Named spots
| Spot | Type | Depth | From nearest port |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hatteras Canyon | canyon | 1331 fm | – |
Nearby buoys
2026-10-03 16:50 UTC · NOAA NDBC 41002
2026-10-19 13:30 UTC · NOAA NDBC 41013
2026-10-19 13:08 UTC · NOAA NDBC 41024
2026-10-19 13:30 UTC · NOAA NDBC 41025
2026-10-10 22:08 UTC · NOAA NDBC 41037
2026-10-19 13:08 UTC · NOAA NDBC 41038
Latest NOAA NDBC observations. Satellite and in water readings may differ.
Fishing North Carolina
North Carolina is where the Gulf Stream swings close to the coast, and that is the whole story of the fishery. Off Hatteras the shelf narrows and the warm, deep blue water of the Gulf Stream runs within a relatively short reach of the beach, while cooler shelf water and the influence of the Labrador Current meet it from the north. That collision of warm and cool water, right where the shelf drops off, sets up strong temperature breaks, color changes and current edges that concentrate bait and pelagics. The edge you hunt here is defined by the Stream far more than by any cold upwelling seam.
Structure and the Stream work together. The shelf break and the ledges along the drop concentrate bait when the current sets up on them, and the warm Gulf Stream water and the eddies it throws create sharp breaks over that structure. Because Hatteras sits where the Stream bends close in, the good water can be a shorter run than on much of the East Coast, though it still moves with the current. Pairing the SST and chlorophyll layers with the depth contours is how you find where the warm water, the edge and the bottom all line up.
Seasonally the fishing runs close to year round offshore. Dolphin, known as mahi, work the warm blue water and weed lines in the warmer months, wahoo and tuna move through, and billfish are a classic warm season target along the edge. King mackerel and bottomfish work the nearshore structure and ledges through their seasons. Nothing is guaranteed. The Stream and its edges shift constantly, and seasons and regulations change every year, so always check current rules.
Before you run, line up the color change and the temperature break against the shelf edge and the Stream, and point the bow at the seam that has the warm water, the edge and the structure all working together.
What you get with ReelTemps
- Sea surface temperatureFind the temperature break
- Chlorophyll-aSpot the green-to-blue color seam
- Composite & single passBlended picture or the freshest overpass
- CompareTemperature and color side by side
- Depth readoutFathoms and feet on hover, tap or mark
- Currents & buoysSee the water move and ground-truth it
- Route, ruler & waypointsPlan the run and save your spots
From the water
I've tried every temp map out there and they all feel like they were built ten years ago. I'm not exactly a tech guy, but this one actually makes sense the second you open it. First time using it, I marked a break in about 30 seconds the night before and boated bluefin right on it the next morning.
Used to burn half a tank driving around looking for color change or a solid temp break. Now I check ReelTemps before I leave the dock and I know exactly where I'm going. Less time driving around guessing, more time with lines in the water.
Albacore season used to mean a couple hours of homework the night before and just hoping it held up. Now I do most of my research that morning and pull it up on my phone if things change once we're out there. Makes calling an audible a lot easier.