Gear & Tackle

Saltwater & Coast

Fly Fishing

Spin, Cast & Bait

Oregon Inlet Fishing Guide

North Carolina

The Outer Banks inlet between Bodie and Pea islands, with a refuge fishing pier and a rock groin on the south side for red drum, stripers, seatrout, and flounder.

Trip at a Glance

Anglers come to Oregon Inlet for striped bass, redfish, speckled trout, flounder, bluefish and spanish mackerel. In October, striped bass, redfish, speckled trout, flounder, bluefish and spanish mackerel are in season, and Clouser Minnow, Lefty's Deceiver and EP Baitfish are a good place to start. There are 12 shops within 25 miles; the closest is Oregon Inlet Fishing Center in Nags Head, about 2 mi away. Outer Banks is about 36 mi away if you want to make a trip of it.

Season at a Glance

Striped Bass
Redfish
Speckled Trout
Flounder
Bluefish
Spanish Mackerel
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What You'll Catch

Oregon Inlet Species

Striped Bass

Striped Bass

Prime Now
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Best: Apr to Jun, Sep to Nov

Redfish

Redfish

Prime Now
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Best: Mar to May, Sep to Nov

Speckled Trout

Speckled Trout

Prime Now
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Best: Mar to May, Oct to Dec

Flounder

Flounder

Prime Now
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Best: Apr to May, Sep to Nov

Bluefish

Bluefish

Prime Now
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Best: May to Oct

Spanish Mackerel

Prime Now
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Best: May to Oct

Images: Duane Raver, USFWS; NOAA Fisheries. Public domain.

Plan by Month

What to Use

Month
Fish

15 picks for October. marks species in season in October.

  • Clouser Minnow #1/0-8

    Fly

    Streamer · Speckled Trout, Redfish, Striped Bass

    Shop This Fly

  • Lefty's Deceiver #3/0-2

    Fly

    Streamer · Bluefish, Striped Bass

    Shop This Fly

  • EP Baitfish #2/0-2

    Fly

    Streamer · Redfish

    Shop This Fly

  • Spoon Fly #1/0-2

    Fly

    Flats Fly · Redfish

    Shop This Fly

  • Walking Topwater 4 to 5 in

    Lure

    Topwater · Bluefish, Speckled Trout, Redfish, Striped Bass

    Shop This Lure

  • Paddle-Tail Swimbait 3 to 5 in

    Lure

    Soft Plastic · Flounder, Speckled Trout, Redfish, Striped Bass

    Shop This Lure

  • Bucktail Jig 1/4 to 2 oz

    Lure

    Jig · Flounder, Striped Bass

    Shop This Lure

  • Popping Cork Rig 18 to 30 in leader

    Lure

    Rig · Speckled Trout, Redfish

    Shop This Lure

  • Metal Jig 1/2 to 3 oz

    Lure

    Jig · Spanish Mackerel, Bluefish

    Shop This Lure

  • Casting Spoon 1/4 to 1 oz

    Lure

    Spoon · Spanish Mackerel

    Shop This Lure

  • Weedless Gold Spoon 1/4 to 1/2 oz

    Lure

    Spoon · Redfish

    Shop This Lure

  • Live Shrimp 2 to 4 in

    Bait

    Live Bait · Speckled Trout, Redfish

  • Cut Mullet Chunk or strip

    Bait

    Natural Bait · Bluefish, Redfish

  • Live Minnows 1 to 3 in

    Bait

    Live Bait · Flounder · Mud minnows or finger mullet.

  • Sand Fleas Small

    Bait

    Live Bait · Redfish · Surf.

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Rod & Reel

Recommended Setups

Striped Bass

Fly 9 ft 9 wt rod, intermediate or sinking line, 20 lb leader. Clousers and Deceivers.

Spin / Cast 7 to 8 ft medium-heavy spinning rod, 4000 to 5000 reel, 30 lb braid with a 20 to 30 lb leader.

Redfish

Fly 9 ft 8 wt rod, floating redfish line, 16 to 20 lb fluorocarbon leader.

Spin / Cast 7 ft medium spinning rod, 3000 reel, 15 lb braid with a 20 lb fluorocarbon leader.

Speckled Trout

Fly 9 ft 7 wt rod, floating or intermediate line, 15 lb leader, Clousers and shrimp flies.

Spin / Cast 7 ft medium-light spinning rod, 2500 reel, 10 lb braid with a 15 to 20 lb fluorocarbon leader.

Flounder

Spin / Cast 7 ft medium-light spinning rod, 3000 reel, 15 lb braid, Carolina rig or bucktail.

Matched to These Species

Gear for Oregon Inlet

Jigs

Spro Bucktail Jigs

Durable hair jigs for stripers, fluke, and anything that eats baitfish.

Check Price

Fly Lines

RIO Redfish Fly Line

A heavy front taper for quick shots at tailing fish in warm, humid conditions.

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Floats & Rigs

Cajun Thunder Popping Cork

The clacking cork that calls trout and reds to shrimp or a soft plastic.

Check Price

Reels

Penn Battle III Spinning Reel

A metal-bodied reel built to survive saltwater and big runs.

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Metal Jigs

Deadly Dick Deadly Dick Metal Jig

A small, heavy casting jig for fast-moving albies and mackerel.

Check Price

Rods

Penn Battalion II Inshore Spinning Rod

A medium inshore rod for jigs, popping corks, and live bait.

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Line

PowerPro Spectra Braided Line

Thin, strong braid for long casts, sensitivity, and pulling fish from cover.

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Soft Plastics

Z-Man DieZel MinnowZ

A tough, stretchy paddle tail that survives toothy fish.

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Within 25 Miles

Shops Near Oregon Inlet

Within 25 Miles

Guides and Charters Near Oregon Inlet

Make It a Trip

Nearby Water

Saltwater & Coast · North Carolina · About 36 mi

Outer Banks

Surf and pier fishing for red drum and bluefish; offshore Gulf Stream trips from Hatteras.

Red Drum · Bluefish · Spanish Mackerel

Saltwater & Coast · North Carolina · About 50 mi

Pamlico Sound

A massive sound behind the Outer Banks, famous for big bull redfish in late summer.

Redfish · Speckled Trout