Waterlands

NWS zone AMZ230 · South Atlantic

Albemarle Sound fishing forecast

North Carolina · Atlantic coast

Score now

76Great
Red drum · 8:00 PM EDT
Named spots
21
Species scored
24
Tide stations
1
Open in the tide mapAll North Carolina bay systems

Overview

Albemarle Sound is NWS marine zone AMZ230 on the North Carolina Atlantic coast, in the South Atlantic species region. The Waterlands engine treats it as inland water (bays, sounds, straits). It holds 21 named features from the USGS Geographic Names Information System and has 1 NOAA tide station nearby.

24 species are scored here in this forecast; Red drum, Atlantic tarpon, Spotted seatrout, Atlantic croaker and Southern flounder are at peak season now.

At 8:00 PM it scores 76 (great), led by Red drum. The best window for the rest of today is 10 PM-12 AM (moving water), peaking at 78 for Red drum. Over the next 14 days the best hour is Thu, Sep 17 at 6 PM, scoring 82.

Best times to fish

Waterlands engine forecast computed 7:00 PM EDT.

Best window today

10 PM-12 AM · Moving water

Top species: Red drum

78Great

Best hour of each day, next 14 days

  1. Wed, Sep 16

    81

    7 AM

    Atlantic tarpon

  2. Thu, Sep 17

    82

    6 PM

    Red drum

    Best day

  3. Fri, Sep 18

    81

    7 AM

    Red drum

  4. Sat, Sep 19

    81

    7 AM

    Atlantic croaker

  5. Sun, Sep 20

    80

    8 AM

    Atlantic tarpon

  6. Mon, Sep 21

    79

    5 PM

    Atlantic croaker

  7. Tue, Sep 22

    79

    6 PM

    Atlantic croaker

  8. Wed, Sep 23

    74

    12 AM

    Atlantic croaker

  9. Thu, Sep 24

    73

    5 PM

    Red drum

  10. Fri, Sep 25

    74

    6 PM

    Atlantic croaker

  11. Sat, Sep 26

    73

    1 AM

    Southern flounder

  12. Sun, Sep 27

    68

    8 AM

    Crevalle jack

  13. Mon, Sep 28

    68

    2 AM

    Atlantic croaker

  14. Tue, Sep 29

    65

    9 AM

    Crevalle jack

Species · 24

Listed for the South Atlantic region. Scores are this hour; season is where the species is in its year.

75Great
Red drumSciaenops ocellatus · inshore

Peak season, about 10 more weeks · Best day Thu, Sep 17 at 6 PM (82)

74Great
Atlantic tarponMegalops atlanticus · inshore

Peak season, about 2 more weeks · Best day Wed, Sep 16 at 7 AM (80)

73Great
Spotted seatroutCynoscion nebulosus · inshore

Peak season, about 10 more weeks · Best day Thu, Sep 17 at 6 PM (80)

72Great
Atlantic croakerMicropogonias undulatus · inshore

Peak season, about 6 more weeks · Best day Wed, Sep 16 at 5 PM (80)

72Great
Southern flounderParalichthys lethostigma · bottom

Peak season, about 9 more weeks · Best day Wed, Sep 16 at 5 PM (77)

72Great
SpotLeiostomus xanthurus · inshore

Peak season, about 6 more weeks · Best day Wed, Sep 16 at 5 PM (79)

68Great
Crevalle jackCaranx hippos · nearshore

Peak season, about 5 more weeks · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 7 AM (76)

67Great
Gray snapperLutjanus griseus · nearshore

Peak season, about 2 more weeks · Best day Wed, Sep 16 at 5 PM (74)

67Great
Summer flounderParalichthys dentatus · bottom

Peak season, about 6 more weeks · Best day Wed, Sep 16 at 7 AM (73)

66Great
King mackerelScomberomorus cavalla · pelagic

Peak season, about 6 more weeks · Best day Wed, Sep 16 at 5 PM (73)

63Good
Black drumPogonias cromis · inshore

Shoulder season, about 19 more weeks · Best day Wed, Sep 16 at 7 AM (68)

58Good
Little tunnyEuthynnus alletteratus · pelagic

Shoulder season, about 1 more week · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 7 AM (66)

58Good
Spanish mackerelScomberomorus maculatus · nearshore

Shoulder season, about 6 more weeks · Best day Wed, Sep 16 at 5 PM (64)

56Good
CobiaRachycentron canadum · nearshore

Shoulder season, about 2 more weeks · Best day Wed, Sep 16 at 5 PM (63)

56Good
Gray triggerfishBalistes capriscus · offshore

Shoulder season, about 6 more weeks · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 7 AM (64)

56Good
Red snapperLutjanus campechanus · offshore

Shoulder season, about 32 more weeks · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 7 AM (64)

55Good
Black sea bassCentropristis striata · nearshore

Shoulder season, about 1 more week · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 7 AM (64)

55Good
Gag grouperMycteroperca microlepis · offshore

Shoulder season, about 6 more weeks · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 7 AM (64)

55Good
Red grouperEpinephelus morio · offshore

Shoulder season, about 6 more weeks · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 7 AM (63)

55Good
SheepsheadArchosargus probatocephalus · inshore

Shoulder season, about 19 more weeks · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 7 AM (63)

54Good
WeakfishCynoscion regalis · inshore

Shoulder season, about 1 more week · Best day Wed, Sep 16 at 5 PM (61)

53Good
Florida pompanoTrachinotus carolinus · surf

Shoulder season, about 1 more week · Best day Fri, Sep 25 at 6 PM (64)

50Good
Greater amberjackSeriola dumerili · offshore

Shoulder season, about 10 more weeks · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 7 AM (58)

35Fair
BluefishPomatomus saltatrix · nearshore

Off season, about 1 more week · Best day Wed, Sep 16 at 12 AM (35)

Named spots · 21

Ranked by score this hour. Each spot has its own hourly forecast, tide, current and regulations.

9 more spots, A to Z

Nearest tide stations

DuckNOAA 865137032.5 mi

Regulations

NCDMF saltwater regulations Buy a North Carolina fishing license License types

North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries. Synced with NCDMF Sep 16, 2026.

No reviewed rules for the species listed here are on file yet. Check with NCDMF before you keep a fish.

Other North Carolina bay systems