NWS zone AMZ252 · South Atlantic
Coastal waters from Cape Fear NC to Little River Inlet SC out 20 NM fishing forecast
North Carolina · Atlantic coast
Score now
- Named spots
- 7
- Species scored
- 30
- Tide stations
- 2
Overview
Coastal waters from Cape Fear NC to Little River Inlet SC out 20 NM is NWS marine zone AMZ252 on the North Carolina Atlantic coast, in the South Atlantic species region. The Waterlands engine treats it as open coast, near shore. It holds 7 named features from the USGS Geographic Names Information System and has 2 NOAA tide stations nearby.
30 species are scored here in this forecast; Atlantic tarpon, Atlantic croaker, Gray snapper, Crevalle jack and Spot are at peak season now.
At 10:00 PM it scores 78 (great), led by Atlantic tarpon. The best window for the rest of today is 10-11 PM (ebb tide), peaking at 78 for Atlantic tarpon. Over the next 14 days the best hour is Sun, Sep 27 at 7 PM, scoring 85.
Best times to fish
Waterlands engine forecast computed 9:05 PM EDT.
Best window today
10-11 PM · Ebb tide
Top species: Atlantic tarpon
Best hour of each day, next 14 days
Tue, Sep 22
83
8 AM
Atlantic tarpon
Wed, Sep 23
76
2 AM
Atlantic croaker
Thu, Sep 24
70
5 PM
King mackerel
Fri, Sep 25
77
5 PM
King mackerel
Sat, Sep 26
80
5 PM
Crevalle jack
Sun, Sep 27
85
7 PM
Spotted seatrout
Best day
Mon, Sep 28
84
7 AM
Atlantic croaker
Tue, Sep 29
83
7 AM
Atlantic croaker
Wed, Sep 30
83
7 AM
Atlantic croaker
Thu, Oct 1
80
12 AM
Atlantic croaker
Fri, Oct 2
81
7 AM
Atlantic croaker
Sat, Oct 3
80
9 AM
Atlantic croaker
Sun, Oct 4
81
7 PM
Spotted seatrout
Mon, Oct 5
83
7 PM
Spotted seatrout
Species · 30
Listed for the South Atlantic region. Scores are this hour; season is where the species is in its year.
Peak season, about 1 more week · Best day Tue, Sep 22 at 8 AM (83)
Peak season, about 5 more weeks · Best day Sun, Sep 27 at 9 AM (84)
Peak season, about 1 more week · Best day Tue, Sep 22 at 8 AM (79)
Peak season, about 4 more weeks · Best day Tue, Sep 22 at 8 AM (81)
Peak season, about 5 more weeks · Best day Sun, Sep 27 at 7 AM (81)
Peak season, about 5 more weeks · Best day Sun, Sep 27 at 7 AM (81)
Peak season, about 9 more weeks · Best day Sun, Sep 27 at 7 PM (84)
Peak season, about 5 more weeks · Best day Mon, Sep 28 at 7 AM (81)
Peak season, about 8 more weeks · Best day Mon, Oct 5 at 7 AM (81)
Shoulder season, about 5 more weeks · Best day Mon, Sep 28 at 7 AM (72)
Peak season, about 9 more weeks · Best day Sun, Sep 27 at 7 PM (85)
Shoulder season, about 1 more week · Best day Mon, Sep 28 at 7 AM (77)
Shoulder season, about 18 more weeks · Best day Mon, Sep 28 at 7 AM (73)
Shoulder season, about 31 more weeks · Best day Mon, Sep 28 at 7 AM (64)
Shoulder season, about 1 more week · Best day Mon, Sep 28 at 7 AM (71)
Shoulder season, about 1 more week · Best day Sun, Sep 27 at 7 AM (78)
Shoulder season, about 1 more week · Best day Mon, Sep 28 at 7 AM (74)
Shoulder season, about 1 more week · Best day Sun, Sep 27 at 7 AM (66)
Shoulder season, about 5 more weeks · Best day Sat, Sep 26 at 6 PM (63)
Shoulder season, about 9 more weeks · Best day Mon, Sep 28 at 7 AM (63)
Shoulder season, about 5 more weeks · Best day Sun, Sep 27 at 7 AM (63)
Shoulder season, about 5 more weeks · Best day Mon, Sep 28 at 7 AM (63)
Shoulder season, about 1 more week · Best day Tue, Sep 22 at 9 AM (58)
Shoulder season, about 18 more weeks · Best day Mon, Sep 28 at 7 AM (67)
Shoulder season, about 1 more week · Best day Mon, Oct 5 at 8 AM (62)
Off season, about 1 more week · Best day Sun, Oct 4 at 7 PM (64)
Off season, about 5 more weeks · Best day Tue, Sep 22 at 12 AM (35)
Off season, about 5 more weeks · Best day Tue, Sep 22 at 12 AM (35)
Named spots · 7
Ranked by score this hour. Each spot has its own hourly forecast, tide, current and regulations.
- Bacon InletBay · 23 to 31 ft · ExposedTop now: Atlantic tarpon78Great
- Bald Head Channel RangeChannel · 14 to 50 ft · ExposedTop now: Atlantic tarpon78Great
- Western Bar ChannelChannel · 11 to 16 ft · ExposedTop now: Atlantic tarpon78Great
- Cape Fear SlueGut · 3 to 9 ft · ExposedTop now: Atlantic tarpon77Great
- Bald HeadCape · 2 to 32 ft · ExposedTop now: Atlantic tarpon76Great
- Four Mile SlueGut · 18 to 20 ft · ExposedTop now: Atlantic tarpon76Great
- Frying Pan ShoalsBar · 13 to 17 ft · ExposedTop now: Atlantic tarpon74Great
Nearest tide stations
Regulations
North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries. Synced with NCDMF Sep 22, 2026.
No reviewed rules for the species listed here are on file yet. Check with NCDMF before you keep a fish.