Best Times & Seasons to Fish in Emerald Isle, NC (A Guide)

The waters around Emerald Isle offer some of the best angling opportunities in the nation. The trick, though, is to know when and where to have the best fishing.

The best time to fish Emerald Isle coastal waters is between the months of May and September offshore, with mahi mahi, wahoo, and yellowfin tuna being just a few of the fish you can expect to catch, while inshore fishing is best from July to December.

Fish SpeciesBest Times to Fish Near Emerald Isle
King MackerelSeptember & October are the two best months for king mackerel near Emerald Isle.
Spanish MackerelThe peak season is April through October in Emerald Isle coastal waters.
FlounderMay through October is the peak fishing season in Emerald Isle.
SailfishThe best season for sailfish is January through May in local waters.
Mahi MahiThe peak fishing season is May through September for coastal dolphin.
TunaJune through November is the peak fishing season in Emerald Isle.
RedfishMay & June are the peak months but good fishing lasts until October
Spotted SeatroutNovember through March is the peak fishing season in Emerald Isle.
SnookThe best season for snook is May through September.

Fishing in Emerald Isle is most productive during the spring and summer seasons. These seasons provide the best water and climatic conditions that aid successful fishing. Fishing the waters of Emerald Isle from March through August will assure you of high fishing success and results.

fishing in Atlantic Beach
(Image courtesy of Tombstone Charters (Atlantic Beach) & Fishing Booker)

Best Times to Fish Emerald Isle

The best time to fish the waters of Emerald Isle is during the fishing season. The fishing season runs from the spring season through the summer season. The best time to fish Emerald Isle is from March through August. Do this and be assured of high fishing success.

You also need to consider the right time of the day to fish the waters of Emerald Isle. This depends on the fish species you are targeting.

The best time to fish is during the active hours of the fish. This is when the fish are most vulnerable to your traps and are also in their most abundant numbers.

Most fish species are active during the morning and evening hours. These times of the day provide the best conditions for successful fishing activity. These are the best times for you to fish the waters of Emerald Isle for the best result.

Fish during the right season and appropriate time of the day to give yourself the most memorable fishing trip in Emerald Isle.

Recommended Fishing Charters in Emerald Isle

These Emerald Isle-based charters have earned great reviews from anglers and will offer you a tremendous service. The captains are knowledgeable, friendly, and are sure to put you on fish. By clicking the links below, you will be taken to the charter’s respective profile on Fishing Booker where you can read reviews, learn more about the charter, view photos, and book online at the best rate.

Recommended Fishing ChartersType of Fishing Offered
Tombstone ChartersWreck, Reef, Nearshore & Offshore
Pirates Life 4 Us Fishing ChartersRiver, Backcountry, Inshore
See Ya Outdoors – SaltwaterWreck, Reef, Inshore & Nearshore
Savanna Leigh Sport FishingNearshore & Offshore
Reel Time ChartersWreck, Reef, Nearshore & Offshore
First Due Fishing ChartersWreck, Reef, Inshore & Nearshore

Emerald Isle Species Breakdown: Best Times & Seasons

Emerald Isle is one of the best places to visit if you want to explore a wide variety of fish species. There are several fish species you can catch in Emerald Isle. And catching these fish species can make your fishing trip a memorable one.

Here are some of the fish species you will find in the waters of Emerald Isle:

Pompano

Fishing pompanos in Emerald Isle is highly promising as numerous pompanos are in the waters. To enjoy the best pompano fishing, you should target spring through autumn. You should visit the waters of Emerald Isle and begin your pompano fishing from March through November.

The best time to fish pompanos in the waters of Emerald Isle is during the hours of dawn and dusk. You should fish pompanos from dawn till hours before noon. You should also target hours after sunset to catch pompanos with ease.

You can visit several places in Emerald Isle for your pompano fishing. One of these places is Hammocks Beach State Park. You can catch pompanos and several other fish species at the park and give yourself a memorable fishing operation.

