Waterlands

Species guide · North Carolina

Atlantic tarpon fishing in North Carolina

Megalops atlanticus, an inshore species also called silver king, poon and sabalo. Listed for the South Atlantic region. Peak season, about 1 more week.

Right now it scores best in Croatan and Roanoke Sounds at 82, one of 9 North Carolina bay systems where the Waterlands engine is scoring it.

Season now

Peak season
Where it's scoring nowAll North Carolina waters

Season by month

From the Waterlands saltwater species research: when the fish are present and biting, not whether retention is open.

South Atlantic

Peak season, about 1 more week
  1. Jan: Not present
  2. Feb: Not present
  3. Mar: Not present
  4. Apr: Off season
  5. May: Shoulder season
  6. Jun: Shoulder season
  7. Jul: Peak season
  8. Aug: Peak season
  9. Sep: Peak season
  10. Oct: Shoulder season
  11. Nov: Off season
  12. Dec: Not present

Peak: Jul to Sep. In season (shoulder or peak): May to Oct.

Research notes, South Atlantic region

Atlantic migrants reach Georgia, South Carolina and Pamlico Sound in summer; South Carolina peaks July through September and is catch and release. The Indian River Lagoon from Stuart to Sebastian holds juveniles year-round and big fish on the fall mullet run.

Seasons and limits in these notes are background. The regulations below and the regulator’s own page govern.

Where it's scoring now · 9

North Carolina bay systems ranked by the Waterlands engine's atlantic tarpon score this hour.

1
82Great
Croatan and Roanoke Sounds

Best window today 7-9 PM (82) · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 7 AM (85) · 49 named spots

2
77Great
Coastal waters from Surf City to Cape Fear NC out 20 nm

Best window today 7-8 PM (77) · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 7 PM (85) · 1 named spot

3
77Great
Neuse and Bay Rivers

Best window today 7-8 PM (77) · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 7 PM (83) · 260 named spots

4
77Great
Pamlico Sound

Best window today 7-9 PM (77) · Best day Sun, Sep 20 at 8 AM (82) · 331 named spots

5
76Great
Coastal waters from Cape Fear NC to Little River Inlet SC out 20 NM

Best window today 7-8 PM (76) · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 7 PM (88) · 7 named spots

6
76Great
Pamlico and Pungo Rivers

Best window today 7-9 PM (76) · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 7 AM (79) · 134 named spots

7
73Great
Currituck Sound

Best window today 10 PM-12 AM (76) · Best day Mon, Sep 21 at 7 AM (79) · 75 named spots

8
72Great
Alligator River

Best window today 7 PM-12 AM (72) · Best day Sun, Sep 20 at 8 AM (82) · 26 named spots

9
71Great
Albemarle Sound

Best window today 7 PM-12 AM (71) · Best day Sun, Sep 20 at 8 AM (79) · 21 named spots

How and where it feeds

Water temperature
Feeds from 70°F to 95°F, best between 75°F and 88°F.
Water depth
2 to 60 ft of water.
Structure
Pass, channel, bridge, beach, inlet, mangrove and flat, in that order of preference.
Tide and current
Prefers outgoing tide and incoming tide, with moderate current.Pass and bridge fishing is best on strong outgoing tides, especially around new and full moons when crabs flush out of the bays. Beach and flats fish are sight cast on moving water with enough light to see them. Tide matters less for fish rolling along open beaches.
Light
Bites best around dawn and dusk; feeds at night too.
Pressure
Prefers steady pressure.
Wind and sea limits
15 kt of wind and 3 ft of sea. The Waterlands engine scores hours down as conditions pass them.

Tackle and technique

Tarpon roll along beaches, in passes and channels, and under bridges from late spring through fall, and in South Florida some fish stay through winter in warm canals and backcountry rivers. Live crabs, mullet or pinfish drifted through a pass on the outgoing tide, or a fly or soft plastic cast ahead of a rolling string of fish, are the main approaches. Use a long heavy leader, bow to the jumps, and keep big fish in the water for release.

Methods
sight casting, live bait drifting, fly fishing, anchoring in passes, bridge fishing at night, trolling
Lures
soft plastic swimbait, jig, trolled spoon, suspending plug, tarpon fly (toad, streamer)
Bait
live pass crab, live mullet, pinfish, threadfin herring, pilchard, cut mullet

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 atlantic tarpon rule for North Carolina is on file yet. Check with NCDMF before you keep one.

Other North Carolina species