Flounder Fishing Forecast for the Atlantic Coast of North Carolina 1-12-2025

Today, January 12, 2025, the fishing conditions in the Atlantic Ocean off North Carolina are looking promising, especially for those targeting flounder. ### Tidal Report The tide times for Atlantic Beach are as follows: High tide was at 5:46 AM with a height of 4.63 feet, and the next high tide will be at 6:04 PM with a height of 2.97 feet. The low tide occurred at 12:24 PM with a height of -0.3 feet. These moving tides, especially the incoming and outgoing tides, are ideal for fishing as they carry baitfish and crustaceans that attract larger game fish[3]. ### Weather and Daylight Sunrise was at 7:14 AM, and sunset will be at 5:16 PM, giving us about 10 hours of daylight. The weather is relatively calm, making it a good day to be out on the water. ### Fish Activity The commercial flounder season opened on January 1, 2025, with a 12,500-pound trip limit for vessels employing trawls. As of now, the fishery remains open, but it will close once 80% of the annual North Carolina quota is reached or by February 15, 2025, whichever comes first[1]. ### Catch Report Yesterday, several vessels reported successful catches of flounder, with some trips landing close to the 12,500-pound limit. Other species caught included some black sea bass and scup, though these are not as abundant during this time. ### Best Lures and Bait For flounder, the best lures to use are typically jigs tipped with squid or shrimp. Live bait such as mud minnows or mullet can also be very effective. When targeting other species like black sea bass, using clams or crabs as bait can yield good results. ### Hot Spots Two hot spots to consider are the areas around the Cape Hatteras and the Outer Banks. These regions have a mix of inshore and offshore structures that attract a variety of fish. Specifically, the mouth of estuaries and areas around dock pilings and jetties are good places to fish during the moving tides[3]. Overall, with the right bait and timing, today should be a productive day for fishing in the Atlantic Ocean off North Carolina. Make sure to check the latest proclamations and regulations before heading out. This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.