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Early summer · JUNE
What's biting in June on the Outer Banks?
June settles into summer: cobia still on the beach, Spanish mackerel thick, and croaker, flounder, and sheepshead in the sound.
What's biting in June
- Prime
- Running
Prime fish earn the early alarm. Running fish are around but not in peak form.
| Species | Status | This month |
|---|---|---|
| Red Drum | Running | Sound flats and channelsRunning |
| Sea Mullet | Prime | Spring runPrime |
| Bluefish | Running | In the mix through June.Running |
| Spanish Mackerel | Prime | PeakPrime |
| Speckled Trout | Running | In the mix through June.Running |
| Flounder | Running | In the mix through June.Running |
| Black Drum | Running | In the mix through June.Running |
| Sheepshead | Running | In the mix through June.Running |
| Croaker | Running | In the mix through June.Running |
| Cobia | Prime | Migration peakPrime |
| King mackerel | Running | King mackerel run the beach and the piers in the warm months.Running |
| Mahi-mahi | Running | Offshore. A boat fish this time of year, out of Oregon Inlet or Hatteras.Running |
| Yellowfin tuna | Running | Offshore. A boat fish this time of year, out of Oregon Inlet or Hatteras.Running |
Start with these
SEA MULLET
Sea Mullet
Sea mullet are the first fish back in the spring surf, and sand fleas are almost all you need.
SPANISH
Spanish Mackerel
Spanish run the beach in summer and they want metal moving fast. The Gotcha plug is the OBX pier standard.
COBIA
Cobia
Cobia are the sight-casting fish of the spring. Spot one on the surface, put a jig in front of it, and hold on.
This month on the bait table
Shrimp
Shrimp on a two-hook bottom rig covers most of the summer fish.
Three plays for June
Distilled from how the water behaves right now, not from a manual.
Fish the piers and the beach for Spanish and blues at first light.
Croaker and spot want small hooks and shrimp on the bottom.
Flounder sit on channel edges. Work a jig or a live minnow slow.
The summer pattern is set. Fish early or fish late.
Worth a look
BAITS
What should I put on the hook this month?
Past shrimp: what else goes on the hook while Sea Mullet is on.
SINKERS
What size sinker do I need today?
3 prime this month. The guide sizes the sinker to the day.
TIDES
What tide is it right now, and does it matter?
Moving water in June, live from the tide station.
Updated Oct 30, 2026