Best Times & Seasons to Catch Pompano in North Carolina

Pompano are one of the most targeted fish species in North Carolina’s inshore fisheries. Knowing the best times and seasons to target pompano in North Carolina can really help you catch more fish.

The best times to catch pompano in North Carolina waters are from June through September when the water is warmer and schools of pompano move into the shallows around piers and the surf.

North Carolina coastline is the perfect place to target pompano. Pompano fishing in the region is best during the summer months and in the early fall. Pompano moves to North Carolina’s offshore waters during the winter months.    

Best Times: Pompano Fishing in North Carolina

Pompano fishing is best when the sun is bright, the water is clear and there is no wind in the area. These are the ideal pompano fishing conditions in North Carolina. 

Pompano gets active when the water is warm. Pompano starts biting in the early spring when the water is getting warmer and stop biting in the late fall when the water cools down. 

It’s possible to catch pompano in North Carolina when water temperatures are between 65°F and 80°F. The ideal water temperature for pompano is 65°F – 75°F. 

The season to catch pompano in the waters near North Carolina is between March and October. Pompano migrates north in the late spring and south in the late summer and early fall. Pompano fishing is getting better in June when water temperatures rise. The best months to target pompano in the local waters are August – September. It’s the hottest time of the year in North Carolina.

The worst months to catch pompano in the region are December, January, and February. The weather is cold and that’s why pompano is inactive in the local waters during these months.    

Pompano feeds actively during the coolest hours of the day during the summer months. That’s why pompano fishing is the most productive early in the morning and late in the evening. Pompano often bites well after 10 a.m. during spring and fall months. 

Anglers shouldn’t care about tides while targeting pompano in the waters of North Carolina. It’s possible to catch pompano during the low and high tides. However, it would be better to catch pompano when the tide is high. Pompano moves closer to shore during the high tides and that’s why anglers find it easy to catch it.     

Best Seasons for North Carolina Pompano (by Region)

Coastal North Carolina

Many anglers prefer to target pompano along North Carolina beaches at this time of the year. The peak pompano fishing season is between August and September. Pompano arrive in great numbers on the North Carolina coast at this time of the year.  

Outer Banks

Pompano starts arriving at the Outer Banks in the early summer. That’s why surf fishing for pompano is getting better in June. The peak pompano fishing season in the Outer Banks is August – September. There are many great pompano fishing spots in the region.

Anglers choose to target pompano between Ocracoke and Duck and between Buxton and the South Beach of Hatteras. The pompano fishing season in the Outer Banks comes to an end in the middle of October. 

Recommended Pompano 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
Riptide Charters	Wanchese, NC
South End Anglers	Topsail Beach, NC
Carolina Flats Fishing	Surf City, NC
Native Son Guide Service	Topsail Beach, NC
Grandslam Inshore Fishing Charters	Carolina Beach, NC
Port City Inshore Charters	Carolina Beach, NC
Seas The Day NC Charters	Hatteras, NC
Captain Froggy’s Charter Fishing	Manteo, NC
Spring Tide Guide Service	Surf City, NC
Shallotte Outdoors Fishing Charters	Holden Beach, NC
Caught Up Fishing Charters	Carolina Beach, NC
High Tide Fishing Charters	Ocean Isle Beach, NC
Sound-N-Sea Charters	Morehead City, 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.

Surf Fishing Pompano in North Carolina

Surf fishing is a popular way to catch pompano in North Carolina. Surf anglers prefer to target pompano from the beaches. The beaches with a sandbar are the perfect places for pompano fishing.   

If weather conditions are good for surf fishing, anglers can target pompano in the region at any time of the year. However, the season to surf fish for pompano in North Carolina starts in the early spring and ends in the late fall. 

The best months to fish for pompano from the beaches of North Carolina are August – September. Winter is the worst time of the year to target pompano in the area.

Pompano gets active in warm water. The water heats up when the sun is bright. So, it would be better to fish for pompano in the middle of the day. Some anglers choose to do surf fishing at night along the North Carolina coastline. Pompano can be caught during the night hours as well.

However, fishermen often catch pompano early in the morning or late in the evening when surf fishing at night. 

Night Fishing Pompano in North Carolina

Pompano feeds actively in low-light conditions. That means that pompano fishing at night in North Carolina is possible. However, anglers usually catch pompano either at dawn or dusk while fishing during night hours. Anglers, who are interested in targeting pompano, should go fishing when tides are high at night. 

Summer is the best time of the year to go fishing for pompano at night. It’s not cold and it’s not hot in North Carolina during night hours. Night fishing allows anglers to avoid the summer heat. So, anglers find it comfortable to fish. It’s also important to note that water is warm in North Carolina at night in summer. Therefore, anglers have a better chance to catch pompano.

Moon phases affect pompano night fishing in North Carolina. Pompano usually feeds actively on the full moon. It’s time to catch a trophy fish. The full moon increases the angler’s chance to catch a big pompano. So, it would be great to go fishing for pompano when the moon is full.       

For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in the Outer Banks, check out this guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in North Carolina, check out this guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to catch pompano in Florida, check out this guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to catch tuna in North Carolina, check out this guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to catch tarpon 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. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Ocean Isle Beach, please check out this helpful guide. Click here to learn the best water temperature for pompano fishing. Click here for a breakdown of the best times to catch pompano in Texas. Click here for a breakdown of the best weather for pompano fishing.