Yellowfin Tuna water temperature at Cape Hatteras & Point Offshore.
Typical May SST in Cape Hatteras & Point Offshore is 68–76°F. Yellowfin Tuna prefer 65–86°F with peak activity in 72–79°F.
Yellowfin Tuna SST threshold
Year-round overlap with Cape Hatteras & Point Offshore SST
Where the Cape Hatteras & Point Offshore typical monthly SST band overlaps with yellowfin tuna's preferred and optimal ranges, the species is in range.
| Month | Zone SST | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 58–66°F | Outside |
| Feb | 56–64°F | Outside |
| Mar | 58–66°F | Outside |
| Apr | 64–72°F | Fishable |
| Maynow | 68–76°F | Peak |
| Jun | 74–82°F | Peak |
| Jul | 78–84°F | Fishable |
| Aug | 78–84°F | Fishable |
| Sep | 76–82°F | Peak |
| Oct | 70–78°F | Peak |
| Nov | 64–72°F | Fishable |
| Dec | 60–68°F | Fishable |
May, June, October
Find a warm core eddy or canyon edge with a 2–4°F break. Troll cedar plugs, ballyhoo, and Green Machines through the warm side. Chunk butterfish at canyon edges overnight on the temperature line.
These ranges are climatological norms. Actual SST varies year over year — get an SST satellite shot the day before you run.
Live SST imagery for Cape Hatteras & Point Offshore.
Bield: Fish overlays current NOAA CoastWatch SST onto your chartplotter view and alerts you when Cape Hatteras & Point Offshore hits yellowfin tuna's optimal 72–79°F window.