UTERSpot fishing in Outer Banks & Hatteras
In Outer Banks & Hatteras, spot peak October–November and are around April–December, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. October: Spot run off the piers and in the sound inlets.
Spot run off the piers and in the sound inlets.
Spot in Outer Banks & Hatteras, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilArriving
- MayAround
- JuneAround
- JulyAround
- AugustAround
- SeptemberArriving
- OctoberPeakSpot run off the piers and in the sound inlets.
- NovemberPeakNortheaster drum and blues; trout in the creeks. Fish behind each blow; trout in the canals from Manns Harbor to Hatteras.
- DecemberLeaving
Where to fish spot 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 spot
- 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.
- Sand fleas (mole crabs)On a small circle hook or a pompano rig, digger-end first — the pompano and whiting 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 56–86°F water, best at 62–80°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch spot in Outer Banks & Hatteras?
Peak season is October–November. Spot are in Outer Banks & Hatteras April–December. October: Spot run off the piers and in the sound inlets.
Where do spot hold in Outer Banks & Hatteras?
Look on channel edge, fishing pier, bridge, beach / surf — around Ocracoke, Hatteras, Buxton, Avon, Rodanthe, Oregon Inlet.
What is the best bait for spot in Outer Banks & Hatteras?
Live bait: live shrimp, sand fleas (mole crabs), 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 spot 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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