Best Times & Seasons to Catch Tarpon in North Carolina

Tarpon are one of the most prized fish species in North Carolina’s inshore fisheries. Knowing the best times and seasons to target tarpon in North Carolina can help anglers increase their fish catches. 

The best times to catch tarpon in North Carolina are June through the beginning of September. Tarpon fishing is can be good at this time of the year.  

The coast of North Carolina offers good tarpon fishing to anglers. North Carolina is the furthest north you’ll find migratory tarpon in fishable numbers.

Tarpon Fishing in North Carolina

North Carolina is the furthest north tarpon will travel on their migratory path. This may seem like this would make fishing difficult, but it couldn’t be more the opposite. The Pamlico Sound on the northern coast is known for harboring many schools of tarpon, while the state record tarpon was caught on the southern coast in Topsail Beach.

Targeting these fish can be tricky, unless you know when and where to find them. As with any migratory animal, tarpon migration depends on various factors, including water temperature. Preferring water temperatures above 75° Fahrenheit, the tarpon will patrol the waters from Mexico up to the Outer Banks.

For North Carolina waters, temperatures don’t reach the high-seventies until the early summer. June through September are the optimal months to search for tarpon. This short season could be viewed as a short window of opportunity, but it can be used to your benefit.

Rather than searching year-round for a specific species, tarpon season is limited to only a third of the year. Another factor that can affect tarpon activity on a day-to-day scale is the movement of the water caused by the tides.

A falling tide is often regarded as the best time to catch predatory fish. The rush of water from the many river mouths of the North Carolina coast back out into the ocean creates a feeding ground for hungry, schooling tarpon. Crabs, shrimp, and other small fish will be pushed out into the bay and ocean, and tarpon will wait nearby for an easy meal.

Tarpon are also nocturnal hunters. They prefer the low light conditions of the nighttime, as well as dawn and dusk. Most charters that target these fish will leave early in the morning to catch the morning bite before the summer heat takes over. 

Best Seasons by Region

Fishing for tarpon in the waters north of Florida can seem like a difficult task. However, knowing when to look for them is critical to your success. The tarpon migration doesn’t see them arriving in North Carolina waters until June at the earliest.

Coastal towns such as Topsail Beach, Oak Island, and Surf City are prominent tarpon hunting grounds starting in June. They can be caught off of the many piers in the area, as well as offshore, so taking a charter is always a possibility.

As the summer goes on, tarpon can even be found in the waters of the Pamlico Sound. To access the majority of the Pamlico Sound, you might need a boat. They will frequently school up, leading to some intense fishing as long as you know where to look.

Tarpon can be found near the many estuaries leading into the bays and ocean, as the rivers will supply bait for them during falling tides. As September and October roll around, the fishing begins to slow down.

Tarpon will be returning to the warmer southern waters, mainly heading for Florida and the Gulf of Mexico. The tarpon migration in North Carolina only lasts from June until September. However, this still provides you with four months of excellent fishing.

Region	Peak Months
Southern Coast	June-September
Central Coast	June-September
Pamlico Sound (Outer Banks)	July-September

Recommended Fishing Charters in North Carolina

These North Carolina-based charters are some of the best at putting you on great fishing action. The captains are knowledgeable and professional 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 Charters	Location
Lucky Strike Charters	Calabash, NC
Rabid Tuna Sportfishing Charters	Hatteras, NC
Carrisma Sportfishing	Wanchese, NC
S. S. Fish Witch II Charters	Carolina Beach, NC
Fish Whistle Chartering	Carolina Beach, NC
Artemis Sportfishing	Manteo, NC
Tombstone Charters	Atlantic Beach, NC
Seas The Day NC	Hatteras, NC
Carolina Beach Sportfishing	Carolina Beach, NC
Hitman Sportfishing	Wanchese, NC
STOLAT Fishing Charters	Wanchese, NC
DreamGirl Sportfishing	Ocracoke, NC
Blue Chip Sportfishing	Manteo, NC

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.

Year-Round Tarpon Fishing Expectations

Tarpon fishing in North Carolina is a rather short yet sweet season. During the winter months, tarpon are typically found in more southern waters, mostly off the coast of Florida. The fishing will be rather slow during this time, although it’s always worth it to give it a shot. 

The spring months can lead to better fishing. Depending on the year, the water temperature may not reach 70°F until May. Starting in July, water temperatures regularly reach 75°F, and sometimes into the mid-80s.

Tarpon will become more active during this time and they will follow the changing water temperature. Once again, they will be most active during the night time, so fishing very early or very late is a must. 

Late summer into September is prime tarpon time in North Carolina. The state-record tarpon was caught in the middle of September from a pier in Topsail Beach.

The piers along the coast are excellent spots to begin fishing for tarpon and you’ll never know if you’ll become the new record holder for largest tarpon. As fall begins, unfortunately, the tarpon season comes to an end. While the season does not close, tarpon are difficult to come by.

Surf Fishing for Tarpon

The North Carolina coast offers many opportunities to catch tarpon from shore. From Oak Island up to the islands of the Outer Banks, tarpon frequent these waters during the summer months. Large artificial baits such as swimbaits and jigs, as well as live bait including shrimp and crabs are used to catch tarpon.

Tarpon are known to travel in schools into the sounds along the coast, providing many opportunities for shore fishermen. The best time to fish for tarpon from shore is during the night time, at dawn or dusk, as the tide is falling.

Tarpon will be the most active and the falling tide will bring bait from the rivers back into the sound. This natural feeding frenzy caused by the falling tide is a fisherman’s dream and greatly increases the chances of finding tarpon.

Key Tips

Tarpon are difficult to catch for a variety of reasons. Their migration can cover hundreds of miles in a single season. Their anatomy also makes them difficult to hook into. Their bony mouths that are at an upward angle make setting the hook a challenge even if you do locate them.

However, knowing when and where to find tarpon is the first step in the pursuit. Tarpon in North Carolina will be found during the summer months, from June until September. They are nocturnal hunters – they prefer to hunt in low-light conditions such as dawn and dusk.

As always, booking a charter with a local guide is always recommended for those new to the area or the species, as the guides will have plenty of knowledge about both, and will put you in the best position to catch these elusive yet beautiful fish.

For a complete breakdown of the best times to catch tuna in North Carolina, check out this helpful guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to catch pompano in North Carolina, check out this helpful guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to catch king mackerel in North Carolina, check out this helpful guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to catch mahi-mahi in North Carolina, check out this helpful guide. Click here to see a breakdown of the best weather for tarpon fishing.