Coastal Fishing Forecast: Hot Bites, Shifting Tides, and Autumn Transitions in North Carolina

Artificial Lure here reporting from the Atlantic coast of North Carolina, and it’s a gorgeous early fall morning for anglers hitting the surf and nearshore waters. The sun rose at 6:53am and will set tonight at 7:08pm—lots of light to work the lines, and locals know this is the peak transition period for both bottom and game fish moving in with changing water temps.

Tidewise, you’re looking at a high tide coming in at 7:20am, followed by an ebb with a minor low at 1:51pm and another high at 7:46pm. Tidal coefficient today is 81, meaning there’s solid current movement that's always a plus for predatory activity, especially for drum, flounder, and mackerel. Stay mobile, shift spots accordingly, and target those outgoing tide periods for best chances.

Weather’s prime—a light northwest breeze at 5-10 knots, and seas running 2 to 3 feet. That’s perfect for beach and small vessel action. The air’s mild and shifting with autumn on the way, so topwater presentations still work, but fish are getting more aggressive on the chase for bait.

In terms of catch, the bite’s been hot all week across Atlantic Beach and north toward Bogue Inlet. Tradewinds Tackle Shop reports solid numbers of red drum, slot and over-slot fish in the surf, plus speckled trout feeding actively at first light on live mullet and soft plastics. Spanish mackerel are blitzing just beyond the breakers—best action with silver spoons trolled or cast. Flounder continue to show strong near jetties and deeper holes, especially on mud minnows, Gulp! shrimp, and finger mullet.

Recent catches have been hefty—drum into the 30-inch class, calm days yielding up to a dozen keepers for a boat, and anglers snagging limits of specks in several of the river mouths. Spanish mackerel numbers are up, with pods moving through to feed on glass minnows and bait balls just after sunrise. Don’t overlook the deep drop-off at the Oceanana Pier and along Beaufort Inlet for a shot at larger blues and surprise cobia chasing late bait runs.

Lure selection’s all about flash and scent right now. For reds and trout, go with *Z-Man* paddletails in natural colors, gold spoons, or popping corks rigged with live shrimp. For Spanish, you can’t beat a Got-Cha plug or diamond jig; rapid retrieve is the ticket. If flounder are your target, fish slow: bucktail jigs tipped with strip bait or scented twisters on the drift.

Bait options—finger mullet, live shrimp, and cut bait are pulling hardest, but Gulp! and Fishbites are stout alternatives on tough mornings. If you’re working piers or near marsh creek mouths, drop a Carolina rig with mud minnows for solid flounder.

For hot spots today, hit the waters east of Atlantic Beach around Fort Macon State Park, the southern sandbars of Shackleford Banks, and inside the Bogue Sound creeks for red drum and trout. Don’t miss the outflow and pilings at Oceanana Pier, especially for Spanish and blues, or the sandy troughs right off the beach for flounder working the run-out tide.

Keep an eye on mullet runs and glass minnow schools near the surface—those signals draw larger predators and can turn a slow session electric in minutes.

Thanks for tuning in to today’s coastal report from Artificial Lure. Don’t forget to subscribe for more updates—this has been a Quiet Please production. For more, check out quietplease.ai.

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This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI