UTERBull shark fishing in Outer Banks & Hatteras
In Outer Banks & Hatteras, bull shark peak August and are around July–September, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. August: Bull sharks in Pamlico Sound with the drum.
Not in Outer Banks & Hatteras this month.
Bull shark in Outer Banks & Hatteras, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilNot here
- MayNot here
- JuneNot here
- JulyAround
- AugustPeakBull sharks in Pamlico Sound with the drum.
- SeptemberAround
- OctoberNot here
- NovemberNot here
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish bull shark 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 spots in the The Outer Banks map area — the kinds bull shark hold on.
What to use for bull shark
- Blue runners (hardtails)Nose-hooked and slow-trolled on a wire stinger rig for kings; bridled for sailfish and cobia.
- 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.
- Menhaden (pogies)Nose-hooked on a circle hook and free-lined or slow-trolled; cut in chunks for the bottom.
- Cut ladyfishA whole ladyfish or a head on a 9/0 circle hook and wire for sharks; chunks on the bottom for redfish and drum. The best shark bait in Florida.
- Bonito (cut)Whole on cable for tiger and bull sharks; fillets and chunks on the bottom for grouper and snapper; strips trolled for wahoo.
- Leader80–150 lb mono
- Hook8/0–16/0
- Braid65–150 lb
Feeds in 66–92°F water, best at 72–88°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch bull shark in Outer Banks & Hatteras?
Peak season is August. Bull shark are in Outer Banks & Hatteras July–September. August: Bull sharks in Pamlico Sound with the drum.
Where do bull shark hold in Outer Banks & Hatteras?
Look on pass / inlet, channel edge, bridge, beach / surf, wreck — around Ocracoke, Hatteras, Buxton, Avon, Rodanthe, Oregon Inlet.
What is the best bait for bull shark in Outer Banks & Hatteras?
Live bait: blue runners (hardtails), finger mullet, menhaden (pogies), cut ladyfish. Blue runners (hardtails): Nose-hooked and slow-trolled on a wire stinger rig for kings; bridled for sailfish and cobia. Tackle: leader 80–150 lb mono, hook 8/0–16/0, braid 65–150 lb.
What are the rules for bull shark 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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All about bull shark · The Outer Banks, the whole year