It’s a fishing day

Cape Hatteras National Seashore fishing conditions · North Carolina

Today 5 pm to tomorrow 3 pmStriped bass

The bite peaks at 100. Water is 64°, close to the 62° striped bass like best, and a solunar period lands on the window. Wind builds to 20 mph out of the north by today at 3:00 am.

Log a trip here
Right now: 83 for striped bass, worth the tripTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Striped bass, hour by hour

Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.

  1. 833 am
  2. 83
  3. 83
  4. 836 am
  5. 73
  6. 77
  7. 739 am
  8. 73
  9. 73
  10. 7712 pm
  11. 77
  12. 77
  13. 733 pm
  14. 88
  15. 96
  16. 1006 pm
  17. 96
  18. 96
  19. 969 pm
  20. 96
  21. 96
  22. 96Tue
  23. 100
  24. 100
  25. 963 am
  26. 96
  27. 96
  28. 966 am
  29. 96
  30. 96
  31. 1009 am
  32. 96
  33. 96
  34. 9612 pm
  35. 100
  36. 100
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now

Water
64°F

Striped bass range 50–72°

Wind
20 mph

From the north · rough for small boats

Light
Dark

Sunrise 7:17 am

Sky
Partly Cloudy

No rain expected

Air
62°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Falling

Measured, last 3 hours

Moon
100% lit

Full

What’s biting

Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are North Carolina regulations for these waters.

Striped Bass

Striped bass

Morone saxatilis

100GoToday 5 pm to tomorrow 3 pm

Water

64°
40°50–72° · ideal 62°82°

Why

Right in striped bass's ideal range. Striped bass prefers incoming tide. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 5–35 ft down.

Keep

28" minimum · 31" maximum · 1 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Atlantic Ocean only — 28–31" slot, 1 fish/day, year-round. Albemarle Sound and the Central Southern Management Area are currently closed to striped bass harvest.

Verified Oct 21, 2026 · North Carolina

Season here: Mar–May, Sep–Nov, from this spot’s water-temperature record, 2023–2025. More on striped bass

Bluefish

Bluefish

Pomatomus saltatrix

88GoToday 5 pm to tomorrow 3 pm

Water

64°
50°60–80° · ideal 70°90°

Why

Bluefish prefers incoming tide. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Inside bluefish's active range. Holds 5–50 ft down.

Keep

5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. No minimum size. 5 fish/day from shore or private boat; 7/day on for-hire vessels.

Verified Oct 21, 2026 · North Carolina

Season here: Apr–Nov, from this spot’s water-temperature record, 2023–2025. More on bluefish

Spotted Seatrout

Spotted seatrout

Cynoscion nebulosus

88GoToday 5 pm to tomorrow 3 pm

Water

64°
50°60–85° · ideal 72°95°

Why

Spotted seatrout prefers incoming tide. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Inside spotted seatrout's active range. Holds 3–15 ft down.

Keep

14" minimum · 20" maximum · 3 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. 14–20" slot, 3/person/day, with one over 26" allowed. DMF can close the fishery by proclamation after a winter cold stun.

Verified Oct 21, 2026 · North Carolina

Season here: Apr–Oct, from this spot’s water-temperature record, 2023–2025. More on spotted seatrout

Red Drum

Red drum

Sciaenops ocellatus

47Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

64°
55°65–85° · ideal 75°95°

Why

Red drum prefers incoming tide. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Below red drum's active range (65–85°F). Holds 3–20 ft down.

Keep

18" minimum · 27" maximum · 1 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. 18–27" slot, 1 fish/day. Anything over 27" must be released.

Verified Oct 21, 2026 · North Carolina

Season here: Apr–Oct, from this spot’s water-temperature record, 2023–2025. More on red drum

Summer Flounder

Summer flounder

Paralichthys dentatus

–Not scoredOut of season

Out of seasonOut of season here today. Check the agency before fishing.

Water

64°
48°58–75° · ideal 65°85°

Why

Right in summer flounder's ideal range. Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Strong wind — chop and difficult casting. Holds 10–100 ft down.

Keep

15" minimum · 1 a day

Out of season here today. Check the agency before fishing. 2026 season Sep 1–14 only (Proclamation FF-27-2026): 15" minimum, 1/person/day, hook and line or gig, and every flounder kept must be reported to DMF. A separate ocean-only Gulf flounder season ran Mar 9–22 south of Portsmouth Island. Seasons are set each year by proclamation.

Verified Oct 21, 2026 · North Carolina

Season here: May–Oct, from this spot’s water-temperature record, 2023–2025. Likes an outgoing tide. More on summer flounder

The water

  • Water temperature64°F
  • Barometer30.28 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunrise today7:17 am
  • Sunset today6:13 pm
  • MoonFull, 100% lit
  • Minor solunarToday 7:20 am–8:20 am
  • Major solunarToday 12:00 pm–2:00 pm
  • Minor solunarToday 5:50 pm–6:50 pm

Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works

Fishing report

No current report covers these waters.

We only show reports an agency has published, with their date. NC Wildlife Resources Commission has the state’s fishing pages.

Licenses and rules: state fishery agencies · fish-consumption advisories

About this spot

Undeveloped Outer Banks surf with over-sand vehicle access by permit, including Cape Point. Red drum in spring and fall, bluefish and speckled trout in fall, striped bass in winter, summer flounder in summer.

Nearby

Public spots within 40 miles, with the same 36 hours of floats.

Nags Head Beach33 mi · North CarolinaBest tomorrow 1 pm–3 pmBeach Hazards StatementCoastal Flood Advisory
55Marginal
Ocracoke Beach35 mi · North CarolinaBest tonight 6 pm to tomorrow 3 pm
100Go

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Cape Hatteras National Seashore?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Cape Hatteras National Seashore you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website

What fish are commonly targeted at Cape Hatteras National Seashore?

Cape Hatteras National Seashore is listed on this site for 5 commonly-targeted species: Red Drum, Striped Bass, Bluefish, Summer Flounder, and 1 more. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.

When is the best time to fish at Cape Hatteras National Seashore?

It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Cape Hatteras National Seashore against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.

What kind of access does Cape Hatteras National Seashore have?

Cape Hatteras National Seashore has shoreline / wading access. There is no pier or boat ramp at this location.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Cape Hatteras National Seashore?

state agency regulations apply at Cape Hatteras National Seashore. Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.

Is Cape Hatteras National Seashore tidal water?

Yes. Cape Hatteras National Seashore sits on tidal water with a NOAA tide station nearby. Today's high/low timing is in the tide chart on this page.