UTERAtlantic spadefish fishing in Outer Banks & Hatteras
In Outer Banks & Hatteras, Atlantic spadefish peak June–August and are around May–September, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. July: Spadefish on the nearshore wrecks.
Not in Outer Banks & Hatteras this month.
Atlantic spadefish in Outer Banks & Hatteras, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilNot here
- MayArriving
- JunePeak
- JulyPeakSpadefish on the nearshore wrecks.
- AugustPeak
- SeptemberLeaving
- OctoberNot here
- NovemberNot here
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish Atlantic spadefish 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 Atlantic spadefish hold on.
What to use for Atlantic spadefish
- 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.
- Fiddler crabsA #1 hook through the back corner of the shell, dropped tight to the piling — the sheepshead bait.
- Leader30–60 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook2/0–7/0
- Braid30–65 lb
Feeds in 66–88°F water, best at 72–84°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch Atlantic spadefish in Outer Banks & Hatteras?
Peak season is June–August. Atlantic spadefish are in Outer Banks & Hatteras May–September. July: Spadefish on the nearshore wrecks.
Where do Atlantic spadefish hold in Outer Banks & Hatteras?
Look on wreck, artificial reef, bridge — around Ocracoke, Hatteras, Buxton, Avon, Rodanthe, Oregon Inlet.
What is the best bait for Atlantic spadefish in Outer Banks & Hatteras?
Live bait: live shrimp, fiddler crabs. 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 30–60 lb fluorocarbon, hook 2/0–7/0, braid 30–65 lb.
What are the rules for Atlantic spadefish 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
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All about Atlantic spadefish · The Outer Banks, the whole year