UTERKing mackerel fishing in Outer Banks & Hatteras
In Outer Banks & Hatteras, king mackerel peak July–October and are around June–November, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. September: The best kings off the Hatteras shoals and the piers.
No note for October — see the months around it.
King mackerel in Outer Banks & Hatteras, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilNot here
- MayNot here
- JuneArrivingKings move up to Hatteras and Oregon Inlet.
- JulyPeak
- AugustPeak
- SeptemberPeakThe best kings off the Hatteras shoals and the piers.
- OctoberPeak
- NovemberLeavingThe last fish head south.
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish king mackerel 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 king mackerel hold on.
What to use for king mackerel
- Blue runners (hardtails)Nose-hooked and slow-trolled on a wire stinger rig for kings; bridled for sailfish and cobia.
- Threadfin herring (greenbacks)Nose-hooked on a circle hook and free-lined, or slow-trolled. Fragile — handle them wet and fast.
- Cigar minnowsNose-hooked on a stinger rig for kings, or a 4/0 circle hook dropped to the bottom for grouper.
- Menhaden (pogies)Nose-hooked on a circle hook and free-lined or slow-trolled; cut in chunks for the bottom.
- Spanish sardinesNose-hooked and free-lined in a chum slick, or slow-trolled on a stinger rig.
- Speedos (redtail scad)Bridled through the nose on a kite or slow-trolled for sailfish, kingfish and blackfin.
- Leader40–60 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook4/0–6/0
- Braid30–50 lb
Feeds in 66–82°F water, best at 68–76°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch king mackerel in Outer Banks & Hatteras?
Peak season is July–October. King mackerel are in Outer Banks & Hatteras June–November. September: The best kings off the Hatteras shoals and the piers.
Where do king mackerel hold in Outer Banks & Hatteras?
Look on artificial reef, wreck, ledge / hard bottom — around Ocracoke, Hatteras, Buxton, Avon, Rodanthe, Oregon Inlet.
What is the best bait for king mackerel in Outer Banks & Hatteras?
Live bait: blue runners (hardtails), threadfin herring (greenbacks), cigar minnows, menhaden (pogies). Blue runners (hardtails): Nose-hooked and slow-trolled on a wire stinger rig for kings; bridled for sailfish and cobia. Tackle: leader 40–60 lb fluorocarbon, hook 4/0–6/0, braid 30–50 lb.
What are the rules for king mackerel 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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