UTERWhite marlin fishing in Outer Banks & Hatteras
In Outer Banks & Hatteras, white marlin peak August–September and are around June–October, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. August: White marlin off Oregon Inlet.
No note for October — see the months around it.
White marlin in Outer Banks & Hatteras, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilNot here
- MayNot here
- JuneAround
- JulyArriving
- AugustPeakWhite marlin off Oregon Inlet.
- SeptemberPeakPeak; double and triple releases off the Point.
- OctoberLeaving
- NovemberNot here
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish white marlin 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 white marlin
- BallyhooRigged on a wire or mono trolling rig, skipping or swimming, behind a skirt or naked.
- Pilchards (whitebait)Free-lined or under a cork, hooked through the nose on a #1 to 2/0 circle hook. The one bait that catches everything inshore.
- Leader40–60 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook4/0–8/0
- Braid50–100 lb
Feeds in 72–86°F water, best at 76–82°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch white marlin in Outer Banks & Hatteras?
Peak season is August–September. White marlin are in Outer Banks & Hatteras June–October. August: White marlin off Oregon Inlet.
Where do white marlin hold in Outer Banks & Hatteras?
Look on ledge / hard bottom — around Ocracoke, Hatteras, Buxton, Avon, Rodanthe, Oregon Inlet.
What is the best bait for white marlin in Outer Banks & Hatteras?
Live bait: ballyhoo, pilchards (whitebait). Ballyhoo: Rigged on a wire or mono trolling rig, skipping or swimming, behind a skirt or naked. Tackle: leader 40–60 lb fluorocarbon, hook 4/0–8/0, braid 50–100 lb.
What are the rules for white marlin 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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