Bluefish

The best seasons to catch bluefish in Emerald Isle are summer and autumn. You should target the mid-summer through mid-fall to make the best bluefish catch. You can enjoy the best results by fishing bluefish from July through October.

You can visit the waters of Emerald Isle at any time of the day to catch bluefish, but you should target the morning hours for the best results.

You can also fish the waters of Emerald Isle during the evening hours to make the best catches. You should utilize the hours of dawn and dusk to catch bluefish in Emerald Isle.

Emerald Isle has numerous fishing spots where you can catch bluefish. You should visit one of these places to enjoy your bluefish fishing and crown it with success. One of these places to visit is the Bogue Inlet Fishing Pier, where you can catch as many bluefish as you want.

Sea Mullet

The sea mullet is a popular fish species in Emerald Isle and in the whole of North Carolina. It is sometimes referred to as king croakers or kingfish. They are a very distinguished species of well-priced fish and provide tasty meat.

When fishing sea mullets in Emerald Isle, you should target the mid-spring until the summer. These seasons provide the best conditions for successful sea mullet fishing in Emerald Isle. You should begin your sea mullet fishing from April through August for the best results.

Sea mullets are one of the fish species that love low-light conditions. So, when fishing them, you should target the dark hours of the day or night. Fishing the sea mullet at night will provide you with the best fishing results in Emerald Isle.

You can visit and fish the Public Beach Access for your sea mullet fishing operations. You can catch as many fish species as you want at this fishing location. You can enjoy your fishing operations to the fullest by fishing sea mullets at this location.

Puppy Drum

If you want to make the best catch of puppy drums, you should visit the waters of Emerald Isle during the spring season. The spring season provides the largest number of puppy drums. You should begin your puppy drum fishing from March through May for the best results.

At dusk, one of the best times to fish puppy drums in Emerald Isle. You can also fish them in the morning and make a good catch. You can fish the waters of Emerald Isle during the hours of dawn and dusk to get the best results.

One of the places you should visit when fishing Emerald Isle is the NC Wildlife Public Boat Ramp. This place gives you access to numerous puppy drums that you can fish and catch. You can enjoy your fishing operations and make them memorable.

I recommend this Penn Pursuit Spinning Rod & Reel combo (available on Amazon) for inshore and nearshore fishing. It can handle everything from redfish to snapper and king mackerel. The Penn Battalion Series Spinning Rod and the Penn Battle Spinning Reel are fantastic if you want to create your combo.

Best Time of the Day to Fish Emerald Isle

You can fish Emerald Isle at any time of the day and get good results. But the best time to fish the waters of Emerald Isle is during the morning and evening hours. You can catch several fish species when you fish during this time and make your fishing operations successful.

Emerald Isle Fishing & Tidal Impacts

When fishing the waters of Emerald Isle, you have to consider the tidal movements of the waters. You have to fish during the right time to give you the best fishing result.

The best time to fish the waters of Emerald Isle is during the slack tides. You should fish Emerald Isle hours before and after a high and low tide to get the best results.

man holding a fish
(Image courtesy of Tombstone Charters (Atlantic Beach) & Fishing Booker)

Storms & Emerald Isle Fishing

You also have to consider the storms when fishing Emerald Isle. You have to make sure you fish at the right time to get the best results from your fishing.

The best time to fish Emerald Isle is immediately after a storm. Fishing after the storm will guarantee you more success when catching your desired fish species.

Is Winter Fishing Good or Bad in Emerald Isle?

Winter fishing is good in Emerald Isle. There are several fish species you can catch during the winter in Emerald Isle. You can catch as many fish as you want during the winter and give yourself a memorable fishing operation.

Night Fishing in Emerald Isle

The night hours are also a good time to fish Emerald Isle. You can catch as many fish species as you want at night. You can also record high success when fishing Emerald Isle at night.

Shore/Surf Fishing: Best Times & Seasons

The shores of Emerald Isle are also not left out when it comes to fishing. You can also enjoy successful shore fishing in Emerald Isle and catch several fish species. Make the most of the shores of Emerald Isle and enjoy every bit of surf fishing on your trip.

