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Bield:Fish
Single-species migration calendar

Bluefish in North Carolina Outer Banks may fishing.

Pomatomus saltatrixMigratoryGood

Fish moving through; some resident fish remain.

Year-round calendar

Each month encodes typical migration status. The current month is outlined in gold. Tap a cell for the month-specific note and water temperature.

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JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJan — Possible Wintering fish offshore; some inshore on warm spells. Typical water temp: 46–54°FPossibleFeb — Possible Cold fronts kill the bite; warm windows produce. Typical water temp: 46–54°FPossibleMar — Fair Fish staging for spring migration north. Typical water temp: 52–60°FFairApr — Good Spring run building — fish moving north along the beaches. Typical water temp: 58–66°FGoodMay — Good Fish moving through; some resident fish remain. Typical water temp: 64–72°FGoodJun — Fair Most fish gone north. Typical water temp: 72–80°FFairJul — Possible Hot water — few fish inshore. Typical water temp: 78–84°FPossibleAug — Possible Same — minimal summer presence. Typical water temp: 78–84°FPossibleSep — Fair Fall return beginning. Typical water temp: 72–80°FFairOct — Good Fall run building south; bait migrations start. Typical water temp: 64–72°FGoodNov — Peak Peak fall migration through southern Mid-Atlantic. Typical water temp: 56–64°FPeakDec — Good Last of the fall fish in the area. Typical water temp: 50–58°FGood

Migration pattern

Wintering fish hold offshore; spring run pushes north out of NC March–May; absent through summer; fall return October–December.

Best locations

  • Cape Lookout
  • Oregon Inlet
  • Hatteras Inlet
  • Pamlico Sound

Top lures

  • Metal-lipped poppers
  • Diamond jigs
  • Cut bunker chunks (wire leader)
  • Gotcha plugs
  • Surface plugs
Verify with current conditions

Migration timing varies year to year. Cross-reference NOAA marine forecasts and a local source the week of your trip.

Bluefish in other regions

Get a notification when bluefish show up.

Bield: Fish ties NOAA buoy data and water temperature readings to species arrival windows so you're on the water the day they arrive in North Carolina Outer Banks.

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