UTERAtlantic croaker fishing in Outer Banks & Hatteras
In Outer Banks & Hatteras, Atlantic croaker peak June–October and are around May–November, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. September: Hardheads run in Pamlico Sound and off the piers.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Atlantic croaker in Outer Banks & Hatteras, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilNot here
- MayArriving
- JunePeak
- JulyPeak
- AugustPeakPeak Pamlico drum and tarpon; white marlin start. Maw Point and the lower Neuse for drum on the bait balls; marlin off Oregon Inlet.
- SeptemberPeakHardheads run in Pamlico Sound and off the piers.
- OctoberPeak
- NovemberLeaving
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish Atlantic croaker 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 Atlantic croaker
- 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.
- BloodwormsA piece threaded on a #2 to 2/0 hook on a hi-lo or fish-finder rig — the striper, spot, croaker and white perch bait of the Chesapeake and the surf.
- Leader20–40 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook#1–4/0
- Jig head1/8–1/2 oz
- Braid10–30 lb
Feeds in 58–86°F water, best at 66–80°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch Atlantic croaker in Outer Banks & Hatteras?
Peak season is June–October. Atlantic croaker are in Outer Banks & Hatteras May–November. September: Hardheads run in Pamlico Sound and off the piers.
Where do Atlantic croaker hold in Outer Banks & Hatteras?
Look on channel edge, bridge, dock / pilings, pass / inlet — around Ocracoke, Hatteras, Buxton, Avon, Rodanthe, Oregon Inlet.
What is the best bait for Atlantic croaker in Outer Banks & Hatteras?
Live bait: live shrimp, bloodworms. Live shrimp: Under 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. 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 Atlantic croaker 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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