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HATTERAS INLET
Fishing Hatteras Inlet: what to know before you go
The inlet is where the sound empties into the ocean, and everything moving between them has to pass through. Current, cobia, and a beach that changes shape with the shoals.
Live at this spot
Reading the buoys for hatteras inlet…
Live data unavailable
Live buoy data is not answering. Fish near slack water: a fish finder rig with cut mullet or half a blue crab on the inlet edge.
Raw buoy data →Fish by month at Hatteras Inlet
These are the seasons that apply at this spot. Do not carry them to a different beach or pier.
| Fish | Calendar | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cobia | April-JuneThe spring push along the inlet edge and the shoals. | The spring push along the inlet edge and the shoals. |
| Red drum | September-NovemberDrum work the inlet on the way in and out of the sound. | Drum work the inlet on the way in and out of the sound. |
| Sea mullet | April-June and September-OctoberShrimp and bloodworms on the inside beach. | Shrimp and bloodworms on the inside beach. |
| Flounder | May-SeptemberLive mud minnows or a jig worked along the drop-off. | Live mud minnows or a jig worked along the drop-off. |
| Spanish mackerel | May-SeptemberChased bait near the inlet on a running tide. | Chased bait near the inlet on a running tide. |
| Bluefish | Spring and fallBlues blitz the inlet edge when bait stacks up. | Blues blitz the inlet edge when bait stacks up. |
Before you go: access and gear needs
The gate, the fee and the paperwork, laid out plainly.
| Need | Specifics |
|---|---|
| How in | 4WD, or walk from the village |
| What it costs | No fee to walk on. Driving the beach needs a permit. |
| Paperwork | A Cape Hatteras National Seashore ORV permit is required to drive on the beach. |
| Tires | Air down to 18-20 PSI. The sand near the inlet is coarse and the tide lines are steep. |
- The inlet runs hard on a moving tide. Fish it near slack, when the water stops pushing your lead.
- Shoals shift with every blow. The cut you fished last fall may be a flat this spring.
- This is a busy boat channel. Keep your line out of the channel and watch for traffic.
Three local rules of thumb
Short, practical, and specific to this stretch of water. Skim them before you rig up.
Fish the slack. A moving inlet tide drags lead and bait off the spot you wanted.
Cobia want a live bait or a big cut bait on the bottom, not a lure worked fast.
Read the tide line. The seam between the inlet flow and the beach is where the fish sit.
Down the road
Plan B and plan C for a day at Hatteras Inlet.
What to throw at each fish
Local notes first, then on to the full card or species page for each fish.
COBIA
Cobia
The spring push along the inlet edge and the shoals.
RED DRUM
Red Drum
Drum work the inlet on the way in and out of the sound.
SEA MULLET
Sea Mullet
Shrimp and bloodworms on the inside beach.
FLOUNDER
Flounder
Live mud minnows or a jig worked along the drop-off.
SPANISH
Spanish Mackerel
Chased bait near the inlet on a running tide.
BLUEFISH
Bluefish
Blues blitz the inlet edge when bait stacks up.
Keep reading
Background reading for Hatteras Inlet.
Updated Oct 30, 2026