Best Times & Seasons to Fish in North Carolina (Full Guide)
North Carolina offers some of the best fishing in the world for largemouth bass, mahi-mahi, yellowfin tuna, roosterfish, yellowtail, and billfish in the world. Understanding the best seasons and times to fish in Mexico can make a huge difference in your success.
The best time of year to fish in North Carolina is from April through September for largemouth bass, trout, redfish, mahi-mahi, flounder, tuna, and striped bass. The best time of day for fishing is early mornings & late afternoons.
In this article, we will discuss the best times and seasons to fish in North Carolina. We will also talk about where some of the best fishing in North Carolina is on a species-by-species basis.
Best Time to Fish North Carolina
Anglers can fish in North Carolina at any time of the year. The waters of North Carolina impress with their abundance of fish. It’s possible to fish for some species every month. However, there are seasonal fish species that feed actively during certain times only.
The fishing season in North Carolina starts in the late spring and lasts till the early fall. The vast majority of fish species get active when water starts getting warmer. Fishing in NC waters is the most productive in summer and early fall. The best time to fish in North Carolina depends a lot on the fish species that you are targeting.
It’s crucial for anglers to fish in the right place and at the right time. That’s why it’s so important for anglers to plan fishing adventures thoroughly ahead of time. It’s necessary for angling enthusiasts to decide what species they would like to target during their fishing trips to North Carolina.
The trips I’ve made to North Carolina were always in July and we caught king mackerel and redfish pretty frequently. The fishing overall was excellent in the Outer Banks near Hatteras and Nags Head. The weather these months are warm with a nice warm coastal breeze. I recommend July for a great overall experience. Mahi-mahi fishing can also be excellent. I have caught some great mahi during the warm July months.
Recommended North Carolina Fishing Guides/Charters
These North Carolina-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 Charters | Location |
| Lucky Strike Charters | Calabash, NC |
| Captain Froggy’s Charter Fishing | Manteo, NC |
| Party Time Charters | Calabash, NC |
| Captain Duke Charters | Nags Head, NC |
| X-Spearmint Sportfishing | Manteo, NC |
| Poacher Sportfishing | Nags Head, NC |
| Hawk Charters | Beaufort, NC |
| Captain Big Fish Charters | Wrightsville Beach, NC |
| S. S. Fish Witch II Charters | Carolina Beach, NC |
| Seas The Day NC | Hatteras, NC |
| Grandpa Charters – Shrimp & Crab | Wanchese, NC |
| Half-Fast Sportfishing | Wanchese, NC |
| Shallotte Outdoors Fishing Charters | Holden Beach, NC |
North Carolina Species Breakdown: Best Times
Amberjack
Amberjack is active in North Carolina all year long. However, amberjack fishing is the most successful in January, February, May, June, November, and December.
Barracuda
Barracuda feeds actively when water is getting warmer. The season to catch barracuda in North Carolina starts in April and ends in August. Fishermen should visit Carolina Beach to catch barracuda.
Largemouth bass
Largemouth bass fishing is excellent in North Carolina. It’s possible to catch largemouth bass year-round. However, anglers who target largemouth in the area get the best results during the spring and fall months. Fish is the most active in the evening. Go to Lake Normal to enjoy fishing for largemouth bass.
Tuna
Anglers can catch blackfin, bluefin, and yellowfin tuna in NC waters. The chance to catch bluefin is high between November and April. Blackfin tuna is the most active between April – May and between September – October.
The season to catch yellowfin tuna begins in the middle of April and lasts until November. Nags Head is one of the top tuna fishing locations in North Carolina.
Mackerel
Fishermen can target king and Spanish mackerel during their North Carolina trips. The season to catch king mackerel is April – November. The best time of year to target Spanish mackerel is in May. Spanish mackerel can be found in nearshore waters this month. Outer Banks is the ideal place to enjoy fishing for mackerel in NC waters.
Grouper
When fishing in NC waters, anglers have a good chance to get bites of grouper. Grouper bites well between October and December. Grouper fishing is the most productive during the early morning and afternoon hours. Grouper can be found in the waters near Outer Banks.
