Waterlands

NWS zone AMZ231 · South Atlantic

Croatan and Roanoke Sounds fishing forecast

North Carolina · Atlantic coast

Score now

73Great
Red drum · 3:00 AM EST
Named spots
49
Species scored
25
Tide stations
2
Open in the tide mapAll North Carolina bay systems

Overview

Croatan and Roanoke Sounds is NWS marine zone AMZ231 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 49 named features from the USGS Geographic Names Information System and has 2 NOAA tide stations nearby.

25 species are scored here in this forecast; Red drum, Spotted seatrout, Weakfish, Little tunny and Black sea bass are at peak season now.

At 3:00 AM it scores 73 (great), led by Red drum. The best window for the rest of today is 5-10 PM (ebb tide), peaking at 85 for Weakfish. Over the next 14 days the best hour is Tue, Nov 3 at 7 AM, scoring 87.

Best times to fish

Waterlands engine forecast computed 3:03 AM EST.

Best window today

5-10 PM · Ebb tide

Top species: Weakfish

85Epic

Best hour of each day, next 14 days

  1. Mon, Nov 2

    85

    6 AM

    Weakfish

  2. Tue, Nov 3

    87

    7 AM

    Weakfish

    Best day

  3. Wed, Nov 4

    87

    8 AM

    Red drum

  4. Thu, Nov 5

    83

    8 AM

    Little tunny

  5. Fri, Nov 6

    84

    10 PM

    Red drum

  6. Sat, Nov 7

    83

    10 AM

    Weakfish

  7. Sun, Nov 8

    83

    11 AM

    Little tunny

  8. Mon, Nov 9

    86

    12 PM

    Weakfish

  9. Tue, Nov 10

    81

    3 PM

    Red drum

  10. Wed, Nov 11

    83

    1 AM

    Weakfish

  11. Thu, Nov 12

    78

    3 PM

    Weakfish

  12. Fri, Nov 13

    81

    3 PM

    Weakfish

  13. Sat, Nov 14

    86

    4 PM

    Weakfish

  14. Sun, Nov 15

    87

    5 PM

    Spotted seatrout

Species · 25

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

71Great
Red drumSciaenops ocellatus · inshore

Peak season, about 4 more weeks · Best day Wed, Nov 4 at 8 AM (86)

71Great
Spotted seatroutCynoscion nebulosus · inshore

Peak season, about 4 more weeks · Best day Sun, Nov 15 at 5 PM (87)

71Great
WeakfishCynoscion regalis · inshore

Peak season, about 4 more weeks · Best day Tue, Nov 3 at 7 AM (87)

70Great
Little tunnyEuthynnus alletteratus · pelagic

Peak season, about 4 more weeks · Best day Tue, Nov 3 at 7 AM (84)

69Great
Atlantic croakerMicropogonias undulatus · inshore

Shoulder season, about 4 more weeks · Best day Tue, Nov 3 at 6 AM (78)

68Great
Black sea bassCentropristis striata · nearshore

Peak season, about 4 more weeks · Best day Mon, Nov 2 at 6 AM (79)

68Great
SpotLeiostomus xanthurus · inshore

Shoulder season, about 4 more weeks · Best day Tue, Nov 3 at 7 AM (77)

67Great
BluefishPomatomus saltatrix · nearshore

Peak season, about 8 more weeks · Best day Mon, Nov 9 at 12 PM (78)

65Great
Striped bassMorone saxatilis · sea-run

Shoulder season, about 4 more weeks · Best day Sun, Nov 15 at 5 PM (75)

64Good
Southern flounderParalichthys lethostigma · bottom

Peak season, about 3 more weeks · Best day Tue, Nov 3 at 7 AM (82)

64Good
Black drumPogonias cromis · inshore

Shoulder season, about 12 more weeks · Best day Tue, Nov 3 at 6 AM (74)

62Good
Florida pompanoTrachinotus carolinus · surf

Peak season, about 4 more weeks · Best day Sat, Nov 7 at 10 AM (77)

62Good
Gag grouperMycteroperca microlepis · offshore

Peak season, about 8 more weeks · Best day Mon, Nov 9 at 12 PM (73)

61Good
Summer flounderParalichthys dentatus · bottom

Shoulder season, about 4 more weeks · Best day Tue, Nov 3 at 7 AM (78)

60Good
SheepsheadArchosargus probatocephalus · inshore

Shoulder season, about 12 more weeks · Best day Tue, Nov 3 at 7 AM (71)

58Good
Red snapperLutjanus campechanus · offshore

Shoulder season, about 25 more weeks · Best day Mon, Nov 2 at 6 AM (64)

49Good
King mackerelScomberomorus cavalla · pelagic

Shoulder season, about 4 more weeks · Best day Mon, Nov 2 at 6 AM (65)

47Good
Crevalle jackCaranx hippos · nearshore

Shoulder season, changing this week · Best day Mon, Nov 2 at 6 AM (63)

47Good
Greater amberjackSeriola dumerili · offshore

Shoulder season, about 4 more weeks · Best day Mon, Nov 2 at 6 AM (60)

35Fair
Atlantic tarponMegalops atlanticus · inshore

Off season, about 4 more weeks · Best day Mon, Nov 2 at 12 AM (35)

35Fair
Gray snapperLutjanus griseus · nearshore

Off season, about 25 more weeks · Best day Mon, Nov 2 at 12 AM (35)

35Fair
Gray triggerfishBalistes capriscus · offshore

Off season, about 16 more weeks · Best day Mon, Nov 2 at 12 AM (35)

35Fair
Red grouperEpinephelus morio · offshore

Off season, about 25 more weeks · Best day Mon, Nov 2 at 12 AM (35)

35Fair
Spanish mackerelScomberomorus maculatus · nearshore

Off season, about 16 more weeks · Best day Mon, Nov 2 at 12 AM (35)

34Fair
CobiaRachycentron canadum · nearshore

Off season, about 16 more weeks · Best day Mon, Nov 2 at 12 AM (35)

Named spots · 49

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

37 more spots, A to Z

Nearest tide stations

Oregon Inlet MarinaNOAA 86525878.5 miDuckNOAA 865137021.2 mi

Regulations

NCDMF saltwater regulations Buy a North Carolina fishing license License types

North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries. Synced with NCDMF Nov 1, 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