UTERWeakfish fishing in Outer Banks & Hatteras
In Outer Banks & Hatteras, weakfish peak May and October–November and are around April–December, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. May: Oyster rocks and depth breaks in Pamlico Sound.
The fall run in the sounds and Oregon Inlet.
Weakfish in Outer Banks & Hatteras, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilArrivingGray trout in the sounds in less than six feet, mixed with specks.
- MayPeakOyster rocks and depth breaks in Pamlico Sound.
- JuneAround
- JulyAround
- AugustAround
- SeptemberArriving
- OctoberPeakThe fall run in the sounds and Oregon Inlet.
- NovemberPeakFish leave the sounds for the ocean.
- DecemberAroundOffshore wrecks only.
Where to fish weakfish 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 weakfish
- 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.
- Mud minnows (killifish)Lip-hooked on a jig head or a 1/0 hook dragged along the bottom — the flounder 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.
- Sand eelsFree-lined or on a light jig head for stripers, fluke and bluefish; strips teased on a fluke rig.
- Leader20–40 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook#1–4/0
- Jig head1/8–1/2 oz
- Braid10–30 lb
Feeds in 55–80°F water, best at 60–74°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch weakfish in Outer Banks & Hatteras?
Peak season is May and October–November. Weakfish are in Outer Banks & Hatteras April–December. May: Oyster rocks and depth breaks in Pamlico Sound.
Where do weakfish hold in Outer Banks & Hatteras?
Look on channel edge, pass / inlet, bridge, fishing pier — around Ocracoke, Hatteras, Buxton, Avon, Rodanthe, Oregon Inlet.
What is the best bait for weakfish in Outer Banks & Hatteras?
Live bait: live shrimp, mud minnows (killifish), bloodworms, sand eels. 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 weakfish 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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