UTERSand tiger shark fishing in Outer Banks & Hatteras
In Outer Banks & Hatteras, sand tiger shark peak June–September and are around May–October, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. July: Sand tigers on the Hatteras wrecks and in the sound inlets — release only.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Sand tiger shark in Outer Banks & Hatteras, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilNot here
- MayArriving
- JunePeak
- JulyPeakSand tigers on the Hatteras wrecks and in the sound inlets — release only.
- AugustPeak
- SeptemberPeak
- OctoberLeaving
- NovemberNot here
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish sand tiger 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, 207 artificial reef spots in the The Outer Banks map area — the kinds sand tiger shark hold on.
What to use for sand tiger shark
- Menhaden (pogies)Nose-hooked on a circle hook and free-lined or slow-trolled; cut in chunks for the bottom.
- 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.
- Leader80–150 lb mono
- Hook8/0–16/0
- Braid65–150 lb
Feeds in 60–82°F water, best at 66–78°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch sand tiger shark in Outer Banks & Hatteras?
Peak season is June–September. Sand tiger shark are in Outer Banks & Hatteras May–October. July: Sand tigers on the Hatteras wrecks and in the sound inlets — release only.
Where do sand tiger shark hold in Outer Banks & Hatteras?
Look on wreck, artificial reef, pass / inlet, beach / surf — around Ocracoke, Hatteras, Buxton, Avon, Rodanthe, Oregon Inlet.
What is the best bait for sand tiger shark in Outer Banks & Hatteras?
Live bait: menhaden (pogies), finger mullet. Menhaden (pogies): Nose-hooked on a circle hook and free-lined or slow-trolled; cut in chunks for the bottom. Tackle: leader 80–150 lb mono, hook 8/0–16/0, braid 65–150 lb.
What are the rules for sand tiger 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 sand tiger shark · The Outer Banks, the whole year