UTERBluefish fishing in Outer Banks & Hatteras
In Outer Banks & Hatteras, bluefish peak April–May and October–November and are around March–December, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. April: Chopper blues arrive at Cape Point and Oregon Inlet — wire and metal.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Bluefish in Outer Banks & Hatteras, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchArrivingTautog on the bridge; blues and drum on the way. Crab tight to the Oregon Inlet bridge rubble; the first spring fish at Cape Point.
- AprilPeakChopper blues arrive at Cape Point and Oregon Inlet — wire and metal.
- MayPeakThe spring blitzes in the Hatteras surf.
- JuneAround
- JulyAround
- AugustAround
- SeptemberArriving
- OctoberPeak
- NovemberPeakFall blues blitz the surf after the northeasters.
- DecemberAround
Where to fish bluefish 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.
What to use for bluefish
- Finger mulletLip-hooked on a 2/0 to 4/0 circle hook and free-lined, or on a fish-finder rig in the surf. Cut mullet on the bottom for redfish and drum.
- Pilchards (whitebait)Free-lined or under a cork, hooked through the nose on a #1 to 2/0 circle hook. The one bait that catches everything inshore.
- Threadfin herring (greenbacks)Nose-hooked on a circle hook and free-lined, or slow-trolled. Fragile — handle them wet and fast.
- Sand eelsFree-lined or on a light jig head for stripers, fluke and bluefish; strips teased on a fluke rig.
- Leader20–40 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook#1–4/0
- Jig head1/8–1/2 oz
- Braid10–30 lb
Feeds in 58–80°F water, best at 62–74°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch bluefish in Outer Banks & Hatteras?
Peak season is April–May and October–November. Bluefish are in Outer Banks & Hatteras March–December. April: Chopper blues arrive at Cape Point and Oregon Inlet — wire and metal.
Where do bluefish hold in Outer Banks & Hatteras?
Look on pass / inlet, beach / surf, fishing pier, channel edge — around Ocracoke, Hatteras, Buxton, Avon, Rodanthe, Oregon Inlet.
What is the best bait for bluefish in Outer Banks & Hatteras?
Live bait: finger mullet, pilchards (whitebait), threadfin herring (greenbacks), sand eels. Finger mullet: Lip-hooked on a 2/0 to 4/0 circle hook and free-lined, or on a fish-finder rig in the surf. Cut mullet on the bottom for redfish and drum. Tackle: leader 20–40 lb fluorocarbon, hook #1–4/0, jig head 1/8–1/2 oz, braid 10–30 lb.
What are the rules for bluefish 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.
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