot water — fish on cooler edges. Typical water temp: 82–88°FSep — Peak Fall bull red run on beaches and inlets. Typical water temp: 76–82°FOct — Peak Peak fall drum migration. Typical water temp: 68–76°FNov — Good Bull schools dispersing back to bay. Typical water temp: 60–68°FDec — Good Wintering pattern returning. Typical water temp: 54–62°F
    Best months: September · October

    Strong flats fishing.

    Top lures: Live mullet under popping cork, Cut mullet on bottom, Gold spoons
    Full Red Drum calendar for North Carolina Outer Banks
  • Speckled TroutCynoscion nebulosus
    Good
    JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJan — Fair Wintering in deep marsh holes; cold-front sensitive. Typical water temp: 50–58°FFeb — Fair Same. Typical water temp: 52–60°FMar — Good Spring movement to flats. Typical water temp: 58–64°FApr — Good Strong spring fishing. Typical water temp: 62–70°FMay — Good Summer pattern beginning. Typical water temp: 70–76°FJun — Good Topwater dawn/dusk on flats. Typical water temp: 76–82°FJul — Good Same. Typical water temp: 80–86°FAug — Good Hot water — early/late tide windows. Typical water temp: 82–88°FSep — Good Cool nights reactivate flats fishing. Typical water temp: 76–82°FOct — Good Excellent fall fishing. Typical water temp: 68–76°FNov — Good Same — fish feeding before cold fronts. Typical water temp: 60–68°FDec — Fair Wintering pattern. Typical water temp: 52–60°F
    Best months: No peak month identified

    Summer pattern beginning.

    Top lures: Soft plastic paddletails on jigheads, MirrOlure suspending plugs, Live shrimp under popping cork
    Full Speckled Trout calendar for North Carolina Outer Banks
  • Southern FlounderParalichthys lethostigma
    Good
    JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJan — Possible Wintering offshore. Typical water temp: 50–58°FFeb — Fair Earliest fish coming back inshore. Typical water temp: 54–62°FMar — Good Spring inshore — fish on bottoms. Typical water temp: 60–66°FApr — Good Strong spring fishery. Typical water temp: 64–72°FMay — Good Solid flounder fishing. Typical water temp: 70–76°FJun — Good Summer pattern. Typical water temp: 76–82°FJul — Good Same. Typical water temp: 80–86°FAug — Good Same. Typical water temp: 82–88°FSep — Peak Fall flounder run begins — major event. Typical water temp: 76–82°FOct — Peak Peak fall run — fish staging at inlets, then offshore (closure may apply). Typical water temp: 68–76°FNov — Fair Most fish offshore. Typical water temp: 60–68°FDec — Possible Same. Typical water temp: 52–60°F
    Best months: September · October

    Solid flounder fishing.

    Top lures: Live finger mullet, Live mud minnows, Gulp! shrimp on jighead
    Full Southern Flounder calendar for North Carolina Outer Banks
  • Spanish MackerelScomberomorus maculatus
    Good
    JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJan — Possible Wintering fish on structure. Typical water temp: 52–60°FFeb — Possible Same. Typical water temp: 54–62°FMar — Fair Spring run begins. Typical water temp: 60–68°FApr — Good Strong spring run through Carolinas. Typical water temp: 64–72°FMay — Good Continuing migration; schools chasing bait. Typical water temp: 70–76°FJun — Good Resident fish through summer. Typical water temp: 76–82°FJul — Good Same — Spanish on glass minnows. Typical water temp: 80–86°FAug — Good Strong nearshore fishery. Typical water temp: 80–86°FSep — Peak Peak fall migration through region. Typical water temp: 76–82°FOct — Peak Major bait runs concentrate Spanish on the beach. Typical water temp: 70–78°FNov — Good Fish departing south. Typical water temp: 62–70°FDec — Fair Late stragglers. Typical water temp: 56–62°F
    Best months: September · October

    Continuing migration; schools chasing bait.

    Top lures: Clark spoon trolled, Gotcha plugs, Small metal jigs
    Full Spanish Mackerel calendar for North Carolina Outer Banks
  • BluefishPomatomus saltatrix
    Good
    JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJan — Possible Wintering fish offshore; some inshore on warm spells. Typical water temp: 46–54°FFeb — Possible Cold fronts kill the bite; warm windows produce. Typical water temp: 46–54°FMar — Fair Fish staging for spring migration north. Typical water temp: 52–60°FApr — Good Spring run building — fish moving north along the beaches. Typical water temp: 58–66°FMay — Good Fish moving through; some resident fish remain. Typical water temp: 64–72°FJun — Fair Most fish gone north. Typical water temp: 72–80°FJul — Possible Hot water — few fish inshore. Typical water temp: 78–84°FAug — Possible Same — minimal summer presence. Typical water temp: 78–84°FSep — Fair Fall return beginning. Typical water temp: 72–80°FOct — Good Fall run building south; bait migrations start. Typical water temp: 64–72°FNov — Peak Peak fall migration through southern Mid-Atlantic. Typical water temp: 56–64°FDec — Good Last of the fall fish in the area. Typical water temp: 50–58°F
    Best months: November

    Fish moving through; some resident fish remain.

