OBX Fish Species Guide
All 92 species organized by habitat — from surf and pier to offshore canyons. Seasons, baits, rigs, and regulations.
Atlantic Croaker
Micropogonias undulatus
May-October
Atlantic Spadefish
Chaetodipterus faber
June-October
Black Drum
Pogonias cromis
April-November
Bluefish
Pomatomus saltatrix
Year-round
Florida Pompano
Trachinotus carolinus
July-October
Pinfish
Lagodon rhomboides
May-October
Red Drum
Sciaenops ocellatus
Year-round, peak Sept-Nov
Sea Mullet
Menticirrhus saxatilis
April-November
Sheepshead
Archosargus probatocephalus
May-October
Spot
Leiostomus xanthurus
August-October
Striped Bass
Morone saxatilis
November-March
Weakfish
Cynoscion regalis
May-October
Speckled Trout
Cynoscion nebulosus
Spring-Fall
Flounder
Paralichthys dentatus
May-October
Spanish Mackerel
Scomberomorus maculatus
May-October
Striped Mullet
Mugil cephalus
Year-round (most active April-November)
Clearnose Skate
Raja eglanteria
April-November
Spiny Dogfish
Squalus acanthias
November-AprilBlack Drum
Pogonias cromis
April-November
Channel Catfish
Ictalurus punctatus
Year-round, best May-OctoberFlounder
Paralichthys dentatus
May-October
Largemouth Bass
Micropterus salmoides
Year-round, best March-June and September-NovemberRed Drum
Sciaenops ocellatus
Year-round, peak Sept-NovSheepshead
Archosargus probatocephalus
May-OctoberSpeckled Trout
Cynoscion nebulosus
Spring-FallStriped Bass
Morone saxatilis
November-March
Tarpon
Megalops atlanticus
June-OctoberWeakfish
Cynoscion regalis
May-October
White Perch
Morone americana
Year-round, best March-June and October-November
American Eel
Anguilla rostrata
Year-round, best in fall and winter
Blue Crab
Callinectes sapidus
May-October
Almaco Jack
Seriola rivoliana
May-October
Banded Rudderfish
Seriola zonata
June-October
Bar Jack
Caranx ruber
June-October
Black Sea Bass
Centropristis striata
April-December
Blackfin Tuna
Thunnus atlanticus
May-October
Blue Runner
Caranx crysos
May-October
Cobia
Rachycentron canadum
May-September
Crevalle Jack
Caranx hippos
May-October
Gag Grouper
Mycteroperca microlepis
May-December (closed January-April for spawning)
Gray Snapper
Lutjanus griseus
Year-round (best May-October)
Gray Triggerfish
Balistes capriscus
May-September
Greater Amberjack
Seriola dumerili
May-September
Hogfish
Lachnolaimus maximus
June-October
King Mackerel
Scomberomorus cavalla
April-November
Lesser Amberjack
Seriola fasciata
June-October
Little Tunny (False Albacore)
Euthynnus alletteratus
September-November
Mutton Snapper
Lutjanus analis
Year-round (best May-October)
Lane Snapper
Lutjanus synagris
Year-round (best May-October)
Vermilion Snapper
Rhomboplites aurorubens
Year-round (best May-October)
Red Snapper
Lutjanus campechanus
Limited recreational season (typically July, subject to annual quota)
Blackfin Snapper
Lutjanus buccanella
Year-round (best May-October)
Red Grouper
Epinephelus morio
Year-round (best May-October)
Red Hind
Epinephelus guttatus
May-October
Scamp Grouper
Mycteroperca phenax
Year-round (best May-October)
Snowy Grouper
Hyporthodus niveatus
Year-round (best May-October)
Warsaw Grouper
Hyporthodus nigritus
Year-round (rare, incidental catch)
Yellowmouth Grouper
Mycteroperca interstitialis
Year-round (best May-October)
Jolthead Porgy
Calamus bajonado
May-October
Knobbed Porgy
Calamus proridens
May-October
Red Porgy
Pagrus pagrus
May-September
Whitebone Porgy
Calamus leucosteus
May-October
Sailor's Choice
Haemulon parra
May-October
Margate
Haemulon album
May-October
White Grunt
Haemulon plumieri
May-October
Scup
Stenotomus chrysops
June-October
Golden Tilefish
Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps
Year-round (best May-October)
Blueline Tilefish
Caulolatilus microps
Year-round (best May-October)
White Hake
Urophycis tenuis
November-April
Bigeye Tuna
Thunnus obesus
May-OctoberBlackfin Tuna
Thunnus atlanticus
May-October
Bluefin Tuna
Thunnus thynnus
December-March (winter run), May-July (spring run)
Yellowfin Tuna
Thunnus albacares
June-October
Mahi-Mahi
Coryphaena hippurus
May-September
Wahoo
Acanthocybium solandri
Year-round (best fall/winter)
Atlantic Sailfish
Istiophorus albicans
May-October
Marlin
Makaira nigricans / Kajikia albida
June-September
Swordfish
Xiphias gladius
May-October (nighttime), Year-round (daytime deep-drop)
Atlantic Sharpnose Shark
Rhizoprionodon terraenovae
May-October
Blacktip Shark
Carcharhinus limbatus
May-October
Bull Shark
Carcharhinus leucas
May-October
Hammerhead Shark (Great, Scalloped, Smooth)
Sphyrna spp.
June-October
Lemon Shark
Negaprion brevirostris
June-October
Nurse Shark
Ginglymostoma cirratum
June-October
Sandbar Shark
Carcharhinus plumbeus
May-October
Spinner Shark
Carcharhinus brevipinna
May-October
Thresher Shark
Alopias vulpinus
May-November
Tiger Shark
Galeocerdo cuvier
June-October
Shortfin Mako Shark
Isurus oxyrinchus
May-NovemberBlue Crab
Callinectes sapidus
May-October
Stone Crab
Menippe mercenaria
October-April
Caribbean Spiny Lobster
Panulirus argus
Rare on OBX — occasional summer-fall encounters
Shrimp (Brown, White, Pink)
Penaeus spp.
June-November (peak August-October)
Eastern Oyster
Crassostrea virginica
September-March (months with R)
Hard Clam/Quahog
Mercenaria mercenaria
Year-round (best May-October)
Mussels
Geukensia demissa
September-April (months with R)
Conchs and Whelks
Busycon spp.
Year-round (best October-May)
Alewife and Blueback Herring
Alosa pseudoharengus / Alosa aestivalis
March-May (spawning run), fall migration out
American Shad / Hickory Shad
Alosa sapidissima / Alosa mediocris
February-May (spring spawning run)American Eel
Anguilla rostrata
Year-round, best in fall and winterChannel Catfish
Ictalurus punctatus
Year-round, best May-OctoberLargemouth Bass
Micropterus salmoides
Year-round, best March-June and September-NovemberWhite Perch
Morone americana
Year-round, best March-June and October-November
Menhaden (Pogy/Bunker)
Brevoortia tyrannus
Year-round, peaks April-November
Silversides (Spearing)
Menidia spp.
Year-round, most active April-October