Waterlands

NWS zone AMZ135 · South Atlantic

Pamlico Sound fishing forecast

North Carolina · Atlantic coast

Score now

81Great
Red drum · 8:00 PM EDT
Named spots
331
Species scored
24
Tide stations
1
Open in the tide mapAll North Carolina bay systems

Overview

Pamlico Sound is NWS marine zone AMZ135 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 331 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 croaker, Spot, Spotted seatrout and Crevalle jack are at peak season now.

At 8:00 PM it scores 81 (great), led by Red drum. The best window for the rest of today is 8 PM-12 AM (falling pressure), peaking at 81 for Red drum. Over the next 14 days the best hour is Thu, Sep 17 at 6 PM, scoring 87.

Best times to fish

Waterlands engine forecast computed 7:58 PM EDT.

Best window today

8 PM-12 AM · Falling pressure

Top species: Red drum

81Great

Best hour of each day, next 14 days

  1. Thu, Sep 17

    87

    6 PM

    Red drum

    Best day

  2. Fri, Sep 18

    86

    7 PM

    Red drum

  3. Sat, Sep 19

    84

    7 AM

    Atlantic croaker

  4. Sun, Sep 20

    83

    8 AM

    Atlantic croaker

  5. Mon, Sep 21

    84

    9 AM

    Atlantic croaker

  6. Tue, Sep 22

    83

    9 AM

    Atlantic croaker

  7. Wed, Sep 23

    79

    11 PM

    Atlantic croaker

  8. Thu, Sep 24

    78

    6 PM

    Red drum

  9. Fri, Sep 25

    79

    6 PM

    Atlantic croaker

  10. Sat, Sep 26

    80

    1 AM

    Atlantic croaker

  11. Sun, Sep 27

    79

    7 AM

    Atlantic croaker

  12. Mon, Sep 28

    77

    1 AM

    Red drum

  13. Tue, Sep 29

    79

    6 PM

    Red drum

  14. Wed, Sep 30

    78

    7 AM

    Atlantic croaker

Species · 24

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

81Great
Red drumSciaenops ocellatus · inshore

Peak season, about 10 more weeks · Best day Thu, Sep 17 at 6 PM (87)

78Great
Atlantic croakerMicropogonias undulatus · inshore

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

76Great
SpotLeiostomus xanthurus · inshore

Peak season, about 6 more weeks · Best day Thu, Sep 17 at 6 PM (81)

76Great
Spotted seatroutCynoscion nebulosus · inshore

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

74Great
Crevalle jackCaranx hippos · nearshore

Peak season, about 5 more weeks · Best day Thu, Sep 17 at 6 PM (80)

73Great
Atlantic tarponMegalops atlanticus · inshore

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

72Great
Gray snapperLutjanus griseus · nearshore

Peak season, about 1 more week · Best day Thu, Sep 17 at 6 PM (78)

72Great
Southern flounderParalichthys lethostigma · bottom

Peak season, about 9 more weeks · Best day Thu, Sep 17 at 6 PM (78)

70Great
Summer flounderParalichthys dentatus · bottom

Peak season, about 6 more weeks · Best day Thu, Sep 17 at 6 PM (76)

68Great
King mackerelScomberomorus cavalla · pelagic

Peak season, about 6 more weeks · Best day Thu, Sep 17 at 6 PM (75)

64Good
Black drumPogonias cromis · inshore

Shoulder season, about 19 more weeks · Best day Thu, Sep 17 at 6 PM (69)

63Good
Florida pompanoTrachinotus carolinus · surf

Shoulder season, about 1 more week · Best day Sat, Sep 26 at 7 PM (71)

63Good
Spanish mackerelScomberomorus maculatus · nearshore

Shoulder season, about 6 more weeks · Best day Thu, Sep 17 at 6 PM (69)

59Good
CobiaRachycentron canadum · nearshore

Shoulder season, about 1 more week · Best day Thu, Sep 17 at 6 PM (64)

59Good
Gray triggerfishBalistes capriscus · offshore

Shoulder season, about 6 more weeks · Best day Thu, Sep 17 at 6 PM (63)

59Good
Little tunnyEuthynnus alletteratus · pelagic

Shoulder season, about 1 more week · Best day Thu, Sep 17 at 6 PM (64)

59Good
SheepsheadArchosargus probatocephalus · inshore

Shoulder season, about 19 more weeks · Best day Thu, Sep 17 at 8 AM (63)

58Good
Black sea bassCentropristis striata · nearshore

Shoulder season, about 1 more week · Best day Sat, Sep 26 at 7 PM (65)

58Good
Gag grouperMycteroperca microlepis · offshore

Shoulder season, about 6 more weeks · Best day Thu, Sep 17 at 6 PM (63)

58Good
Red snapperLutjanus campechanus · offshore

Shoulder season, about 32 more weeks · Best day Thu, Sep 17 at 8 AM (63)

58Good
WeakfishCynoscion regalis · inshore

Shoulder season, about 1 more week · Best day Thu, Sep 17 at 6 PM (65)

57Good
Red grouperEpinephelus morio · offshore

Shoulder season, about 6 more weeks · Best day Thu, Sep 17 at 6 PM (62)

53Good
Greater amberjackSeriola dumerili · offshore

Shoulder season, about 10 more weeks · Best day Thu, Sep 17 at 6 PM (60)

35Fair
BluefishPomatomus saltatrix · nearshore

Off season, about 1 more week · Best day Thu, Sep 17 at 12 AM (35)

Named spots · 331

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

319 more spots, A to Z

Nearest tide stations

USCG Station HatterasNOAA 865446720.4 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