Mahi Mahi
Mahi fishing in North Carolina is best between April and September. Mahi bites well in the morning and evening hours. Try to catch mahi-mahi near Crystal Coast.
Flounder
North Carolina offers excellent flounder fishing. Anglers can target gulf, southern, and summer flounder in NC waters. The season to catch flounder starts in the late summer and lasts till the early fall. The chance to catch a flounder is high in the early morning and late afternoon. Anglers should target flounders near inlets and structures.
Redfish
Redfish is also one of the most popular catches in North Carolina. Redfish is active in the late summer and early fall. Redfish bites well in the morning. It’s a good idea to target redfish near Nags Head.
Sailfish
Sailfish bites well in North Carolina between June and September. A lot of sailfish can be found near the Outer Banks.
Snappers
Snappers are active during the cold months. Snapper fishing season starts in October and finishes in March. The best time of day to catch snappers is early morning and evening. Oftentimes, anglers catch snappers near the Outer Banks.
Sharks
Shark fishing is very popular in North Carolina. It’s possible to catch sharks in NC waters at any time of the year. Sharks bite well at dawn and at dusk. Go to the southern part of North California to fish for sharks.
Trout
Fishermen can catch different types of trout species in North Carolina. Here, it’s possible to fish for brook, brown, and rainbow trout. Trout fishing is the most productive in the late spring when the weather is getting warmer.
Trout starts feeding 2 hours after sunrise and stops feeding 3 hours before sunset. Trout can be found in rivers and mountain streams. Visit the Nantahala River to enjoy trout fishing in North Carolina.
Marlin
Marlin fishing season starts in the early summer and finishes in the early fall. Anglers can target blue and white marlin during their fishing trips. The best time of year to catch blue marlin is the early summer and the best time of year to catch white marlin is the late summer. Fishermen usually get bites of marlin near Nags Head.
Wahoo
Fishing for wahoo is the most productive between July and September. Wahoo bites well at first light. Crystal Coast is the best place to target wahoo in NC waters.
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.
North Carolina Regions: Best Fishing Times
Outer Banks
The best fishing season in the Outer Banks is May through September for redfish, mahi-mahi, tuna, marlin, and many other species.
Jacksonville
Anglers can fish in the waters of Jacksonville year-round. However, the fishing season peaks between April and November.
Morehead City
Fishing season in Morehead City begins in April and finishes in November. However, fishing in the region is the most productive between May and September.
New Bern
Spring and fall months are the best fishing times in New Bern.
Wilmington
Fishing in the Wilmington area is the most productive during the summer and fall months.
Best Time of Day to Fish North Carolina
The best time of day to fish in NC waters depends on such factors as the time of the year, target fish species, and fishing techniques. In most cases, it’s best to go fishing in North Carolina early in the morning. Fish bites well between the sunset and afternoon.
North Carolina Fishing & Tidal Impacts
Rising tides are the best times to fish in NC waters. Incoming tides bring oxygen-rich waters to the area and that’s why the activity of fish increases. Fish start searching for food actively due to water movement.
Is Winter Fishing Bad in North Carolina?
Many species of fish are inactive during the cold months. However, fishing is still good in North Carolina during the winter months. Among fish species that anglers can target in NC waters during the winter months are bluefin tuna, blackfin tuna, king mackerel, trout, striped bass, snappers, and redfish.
Top Fishing Spots in North Carolina
Outer Banks
Outer Banks provides anglers with excellent deep-sea fishing opportunities. This place is well-known for barrier islands that attract fish. Here, every angler has a chance to catch a dream fish.
Tuna is the main target in this fishing spot. Anglers catch bigeye tuna and yellowfin tuna in the area. It’s also possible to fish for blue marlin, white marlin, mahi-mahi, red drum, sailfish, and wahoo in the waters of the Outer Banks.
Nags Head
Nags Head is another popular fishing destination in North Carolina. Top catches in Nags Head include cobia, marlin, tuna, and redfish.
