Hatteras Inlet Water Temperature
The cut between Hatteras Island and Ocracoke runs hard current on both tides, and that current is the whole game. Flounder stage on the edges where the channel drops away, redfish work the shallow flats on the sound side, and speckled trout show in the deeper holes when the water cools.
Water Temperature
rising — direction matters as much as the number
Interpolated between 2 coastal sensors — nearest is USCG Station Hatteras NC, 1.6 mi away. Not measured at Hatteras Inlet.
Temperature Lines
Where each temperature meets the coast, measured along the shoreline.
- 68°80 mi southNot moving consistently enough this week to give a rate
Positions are where the temperature crosses the coastline, interpolated between sensors. Rates are fitted over a week so a few days of upwelling cannot masquerade as a trend.
Recent Trend
Along the Coast
Distance measured along the shoreline. North is up.
Species Bands at This Temperature
Temperature ranges anglers associate with these fish. Not a forecast — fish move for reasons a thermometer cannot see.
- Speckled Trout50–70°
Water is inside this band now. Cold-stun risk below about 45°.
- Bluefish56–66°
Water is inside this band now. Runs in both directions, spring and fall.
- Flounder60–75°
Water is inside this band now. Structure and moving water matter more than the exact degree.
Access
Beach access at the end of NC-12 near the ferry terminal; 4WD with an ORV permit required past the ramp. The ferry docks and sound-side flats are wadeable on a low tide.
Best Seasons
Target Species Here
Know when Hatteras Inlet turns
We watch the water and send a note when it crosses a temperature band at this spot. A handful of times a season, never more than once a week. No catch reports, no promises about fish — just what the water did.
Fishing Hatteras Inlet?
We build rigs and jigs specifically for these waters. Hand-tied, pull-tested, and ready to fish.