Fishing Forecast: Sunny Skies, Biting Fish in North Carolina's Atlantic Waters

If you're heading out to fish in the Atlantic Ocean off North Carolina today, October 20th, you're in for a treat. Here’s what you need to know:

### Weather and Tides
The day is starting off sunny with a gentle breeze, winds coming in from the northwest at about 11 knots. Air temperature is around 59 degrees, while the ocean water temperature is a comfortable 70 degrees. High tides are at 6:54 AM and 7:49 PM, with low tide at 1:23 PM.

### Sunrise and Sunset
Sunrise is at 7:23 AM, and sunset will be at 6:23 PM, giving you plenty of daylight to catch some great fish.

### Fish Activity
Yesterday saw a lot of action in the waters. Red drum are picking up inside as water temperatures rise, and nearshore, anglers were catching bluefish, Spanish mackerel, flounder, and more.

### Types of Fish Caught
There were several catches reported, including bluefish, Spanish mackerel, red drum, speckled trout, and flounder. Some anglers also caught sea mullet, spot, croaker, and even a few triggerfish and puffers.

### Best Lures and Bait
For speckled trout, live shrimp are working well, especially on deeper ledges and drop-offs with nearby structure like oysters or rocks. For nearshore action, small jigs like Hogy Epoxy Minnows and Big Nic Spanish Candies are effective for false albacore and Spanish mackerel. Bluefish are being caught around the shoals off Cape Lookout, and king mackerel are starting to come in closer to the beach, right outside the inlets.

### Hot Spots
One of the hot spots is around the Beaufort Inlet and the surrounding sounds like Bogue Sound and Core Sound. Captain Joe’s trips in these areas have been very successful for catching redfish, black drum, and speckled trout.

Another great spot is Jennette's Pier, where anglers have been catching a variety of fish including bluefish, Spanish mackerel, sea mullet, and speckled trout. The pier offers good conditions with clear water and moderate winds.

Get your gear ready and hit the water – it’s shaping up to be a fantastic day for fishing in North Carolina