Crystal Coast
Fishermen can also visit the so-called Crystal Coast during their fishing trip to North Carolina. Here, anglers can enjoy fishing on the coastline. Anglers can catch billfish, mahi-mahi, tuna, and wahoo during their fishing adventures.
Lake Norman
Lake Norman is one of the most popular freshwater fishing spots in North Carolina. The lake is famous for its bass tournament. It’s the fishing spot where anglers can target largemouth bass and white perch.
Morehead City
Morehead City allows anglers to enjoy both inshore and offshore fishing. Anglers, who visit this fishing destination, choose to fish Bogue Sound lagoon, Onslow Bay, and the Atlantic Ocean. The nearshore reefs and wrecks attract a lot of fish.
Among fish species that you can target in the waters near Morehead City are amberjack, barracuda, cobia, blue marlin, white marlin, flounder, redfish, trout, sheepshead, and sharks.
Nantahala River
North Carolina is not only about deep-sea fishing. If river fishing is more to your liking, then you should visit the Nantahala River. It’s the perfect place to experience fly fishing. Nantahala River offers amazing trout fishing. Brown trout, brook trout, and rainbow trout are active in the river.
Southern North Carolina
The southern coast of North Carolina attracts a lot of beginners and experienced anglers. The annual U.S. Open King Mackerel Tournament takes place here. Waters in the southern part of North Carolina are warm and that’s why the ideal fishing conditions are created.
Southern North Carolina impresses with its diversity of fish. During fishing trips, anglers can target a variety of fish species such as amberjack, dolphin, mahi-mahi, marlin, red snapper, sailfish, sharks, tuna, and wahoo.
Booking Guides & Charters in North Carolina
– Best season to go
The demand for fishing is high in North Carolina during the summer months. A lot of fishermen prefer to enjoy fishing for marlin and sailfish in the region in summer. June is a great time to target sailfish in NC waters. Flounder fishing is productive in late summer and early fall.
It can be difficult to book a charter when a fishing season is at a peak. Nevertheless, anglers can plan their fishing adventures for the spring months. Among the fish species that anglers can target in spring are bluefin, blackfin, bigeye tuna, yellowfin, dolphin, cobia, bigeye tuna, largemouth bass, and sailfish. Fishing in North Carolina is good in spring, but the demand for charters is much lower.
– Morning vs. afternoon
Anglers can go fishing in the morning or in the afternoon. Morning fishing is more productive during hot summer months. Water cools down and fish begin to feed actively.
However, fish may not bite well in the morning during colder months. It would be better to go fishing in the afternoon during spring, fall, and winter months. On the other hand, fishing during afternoon hours can be uncomfortable during hot summer months. So, try to avoid the summer heat.
– 1/2 day, full-day, multi-day charters
Half-day trips are recommended to beginners, who are taking the first steps in mastering angling skills. However, such trips are not a good choice for experienced fishermen, who are interested in catching trophy fish. Angler’s time is limited. If you book a 1/2 day trip, you’ll manage to experience fishing in the morning or in the afternoon, or in the evening.
Highly experienced anglers should consider booking a full-day fishing trip. Such trips give angling enthusiasts more time and the chance to land a trophy is high during full-day trips. Fishermen should know that full-day trips are more expensive than 1/2 day ones.
Some avid anglers want more than full-day fishing trips. And of course, they should book a multi-day charter. Such a trip lasts several days and allows anglers to get the most out of fishing. Anglers are provided with meals and drinks during multi-day fishing trips. However, multi-day charters are the most expensive option.
For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Beaufort, check out this helpful guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Carolina Beach, check out this helpful guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Charleston, check out this helpful guide.
For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Topsail Beach, check out this helpful guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Emerald Isle, check out this helpful guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in the Outer Banks, check out this helpful guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Holden Beach, please check out this helpful article I wrote. For a complete breakdown of the best times to catch pompano in North Carolina, check out this guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to catch king mackerel in North Carolina, check out this helpful guide. Check out this guide for a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Tennessee. Check out this guide for a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in the Smoky Mountains.
