Waterlands

NWS zone AMZ131 · South Atlantic

Alligator River fishing forecast

North Carolina · Atlantic coast

Score now

75Great
Red drum · 8:00 PM EDT
Named spots
26
Species scored
24
Tide stations
2
Open in the tide mapAll North Carolina bay systems

Overview

Alligator River is NWS marine zone AMZ131 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 26 named features from the USGS Geographic Names Information System and has 2 NOAA tide stations nearby.

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

At 8:00 PM it scores 75 (great), led by Red drum. The best window for the rest of today is 10 PM-12 AM (moving water), peaking at 79 for Atlantic croaker. Over the next 14 days the best hour is Sat, Sep 19 at 7 AM, scoring 84.

Best times to fish

Waterlands engine forecast computed 7:00 PM EDT.

Best window today

10 PM-12 AM · Moving water

Top species: Atlantic croaker

79Great

Best hour of each day, next 14 days

  1. Wed, Sep 16

    82

    5 PM

    Atlantic croaker

  2. Thu, Sep 17

    83

    6 PM

    Red drum

  3. Fri, Sep 18

    83

    7 AM

    Atlantic croaker

  4. Sat, Sep 19

    84

    7 AM

    Atlantic croaker

    Best day

  5. Sun, Sep 20

    82

    8 AM

    Atlantic croaker

  6. Mon, Sep 21

    81

    9 AM

    Atlantic croaker

  7. Tue, Sep 22

    81

    9 AM

    Atlantic croaker

  8. Wed, Sep 23

    78

    8 AM

    Atlantic croaker

  9. Thu, Sep 24

    78

    5 PM

    Red drum

  10. Fri, Sep 25

    78

    12 AM

    Atlantic croaker

  11. Sat, Sep 26

    76

    1 AM

    Atlantic tarpon

  12. Sun, Sep 27

    73

    1 AM

    Atlantic croaker

  13. Mon, Sep 28

    73

    2 AM

    Atlantic croaker

  14. Tue, Sep 29

    70

    3 AM

    Atlantic croaker

Species · 24

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

74Great
Atlantic tarponMegalops atlanticus · inshore

Peak season, about 2 more weeks · Best day Wed, Sep 16 at 5 PM (82)

74Great
Red drumSciaenops ocellatus · inshore

Peak season, about 10 more weeks · Best day Thu, Sep 17 at 6 PM (83)

74Great
Spotted seatroutCynoscion nebulosus · inshore

Peak season, about 10 more weeks · Best day Thu, Sep 17 at 6 PM (83)

73Great
Atlantic croakerMicropogonias undulatus · inshore

Peak season, about 6 more weeks · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 7 AM (84)

73Great
SpotLeiostomus xanthurus · inshore

Peak season, about 6 more weeks · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 7 AM (83)

72Great
Southern flounderParalichthys lethostigma · bottom

Peak season, about 9 more weeks · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 7 AM (79)

69Great
Crevalle jackCaranx hippos · nearshore

Peak season, about 5 more weeks · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 7 AM (79)

67Great
Gray snapperLutjanus griseus · nearshore

Peak season, about 2 more weeks · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 7 AM (76)

67Great
Summer flounderParalichthys dentatus · bottom

Peak season, about 6 more weeks · Best day Wed, Sep 16 at 5 PM (75)

64Good
Black drumPogonias cromis · inshore

Shoulder season, about 19 more weeks · Best day Wed, Sep 16 at 5 PM (71)

63Good
King mackerelScomberomorus cavalla · pelagic

Peak season, about 6 more weeks · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 7 AM (73)

59Good
Little tunnyEuthynnus alletteratus · pelagic

Shoulder season, about 1 more week · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 7 AM (66)

58Good
Spanish mackerelScomberomorus maculatus · nearshore

Shoulder season, about 6 more weeks · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 7 AM (67)

58Good
WeakfishCynoscion regalis · inshore

Shoulder season, about 1 more week · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 7 AM (67)

57Good
SheepsheadArchosargus probatocephalus · inshore

Shoulder season, about 19 more weeks · Best day Wed, Sep 16 at 5 PM (65)

56Good
CobiaRachycentron canadum · nearshore

Shoulder season, about 2 more weeks · Best day Wed, Sep 16 at 5 PM (65)

55Good
Black sea bassCentropristis striata · nearshore

Shoulder season, about 1 more week · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 7 AM (65)

55Good
Gag grouperMycteroperca microlepis · offshore

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

54Good
Gray triggerfishBalistes capriscus · offshore

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

54Good
Red grouperEpinephelus morio · offshore

Shoulder season, about 6 more weeks · Best day Wed, Sep 16 at 5 PM (63)

54Good
Red snapperLutjanus campechanus · offshore

Shoulder season, about 32 more weeks · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 7 AM (65)

51Good
Florida pompanoTrachinotus carolinus · surf

Shoulder season, about 1 more week · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 7 PM (68)

49Good
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 · 26

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

14 more spots, A to Z

Nearest tide stations

Oregon Inlet MarinaNOAA 865258726.4 miDuckNOAA 865137029.1 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