UTERBlack sea bass fishing in Outer Banks & Hatteras
In Outer Banks & Hatteras, black sea bass peak November–April and are around year-round, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. January: Sea bass on the Hatteras and Oregon Inlet wrecks.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Black sea bass in Outer Banks & Hatteras, month by month
- JanuaryPeakSea bass on the Hatteras and Oregon Inlet wrecks.
- FebruaryPeakThe quiet month. Deep sound creeks on the warmest afternoons; wrecks when the ocean lays down.
- MarchPeakTautog on the bridge; blues and drum on the way. Crab tight to the Oregon Inlet bridge rubble; the first spring fish at Cape Point.
- AprilPeak
- MayAround
- JuneAround
- JulyAround
- AugustAround
- SeptemberAround
- OctoberAround
- NovemberPeak
- DecemberPeakTrout in the creeks; yellowfin offshore. Deep creeks and canals for trout; watch the inlets when the ocean drops to the mid-40s.
Where to fish black sea bass near Ocracoke, Hatteras, Buxton
A hundred and twenty miles of barrier island — Ocracoke, Hatteras, Pea Island, Bodie, the northern beaches — with Cape Point at Buxton where the Gulf Stream and the Labrador Current meet, three inlets (Ocracoke, Hatteras, Oregon), and behind them Pamlico, Croatan and Albemarle sounds and the Neuse and Pamlico rivers. The Gulf Stream runs 20 miles off Oregon Inlet.
Fish Scouter charts 267 wreck, 207 artificial reef spots in the The Outer Banks map area — the kinds black sea bass hold on.
What to use for black sea bass
- SquidStrips on a bottom rig for snapper, grunts and porgies; whole on a deep-drop rig.
- Live shrimpUnder a popping cork or free-lined, hooked under the horn on a #1 to 2/0 circle hook; on a jig head for the bottom. The universal inshore bait.
- Leader30–60 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook2/0–7/0
- Braid30–65 lb
Feeds in 52–78°F water, best at 58–72°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch black sea bass in Outer Banks & Hatteras?
Peak season is November–April. Black sea bass are here year-round. January: Sea bass on the Hatteras and Oregon Inlet wrecks.
Where do black sea bass hold in Outer Banks & Hatteras?
Look on artificial reef, ledge / hard bottom, wreck — around Ocracoke, Hatteras, Buxton, Avon, Rodanthe, Oregon Inlet.
What is the best bait for black sea bass in Outer Banks & Hatteras?
Live bait: squid, live shrimp. Squid: Strips on a bottom rig for snapper, grunts and porgies; whole on a deep-drop rig. Tackle: leader 30–60 lb fluorocarbon, hook 2/0–7/0, braid 30–65 lb.
What are the rules for black sea bass in Outer Banks & Hatteras?
Size and bag limits and closed seasons are set by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) and change — read the current rule at https://www.deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/marine-fisheries/rules-proclamations-and-size-and-bag-limits before you keep a fish. A licence is sold at https://www.ncwildlife.org/licensing.
Fish it with the tide in your pocket
Fish Scouter scores black sea bass for this hour on this water, draws every reef, wreck and access point near you, and keeps your spots. $9.99 a month, 14 days free.
Start 14 free daysMore
All about black sea bass · The Outer Banks, the whole year