Virginia Mullet Water Temperature at Cape Hatteras Point
The surf staple. Consistent, great eating, and they run in numbers.
Water Now
Virginia Mullet Band
The water is about 22° above that band. That is an observation about temperature, not a report of fish. Bait, wind, structure and tide all move a bite that a thermometer cannot see.
Water at Cape Hatteras Point, Last 60 Days
Where they hold
Virginia mullet (southern kingfish/whiting) live in the surf zone. They forage in the wash and trough, rooting in the sand for sand fleas, small crabs, and worms. They are a bottom fish and rarely stray far from the sand.
Tide
Incoming tide to high water is best — whiting feed aggressively in the wash as the tide rises. They tend to slow during the outgoing unless conditions are otherwise ideal.
How to fish them
- Hi-lo bottom rig with small #2–#4 hooks is the standard surf rig.
- Sand fleas are the top bait. Shrimp, Fishbites, and bloodworms also produce.
- Small hooks and small bait — whiting have small mouths. A 5/0 circle is not the right call here.
- Cast into the trough, short to medium distance. Whiting do not require a long cast.
- Multiple hook setups increase odds when they are schooled up.
- Light tackle makes them more fun — they are a great species on a 7-foot light surf rod.
Pro Tip
Whiting make excellent table fare and often go overlooked because people are hunting pompano. Keep a limit — they fry up perfectly and the meat holds up well in a cooler. Do not release them all.
Rigged for virginia mullet
Pompano Hi-Lo Rig