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Winter · FEBRUARY
What's biting in February on the Outer Banks?
February is the coldest month on the water, and the same winter pattern holds: sound holes, inlet edges, and striped bass on the bottom.
Catching in February
- Prime
- Running
Aim for prime. Treat running as company: present in the water, short of its peak.
| Target | Standing | Field note |
|---|---|---|
| Red Drum | Running | Sound-side puppy drumRunning |
| Bluefish | Running | In the mix through February.Running |
| Striped bass | Prime | Cold-water bass on the bottom at the inlets.Prime |
| Speckled trout | Running | In the mix this month.Running |
| Tautog | Running | Structure fish. Green crabs fished tight to the rocks.Running |
What to do on the water in February
Habits that pay off when Striped bass and company are in.
Pick a calm day and fish the deepest sound water you can reach.
Blue crab and cut mullet on the bottom beat anything worked fast.
Watch the wind chill. A February blow is not a day to be on the beach.
A short month with a long winter. The first bluefish usually show late.
Hook-side pick
Blue crab
On the bottom for tautog and striped bass around structure.
Keep reading
BAITS
What should I put on the hook this month?
Blue crab is the bait of the month. The guide covers everything else on the shelf.
SINKERS
What size sinker do I need today?
Lead for Striped bass and the rest of a winter February, sized to the water.
TIDES
What tide is it right now, and does it matter?
February is winter on the Banks. See what the tide is doing right now.
Updated Oct 30, 2026