Waterlands

NWS zone AMZ231 · South Atlantic

Croatan and Roanoke Sounds fishing forecast

North Carolina · Atlantic coast

Score now

80Great
Atlantic croaker · 2:00 AM EDT
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; Atlantic croaker, Red drum, Spot, Spotted seatrout and Atlantic tarpon are at peak season now.

At 2:00 AM it scores 80 (great), led by Atlantic croaker. The best window for the rest of today is 6-9 PM (ebb tide), peaking at 88 for Red drum. Over the next 14 days the best hour is Fri, Sep 18 at 7 PM, scoring 88.

Best times to fish

Waterlands engine forecast computed 12:46 AM EDT.

Best window today

6-9 PM · Ebb tide

Top species: Red drum

88Epic

Best hour of each day, next 14 days

  1. Fri, Sep 18

    88

    7 PM

    Red drum

    Best day

  2. Sat, Sep 19

    86

    7 AM

    Atlantic tarpon

  3. Sun, Sep 20

    86

    8 AM

    Atlantic tarpon

  4. Mon, Sep 21

    83

    5 PM

    Atlantic croaker

  5. Tue, Sep 22

    85

    10 PM

    Atlantic tarpon

  6. Wed, Sep 23

    80

    12 AM

    Atlantic tarpon

  7. Thu, Sep 24

    79

    7 AM

    Atlantic croaker

  8. Fri, Sep 25

    80

    12 AM

    Red drum

  9. Sat, Sep 26

    80

    1 AM

    Atlantic tarpon

  10. Sun, Sep 27

    81

    8 AM

    Atlantic croaker

  11. Mon, Sep 28

    81

    8 AM

    Atlantic croaker

  12. Tue, Sep 29

    80

    9 AM

    Atlantic croaker

  13. Wed, Sep 30

    80

    3 AM

    Southern flounder

  14. Thu, Oct 1

    78

    3 AM

    Atlantic croaker

Species · 25

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

79Great
Atlantic croakerMicropogonias undulatus · inshore

Peak season, about 6 more weeks · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 7 AM (85)

78Great
Red drumSciaenops ocellatus · inshore

Peak season, about 10 more weeks · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 7 PM (88)

78Great
SpotLeiostomus xanthurus · inshore

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

78Great
Spotted seatroutCynoscion nebulosus · inshore

Peak season, about 10 more weeks · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 7 PM (86)

71Great
Atlantic tarponMegalops atlanticus · inshore

Peak season, about 1 more week · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 7 AM (86)

71Great
Gray snapperLutjanus griseus · nearshore

Peak season, about 1 more week · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 7 AM (82)

71Great
Southern flounderParalichthys lethostigma · bottom

Peak season, about 9 more weeks · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 7 PM (81)

68Great
Crevalle jackCaranx hippos · nearshore

Peak season, about 5 more weeks · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 7 AM (84)

66Great
Summer flounderParalichthys dentatus · bottom

Peak season, about 6 more weeks · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 7 AM (80)

66Great
Black drumPogonias cromis · inshore

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

64Good
King mackerelScomberomorus cavalla · pelagic

Peak season, about 6 more weeks · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 7 AM (79)

61Good
WeakfishCynoscion regalis · inshore

Shoulder season, about 1 more week · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 7 AM (72)

59Good
Florida pompanoTrachinotus carolinus · surf

Shoulder season, about 1 more week · Best day Sat, Sep 26 at 7 AM (73)

58Good
Red snapperLutjanus campechanus · offshore

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

58Good
SheepsheadArchosargus probatocephalus · inshore

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

57Good
Black sea bassCentropristis striata · nearshore

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

56Good
CobiaRachycentron canadum · nearshore

Shoulder season, about 1 more week · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 7 AM (69)

56Good
Spanish mackerelScomberomorus maculatus · nearshore

Shoulder season, about 6 more weeks · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 7 AM (72)

54Good
Gag grouperMycteroperca microlepis · offshore

Shoulder season, about 6 more weeks · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 7 AM (65)

54Good
Gray triggerfishBalistes capriscus · offshore

Shoulder season, about 6 more weeks · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 7 AM (65)

54Good
Little tunnyEuthynnus alletteratus · pelagic

Shoulder season, about 1 more week · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 7 AM (71)

54Good
Red grouperEpinephelus morio · offshore

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

50Good
Greater amberjackSeriola dumerili · offshore

Shoulder season, about 10 more weeks · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 7 AM (63)

35Fair
BluefishPomatomus saltatrix · nearshore

Off season, about 1 more week · Best day Thu, Oct 1 at 5 AM (56)

No score
Striped bassMorone saxatilis · sea-run

Best day Thu, Oct 1 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 Sep 18, 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