Top 5 Fishing Spots in Emerald Isle

There are several fishing spots you will find in Emerald Isle. You can visit any of these spots for your fishing operations and record-high success. Here are some of the fishing spots you will find in Emerald Isle;

  • Hammocks Beach State Park: The Hammocks Beach State Park is one of the places you can visit when fishing Emerald Isle. You can catch numerous fishing species and make your fishing trip a productive one at this spot.
  • Emerald Isle Woods Park: The Emerald Isle Woods Park is also one of the fishing spots in Emerald Isle that you can visit. You can enjoy your fishing trip at the park and make it a memorable one.
  • Bogue Inlet Fishing Pier: This is also one of the numerous fishing spots in Emerald Isle. Many anglers visit this location for their fishing operations. You can also visit this location and give yourself a perfect fishing trip.
  • Public Beach Access: The Public Beach Access will give you access to numerous fish species in Emerald Isle. You will find several anglers and fishing enthusiasts at this spot enjoying their fishing operations.
  • NC Wildlife Public Boat Ramp: You should visit this place for your fishing operations in Emerald Isle. One of the best conditions that aid successful fishing in the Emerald Isle.
mangrove snappers on a dock

Booking Charters in Emerald Isle

One of the factors you need to consider when fishing the waters of Emerald Isle is charters. Charters are one of the ways you can make your fishing operations easier, more comfortable, and more productive. With the right charters, you can enhance your fishing operations and record-high success when fishing the waters of Emerald Isle.

There are several charter services in Emerald Isle. You should book one of your choices and make your fishing trip to Emerald Isle memorable and productive.

Best Season to Go

When booking a charter for your fishing operations in Emerald Isle, you have to consider some factors. Considering these factors appropriately will enhance your fishing operations and make them highly productive. You will also be able to record high success when fishing Emerald Isle.

You must know the best season to book your charters in Emerald Isle. The best time to book your charters is during the fishing season.

The fishing season is the time where most fish species are in abundance. Booking your charters during this time will give you easy access to numerous fish species, making your fishing operations a successful one.

You should book your charters during the spring and summer seasons. You should begin booking your charter from March through August for the best fishing results. Booking your charter during these seasons will make your fishing operations better and more productive.

Booking your charters during the spring and summer season will also give you access to the busiest season in Emerald Isle. The spring and summer are the busiest seasons in Emerald Isle. Many people visit Emerald Isle during these seasons, making it a lively place for you.

Fishing during this time makes your fishing season full of fun and highly productive. It can make your fishing trip to Emerald Isle memorable and worthwhile. Enjoy your fishing operations and make your fishing trip to Emerald Isle unforgettable.

Morning vs. Afternoon

Another thing you need to consider when booking your charters in Emerald Isle is the right time of the day to book your charters.

You have to know if the morning or afternoon is the best time to book your charter. And the answer to this question depends on the fish species you want to catch.

You have to know the active hours of the fish species you target. This will determine the best time to book your charters and fish the waters of Emerald Isle. So you might first need to ask yourself the active time of the fish species you are targeting.

Most fish species are usually active in the morning to save you the trouble. This makes the morning hours the best time to book your charters in Emerald Isle. Booking your charters during these hours will give you access to several fish species in the waters of Emerald Isle.

You can also book your charters during the afternoon hours as several fish species are active in the afternoon. You can book your charter during this time and catch as many fish species as you want.

For a complete breakdown of the best time to fish the Outer Banks, please check out this helpful guide. For a complete breakdown of the best time to fish in Carolina Beach, please check out this helpful guide. For a complete breakdown of the best time to fish in Beaufort, please check out this helpful guide.

For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Atlantic Beach, please check out this helpful article I wrote. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Topsail Beach, please check out this helpful article I wrote. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in North Carolina, please check out this helpful article I wrote. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Georgia, please check out this helpful article.

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