    Top lures: Metal-lipped poppers, Diamond jigs, Cut bunker chunks (wire leader)
    Full Bluefish calendar for North Carolina Outer Banks
  • CobiaRachycentron canadum
    Good
    JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJan — Possible A few cobia wintering on offshore structure. Typical water temp: 56–62°FFeb — Fair Spring fish arriving at southern NC inlets. Typical water temp: 60–66°FMar — Good Spring cobia run through NC. Typical water temp: 64–72°FApr — Peak Peak NC cobia migration — Cape Lookout, Outer Banks. Typical water temp: 70–76°FMay — Good Fish dispersing along coast as run ends. Typical water temp: 72–78°FJun — Good Summer cobia on structure. Typical water temp: 76–82°FJul — Good Same. Typical water temp: 80–84°FAug — Good Resident summer pattern. Typical water temp: 80–84°FSep — Good Fall fish active. Typical water temp: 76–82°FOct — Fair Fall migration south begins. Typical water temp: 70–78°FNov — Possible Last of the fall fish. Typical water temp: 62–70°FDec — Absent Departed south. Typical water temp: 56–62°F
    Best months: April

    Fish dispersing along coast as run ends.

    Top lures: Live eels, Bucktail jigs, Whole crab on bottom
    Full Cobia calendar for North Carolina Outer Banks
  • Striped BassMorone saxatilis
    Absent
    JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJan — Good Wintering migratory fish concentrated in NC coastal waters; trophy season. Typical water temp: 42–50°FFeb — Good Big winter striped bass off the Outer Banks beaches and inlets. Typical water temp: 42–50°FMar — Fair Migratory fish moving north out of the area. Typical water temp: 46–54°FApr — Possible Last of the spring migration leaving for the Bay. Typical water temp: 54–62°FMay — Absent Fish have moved north for spring/summer. Typical water temp: 60–68°FJun — Absent No striped bass in coastal NC summer. Typical water temp: 70–78°FJul — Absent Same — fish are north for the summer. Typical water temp: 76–82°FAug — Absent No bass present. Typical water temp: 76–82°FSep — Absent Awaiting fall return. Typical water temp: 70–76°FOct — Possible First arrivals returning south. Typical water temp: 60–68°FNov — Fair Fall run starting to push back into NC waters. Typical water temp: 52–60°FDec — Good Fall and winter striped bass arriving in numbers. Typical water temp: 46–54°F
    Best months: No peak month identified

    Fish have moved north for spring/summer.

    Full Striped Bass calendar for North Carolina Outer Banks

Month-by-month — top 5 species

Quick reference for trip planning across the year. Each cell shows the typical migration status for that month.

SpeciesJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Red Drum
Southern Flounder
Spanish Mackerel
Speckled Trout
Cobia
PeakGoodFairPossibleAbsent

Regional notes — top species

Red Drum in North Carolina Outer Banks

Resident year-round throughout NC and Lowcountry. Fall bull red run on Cape Lookout and Outer Banks September–November is one of the iconic American saltwater events.

Speckled Trout in North Carolina Outer Banks

Year-round resident with strong winter (deep-hole) and summer (grass-flat) patterns. Topwater dawn/dusk fishing through warm months.

Southern Flounder in North Carolina Outer Banks

Same pattern with peak fall run September–November. NC fall closure typically October–November. SC and GA seasons vary year to year.

Marine forecast

NOAA Zone AMZ153

Wind, swell, and tide-stage forecasts that drive whether fish are feeding inshore or holding offshore.

State agencies

Bag limits, slot rules, and seasonal closures live with the agencies — verify before keeping fish.

Real-time migration alerts for North Carolina Outer Banks.

Bield: Fish ties NOAA buoy data, water temperature readings, and your saved species list together — and alerts you when arrivals reach your home water.

Download Bield: Fish
Nearby regions
New Jersey Coast →Delaware Bay →Chesapeake Bay (Upper) →Chesapeake Bay (Lower) →Virginia Coast & Eastern Shore →All regions →