Coastal conditions

Hatteras Inlet

Inlet · North Carolina · Southeast Atlantic / Cape Hatteras south / inlet

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Current Coastal Rating

Fair · 56

Beta

Conditions are fair, but confidence is reduced because some coastal inputs are partial or prediction-based.

Scores are model-specific and are not directly comparable across water types.

Should I Go?

Trip conditions only. Target-species activity and seasonal fishery patterns are not yet included.

Consider

Trip conditions may be workable, but important cautions or data limitations remain.

Medium confidence — The recommendation is usable, but one or more inputs are regional, proxied, stale, or incomplete.

Evaluates trip conditions using weather, tides, currents, waves, daylight, and active alerts.

  • Provisional public-Beta coastal rating. Methodology is not formally calibrated.
  • Numeric class: NEEDS_BOUNDED_PRODUCT_POLICY_DEFAULTS. Not an empirical fishing freeze.
  • Does not inherit Northeast or cross-region fishing thresholds.
  • Missing waves are not calm. Forecast is not an observation. Prediction is not an observation.
  • Verdict capped at Consider while calibration remains incomplete or evidence is limited.

About this recommendation

Uses StrikeTracks coastal policy 2026-07.

Service Status

Degraded

Coastal conditions are partial, stale, or predictions-only.

Recommended window

Saturday · 12:00 PM–3:00 PM EDT

Window score

81

Max wind
9 mph
Max gust
9 mph
Daylight
100% of window
Tide state
rising

Why

  • Strong daylight coverage supports the evaluated window.

Watch for

  • Tide timing uses a nearby prediction proxy.

Coastal conditions can change quickly. Review official alerts and current conditions before heading out.

Current Readings

Updated Sep 5, 2026, 3:49 AM

NOAA Station

NOAA Station selected

Source

  • NOAA CO-OPS
  • USCG Station Hatteras station
  • 0.7 mi from destination
Water level
1.0 ft MLLW

Updated 8 min ago

Water temperature
85.6°F

Updated 8 min ago

Wind
WNW · 10 mph

Updated 8 min ago

Wind gust
14 mph

Updated 8 min ago

Past 7 Days

NOAA Station

NOAA Station selected

Water level

Window Aug 29, 2026, 3:49 AM – Sep 5, 2026, 3:49 AM (rolling 168 hours)

Water level over the past 7 days. 1668 observations · from Aug 29, 2026, 3:54 AM · to Sep 5, 2026, 3:42 AM Range 0.4 ft MLLW to 1.2 ft MLLW.

Readings increased over the available period.

1668 observations · from Aug 29, 2026, 3:54 AM · to Sep 5, 2026, 3:42 AM

  • NOAA CO-OPS · USCG Station Hatteras · Station 8654467
  • Station at destination
  • Approximately 0.7 mi from destination
  • Observation type: observed
  • Unit: ft
  • Datum: MLLW

Nearby coastal destinations

  • Ocracoke Village16.5 mi

    North Carolina · Southeast Atlantic / Ocracoke / Pamlico Sound village · Sound

    Approximately 16.5 miles away

  • Hatteras Gulf Stream Grounds22.6 mi

    North Carolina · Hatteras / Diamond Shoals Gulf Stream approach · Offshore

    Approximately 22.6 miles away

  • Oregon Inlet41.7 mi

    North Carolina · Mid-Atlantic / Northern Outer Banks · Inlet

    Approximately 41.7 miles away

Predicted Tides

Predicted

Near high tide

Next low tide

Sep 5, 2026, 10:42 AM

In 6 hr 52 min

0.5 ft MLLW

Previous

High · Sep 5, 2026, 3:42 AM · 0.8 ft MLLW

Following

High · Sep 5, 2026, 4:29 PM · 0.8 ft MLLW

Tide prediction proxy

Hatteras (ocean) · NOAA 8654467

This nearby station is used for tide timing. Predicted height does not represent exact water depth or exposed-flat conditions at this destination.

Predicted Tidal Current

Predicted

No representative tidal-current prediction station is configured for this destination.

Tidal-current timing can differ from high and low tide timing.

Fishery Profile

Fishery Overview

Hatteras Inlet fishery

A south-of-hinge Hatteras Village / Hatteras Inlet fishery. The pin is the inlet and village public fishing access, not Cape Point and not a giant Hatteras Island row.

Fishery type
  • Jetty inlet pass
Fishing modes
  • Shore
  • Inshore boat
Habitat and structure
Hatteras Inlet exchange and village-adjacent public access · Inlet bars between Hatteras Island and Ocracoke

Static seasonal guidance · Last reviewed Aug 23, 2026

Not a live bite forecast.

Fishery Targets

Red drum, spotted seatrout, sheepshead, and southern flounder are representative Hatteras Inlet targets. Seasonal presence is qualitative.

This reflects typical biological/fishery timing, not a legal open season. Check current regulations before fishing.

Species images are AI-generated illustrations for visual reference and may simplify natural variation. Fishery records are based on the cited agency and editorial sources. About fish illustrations

  • Red drum illustration

    Red drum

    Primary

    Sciaenops ocellatus

    Also called Redfish

    Typical seasonal opportunity: SPRING AND FALL

    May also be present outside this peak window.

    Inlet and adjacent surf occurrence.

  • Spotted seatrout illustration

    Spotted seatrout

    Primary

    Cynoscion nebulosus

    No seasonal pulse known

    Inlet and marsh-edge occurrence.

  • Sheepshead illustration

    Sheepshead

    Secondary

    Archosargus probatocephalus

    No seasonal pulse known

    Jetty rock and piling structure.

  • Southern flounder illustration

    Southern flounder

    SecondaryRegulations vary annually

    Paralichthys lethostigma

    Typical seasonal opportunity: FALL

    Inlet sand and channel edges.

Typical Seasonal Targets

  • Red drum — SPRING AND FALL
  • Southern flounder — FALL

Seasonal presence is general guidance and does not indicate current fish activity.

Access, Safety and Regulations

Access

Public access includes Hatteras village waterfront, ferry-area fishing where posted, and NPS/village beach access. Confirm NPS Cape Hatteras and village rules.

Primary hazards

Inlet current and ocean swell. USCG Station Hatteras meteorology is nearby context, not the inlet throat.

Fishery considerations

  • No qualified interval inlet-throat current identity is registered.
  • Onshore wind steepens the bar. Missing waves are not calm. Forecast is not an observation.

Regulations

Size limits, seasons, and possession rules change. Verify the current official regulations before fishing.

View current recreational saltwater regulations (opens in a new tab)

Location and Access

Cataloged coastal fishing destination

Inlet · North Carolina

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Get Directions to Map Location (opens in a new tab)

The map marker represents the cataloged waterbody or monitoring location and may not indicate legal parking or public access. Confirm access through the official information before visiting.

Data Sources

Planning limitation

Coastal conditions can vary over short distances. Predictions and remote observations are planning information, not guarantees of access or safety.

  • Bounded Hatteras Village / Hatteras Inlet identity south of Cape Hatteras 35.25N. This is not Cape Point, not a giant Hatteras Island row, and not generic Pamlico Sound.
  • NOAA 8654467 USCG Station Hatteras is LOCAL_REPRESENTATIVE live NWLON context, not DIRECT inlet-throat observation.
  • Region is an explicit destination-level SOUTHEAST_ATLANTIC assignment for this south/inlet-side pin. Methods are not averaged.
  • Waves and inlet-throat current remain SOURCE_GAP.