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FISHING GUIDE · NORTH CAROLINA
Cape Hatteras and Hatteras Inlet Fishing Guide
Cape Hatteras sticks far out into the Atlantic, so the Gulf Stream is a short run from Hatteras Inlet. Cape Point is one of the most famous red drum surf spots in the world. Offshore boats target tuna, mahi, wahoo and billfish, often around the rocks and edges southeast of Diamond Shoals.
📍 Buxton, Cape Point (the Point), Frisco, Hatteras Village, Hatteras Inlet, Avon, Diamond Shoals
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Map: spots, ramps and marinas
★ Fishing hot spot · ● Boat ramp · ● Marina · ▭ Protected area (solid red = no fishing, dashed = fishing with rules)
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Quick facts
- The all-tackle world record red drum, 94 lb 2 oz, was caught from the beach at Avon on Hatteras Island on November 7, 1984, by David Deuel.
- VMRC says the Gulf Stream passes within 25-30 miles of the coast at Cape Hatteras.
- Hatteras Village is about 12 miles southwest of Cape Hatteras, near Hatteras Inlet.
- Off Hatteras the warm Gulf Stream meets the cold Labrador Current, mixing northern and southern fish.
What you can catch
- Red drum
Spring and fall surf runs at Cape Point; slot 18-27 inches only. - Bluefin tuna
Late winter, about February-March. - Blackfin tuna
Winter and spring; popular for jigging. - Yellowfin tuna
Main charter season starts late March-April. - Mahi (dolphin)
Arrive in April; some of the biggest fish late April. - Wahoo
Spring with yellowfin; wire leaders needed. - Blue and white marlin
Summer billfish in the Gulf Stream. - Bluefish and Spanish mackerel
Surf, pier and nearshore in warm months.
Month by month
| January | Blackfin tuna offshore when weather allows. |
|---|---|
| February | Bluefin tuna show up; blackfin. |
| March | Bluefin; offshore pickup usually mid-March to mid-April with yellowfin and wahoo. |
| April | Yellowfin, wahoo, mahi; spring red drum at the Point. |
| May | Mahi, yellowfin; red drum and bluefish in the surf. |
| June | Mahi and billfish; bird nesting closures may limit Cape Point access. |
| July | Blue marlin, mahi; Spanish mackerel nearshore. |
| August | Billfish and mahi; sea turtle nesting areas on the beach. |
| September | Flounder open Sept 1-14 (2026); red drum start moving. |
| October | Fall red drum run at Cape Point; closures usually lifting. |
| November | Big red drum in the surf (the 1984 world record came in November). |
| December | Late red drum; bluefish; offshore when weather allows. |
Tips
- Driving to Cape Point needs a Cape Hatteras National Seashore ORV permit, sold online only at Recreation.gov: $50 for 10 days or $120 for a year.
- Cape Point can close to vehicles and people during bird nesting (least terns, oystercatchers, piping plovers) and sea turtle season. Check the NPS beach conditions page before you go and be ready to walk.
- Keep only red drum 18-27 inches (1 per day); release big drum quickly and carefully.
- Hatteras Inlet shoals often; use local knowledge and current buoys.
- Offshore, look for color changes, temperature breaks and weedlines along the Gulf Stream edge.
Rules and license
North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries (NCDMF) · Official rules page ↗
- License: anglers 16 and older need a NC Coastal Recreational Fishing License (CRFL): $20 resident / $40 non-resident per year, or $9 / $15 for 10 days.
- Red drum: slot 18-27 inches; 1 per person per day; no gigging, spearing or gaffing.
- Spotted seatrout (speckled trout): 14-20 inch slot plus 1 over 26 inches; 3 per person per day (limits effective Sept 2, 2026).
- Flounder: 2026 season was only Sept 1-14 in all NC waters; 1 fish, 15 inches minimum; every kept flounder must be reported to DMF.
- Cobia: season May 1-Dec 31; 36 inches fork length; 1 per person; private boats max 2 per boat May 1-June 30, then 1 per boat; for-hire boats up to 4. Check the latest DMF cobia proclamation.
- Striped bass, Atlantic Ocean state waters: slot 28-31 inches, 1 per day. Federal waters (3-200 miles) are closed to striped bass. Albemarle Sound season is closed.
- Dolphin (mahi): 10 per person, no more than 54 per boat. Wahoo: 2 per person. King mackerel: 24 inches fork length, 3 per person. Spanish mackerel: 12 inches fork length, 15 per person.
- Sheepshead: 14 inches; 5 per person.
- Federal (NOAA) tuna/billfish: private boats need an HMS Angling permit (charter boats need HMS Charter/Headboat). Yellowfin 27 inches, 3 per person; bluefin limits change during the season and 1 trophy (73 inches+) per boat per year; blue marlin 99 inches and white marlin 66 inches (lower jaw fork length). Report all billfish, swordfish and bluefin landed within 24 hours at hmspermits.noaa.gov.
Rules change. Always check the official page before you fish.
Boat ramps and marinas
The map above shows 21 boat ramps and 2 marinas from OpenStreetMap. Tap any dot for directions.
- Boat ramp near Brooks Creek
- Boat ramp near Mill Creek
- Boat ramp near Peters Ditch
- Boat ramp near Ritter Cove
- Boat ramp near Sandy Bay
- Hatteras Landing Marina
- Teach's Lair Marina
- Village Marina
Sources
- https://www.sportfishingmag.com/gallery/2014/04/record-redfish-catches/
- https://www.carolinasportsman.com/?p=101329
- https://www.carolinasportsman.com/?p=101325
- https://www.carolinasportsman.com/fishing/freshwater-fishing/big-red-drum-waiting-at-cape-hatteras/
- https://islandfreepress.org/outer-banks-driving-on-the-beach/cape-point-closes-to-orvs-and-pedestrians/
- https://www.nps.gov/caha/planyourvisit/off-road-vehicle-permits.htm
- https://mrc.virginia.gov/vswft/Angler_Guide/angler_web_waters.pdf
- https://www.deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/marine-fisheries/rules-proclamations-and-size-and-bag-limits/recreational-size-and-bag-limits
- https://deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/marine-fisheries/licenses-permits-and-leases/recreational-fishing-licenses
- https://coastalreview.org/2026/06/sept-1-14-is-recreational-flounder-season-for-all-nc-waters/
- https://www.deq.nc.gov/marine-fisheries/fisheries-management/cobia-fmp-update-2026/open
- https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/s3/2026-02/HMS-Recreational-Compliance-Guide-2026-020325-Final.pdf
- https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/atlantic-striped-bass
Checked October 2026. BigJoe does not invent facts: every number on this page comes from the sources listed above.