Calm Seas and Promising Catches: Fishing the North Carolina Coast on December 6, 2024

For December 6, 2024, if you're planning to head out fishing in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of North Carolina, here's what you need to know:

**Weather and Seas:**
A small craft advisory was in effect until early this morning, but conditions are improving. Expect northwest winds around 10 to 15 knots, with seas ranging from 3 to 5 feet, occasionally up to 6 feet. This is a significant improvement from the strong winds and higher seas of the past couple of days[1][2].

**Tidal Report:**
Tides will be moderate, with the high tide expected around mid-morning and the low tide in the late afternoon. This can be a good time to target species that are active during these tidal changes.

**Sunrise and Sunset:**
Sunrise today is at about 6:36 AM, and sunset will be around 7:39 PM, giving you a good window of daylight to fish[4].

**Fish Activity:**
Given the recent weather, fish activity might be a bit sluggish, but as conditions calm down, you can expect species like black sea bass, hogfish, and grunts to become more active. Yesterday's catches likely included these species, as they are common in these waters during December. Black sea bass have been particularly active, with estimated landings of 54,638 pounds so far this year[5].

**Best Lures and Bait:**
For black sea bass, use jigs or bottom rigs with squid, shrimp, or clams. For hogfish and grunts, try using live or frozen shrimp, or small jigs tipped with bait.

**Hot Spots:**
Head to areas south of Oregon Inlet to Cape Hatteras, where the waters are generally calmer and the fish are more concentrated. Another good spot is around the Monitor National Marine Sanctuary, known for its diverse marine life[1][2].

Keep an eye out for any remaining storm activity, but overall, today should offer decent fishing conditions as the weather stabilizes. Stay safe and enjoy your time on the water.