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Inshore migration calendar

North Carolina Southern Coast migration calendar.

Mid-AtlanticNorth Carolina6 species tracked

Southern North Carolina runs a more southern-influenced fishery than the Outer Banks — fewer striped bass, more sheepshead and black drum, and the start of true Southern Flounder country. The Cape Fear estuary is the centerpiece.

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 Southern Coast hotspots

Productive locations
  • Cape Fear River mouth
  • Masonboro Inlet
  • Wrightsville Beach jetties
  • Topsail Inlet
Active this month
  • Red DrumGood
  • Speckled TroutGood
  • Southern FlounderGood
  • Spanish MackerelGood
  • SheepsheadGood
  • Black DrumGood

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 Southern Coast
  • 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 Southern Coast
  • 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 Southern Coast
  • 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 Southern Coast
  • SheepsheadArchosargus probatocephalus
    Good
    JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJan — Good Spawning concentrations at jetties and inlets. Typical water temp: 50–58°FFeb — Good Peak spring spawn — fish at passes. Typical water temp: 54–62°FMar — Good Spawning continuing. Typical water temp: 60–66°FApr — Good Fish dispersing back to structure. Typical water temp: 64–70°FMay — Good Resident fish on inshore structure. Typical water temp: 68–76°FJun — Fair Summer fish on docks, pilings. Typical water temp: 76–82°FJul — Fair Same. Typical water temp: 80–84°FAug — Fair Same. Typical water temp: 80–84°FSep — Good Fish feeding heavily before winter. Typical water temp: 76–82°FOct — Good Strong fall fishing on docks and structure. Typical water temp: 68–74°FNov — Good Fish moving to inlets and passes for spawn. Typical water temp: 60–66°FDec — Good Pre-spawn concentration on passes. Typical water temp: 54–60°F
    Best months: No peak month identified

    Resident fish on inshore structure.

    Top lures: Live fiddler crabs, Peeled shrimp, Barnacles
    Full Sheepshead calendar for North Carolina Southern Coast
  • Black DrumPogonias cromis
    Good
    JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJan — Fair Wintering on inshore structure. Typical water temp: 50–58°FFeb — Good Pre-spawn — fish at inlets. Typical water temp: 54–62°FMar — Peak Spring spawn — bull drum in passes. Typical water temp: 60–66°FApr — Peak Peak Lowcountry black drum spawn. Typical water temp: 64–70°FMay — Good Spawn winding down. Typical water temp: 68–76°FJun — Fair Resident fish on oyster bars. Typical water temp: 76–82°FJul — Fair Same. Typical water temp: 80–84°FAug — Fair Same. Typical water temp: 80–84°FSep — Good Fall feeding. Typical water temp: 76–82°FOct — Good Same. Typical water temp: 68–74°FNov — Good Pre-winter feeding. Typical water temp: 60–66°FDec — Good Wintering pattern. Typical water temp: 54–60°F
    Best months: March · April

    Spawn winding down.

    Top lures: Whole blue crab on bottom, Live shrimp, Cut clam
    Full Black Drum calendar for North Carolina Southern Coast

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
Black Drum
Speckled Trout
PeakGoodFairPossibleAbsent

Regional notes — top species

Red Drum in North Carolina Southern Coast

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 Southern Coast

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 Southern Coast

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 AMZ156

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 Southern Coast.

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
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