Top 10 Saltwater Fish to Catch in North Carolina
Top 10 Species
These are the fish that get noticed by FishyAF anglers. Click any species to deep dive and learn more.
1
Striped Bass (Striper)
Verified
World Record
81 lb 14 oz
Gregory Myerson / 2011
Long Island Sound, Connecticut
Gregory Myerson / 2011
Long Island Sound, Connecticut
Signature Fact
Their eggs must stay drifting for about 48 hours-sink once, and the entire spawn suffocates.
2
Redfish
Verified
World Record
94 lb 2 oz
David R. Deuel / 1984
Hatteras, North Carolina
David R. Deuel / 1984
Hatteras, North Carolina
Signature Fact
Males literally drum-low booms you can feel through the hull on calm spawning nights.
3
Speckled Trout
Verified
World Record
17 lb 7 oz
Floyd B. Smith / 1995
Florida, USA
Floyd B. Smith / 1995
Florida, USA
Signature Fact
Males crank ultrafast sonic muscles to drum in booming dusk choruses you can pinpoint with a $30 hydrophone.
4
Southern Flounder
Learn More Here Verified Catch
World Record
20 lb 9 oz
David H. Self / 1983
North Carolina, USA
David H. Self / 1983
North Carolina, USA
Signature Fact
Warm nursery water flips their sex switch-hot summers churn out mostly males, gutting future trophy female numbers.
5
Tarpon
Learn More Here Verified Catch
World Record
286 lb 9 oz
Max Domecq / 2003
Guinea-Bissau
Max Domecq / 2003
Guinea-Bissau
Signature Fact
They breathe air using a lung-like swim bladder, so those surface "rolls" are actual gulps of oxygen.
6
Spanish Mackerel
Learn More Here Verified Catch
World Record
13 lb 0 oz
James E. Lash / 1987
Ocracoke, North Carolina
James E. Lash / 1987
Ocracoke, North Carolina
Signature Fact
Zero swim bladder means no barotrauma-pull them straight up and they just sink like chrome torpedoes.
7
Snook
Learn More Here Verified Catch
World Record
53 lb 10 oz
Gilbert Ponzi / 1978
Parismina Ranch, Costa Rica
Gilbert Ponzi / 1978
Parismina Ranch, Costa Rica
Signature Fact
Born male, many later switch sex-so that 40-incher tugging back is almost certainly a she.
8
Gafftopsail Cat
Learn More Here Verified Catch
World Record
16 lb 8 oz
Joseph W. Bailey / 1996
Texas, USA
Joseph W. Bailey / 1996
Texas, USA
Signature Fact
Dad does daycare the hard way: he mouthbroods marble-sized eggs and hungry babies, fasting for weeks.
9
Bluefin Tuna
Learn More Here Verified Catch
World Record
1,496 lb 0 oz
Ken Fraser / 1979
Aulds Cove, Nova Scotia
Ken Fraser / 1979
Aulds Cove, Nova Scotia
Signature Fact
Bluefin run a built‑in furnace, keeping muscles, eyes, and brain up to 20°C warmer than seawater.
10
Goliath Grouper
Learn More Here Verified Catch
World Record
680 lb 0 oz
Lynn Joyner / 1961
Fernandina Beach, Florida
Lynn Joyner / 1961
Fernandina Beach, Florida
Signature Fact
It "booms" like a subwoofer-swim-bladder muscles thump so hard divers feel it in their ribs.
FAQs
What fish can you catch in North Carolina?
In North Carolina saltwater, you can target striped bass, redfish, speckled trout, southern flounder, tarpon, and more.
What is the best time of year to fish in North Carolina?
Spring through fall is prime for most saltwater species in North Carolina, with big action across the seasons.
Where are the best places to fish in North Carolina?
North Carolina’s saltwater fishing is strong along the coast, inlets, and nearshore waters. The variety of spots matches the diversity of the fish.
What gear do you need for fishing in North Carolina?
Bring medium to heavy spinning or conventional setups to handle everything from flounder to bluefin tuna in North Carolina saltwater.
What are the easiest fish to catch in North Carolina?
Southern flounder, speckled trout, and gafftopsail catfish are among the most accessible saltwater catches in North Carolina.
