Q.Inshore Migration Timing
When do flounder run in North Carolina?
A.
The fall flounder run in North Carolina peaks in October as flounder migrate from inland sounds and bays out to ocean inlets and offshore wintering grounds. Peak activity at major inlets (Oregon Inlet, Hatteras Inlet, Beaufort Inlet) runs from late September into early November.
The run timing is temperature-driven — when inland water cools below 65°F, flounder move toward inlets to escape cold backwater. Fishing during the run produces stacked flounder along channel edges and at inlet mouths. Migration calendar pages cover state-by-state flounder timing.