King Tides is a non-scientific term used to describe the predicted highest high-tide and lowest low-tide events of the year. King tides occur during a perigean (when Moon is closest to Earth) spring tide (full and new moon). In other words, a full or new moon must co-occur when the Moon is closest to Earth in its elliptical orbit. These conditions cause extreme highs and lows during the daily tidal cycle. To find out more about King Tides, visit https://sunnydayflooding.com/nckingtides/

A Weekly Deep Dive into NC Coastal Fisheries

Estuarine Striped Bass

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) will open a one-month striped bass season on April 1 in portions of the Tar-Pamlico and Neuse rivers and their tributaries. The season will open April 1 and close April 30 for both recreational and commercial fisheries with a one-fish per person daily recreational creel limit and one-fish per person daily commercial trip limit. The 18-inch minimum total length and no striped bass between 22- and 27-inches total length size limit applies to both sectors.

Why a Season Now?

The CSMA stocks include the Tar-Pamlico, Neuse, and Cape Fear rivers. The rationale for this season from the NC DMF website:

A traditional stock assessment cannot be conducted due to limited data; therefore, stock status is unknown. Based on genetic analysis, a high percentage of striped bass in these systems are hatchery reared (stocked) with limited natural recruitment occurring. In the Tar-Pamlico and Neuse rivers, factors other than fishing mortality and inadequate spawning abundance are preventing sustainability of the Striped Bass stocks. Consistent with the Striped Bass Fishery Management Plan Amendment 2 adaptive management framework, the Division and North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission have developed harvest management measures that provide protection for, and access to, the resource. The harvest management strategy focuses harvest on stocked fish in the Tar-Pamlico and Neuse rivers but limits harvest of Albemarle-Roanoke stock Striped Bass that also reside in these rivers. The Striped Bass fishery in the Cape Fear River remains closed.

The DMF analysis concluded that the harvest and gill net closures have been ineffective at increasing adult abundance, expanding the age structure, and promoting recruitment and that the percentage of hatchery striped bass on the spawning grounds of the Tar-Pamlico and Neuse rivers has increased to nearly 100%. DMF and WRC staff concluded that if the striped bass stocks in the Tar-Pamlico and Neuse rivers were primarily stocked, hatchery raised fish then the public should have access to harvest and if it was open to harvest then it would be open for both recreational and commercial fishermen.

Management measures for the recreational fishery will be:
• Open recreational harvest season above the large-mesh gill net distance from shore demarcation lines (see map above) in the Tar-Pamlico and Neuse rivers April 1–30
• One fish per person, per day recreational creel limit
• 18-inch minimum total length and no striped bass between 22- and 27-inches total length

Learn more : https://brjayg.clicks.mlsend.com/tb/c/eyJ2Ijoie1wiYVwiOjEwMDM4NzYsXCJsXCI6MTgzMTAzNDc3MjIyNzM3NTIwLFwiclwiOjE4MzEwMzQ5ODk3MzM0ODg3Nn0iLCJzIjoiOTYyYzMyYTIzMDQzNDg4MyJ9

MOREHEAD CITY - The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries is accepting applications for commercial and recreational fishermen, scientists and interested parties to serve on the Southern Flounder Fishery Management Plan Amendment 5 Advisory Committee.

The panel will assist the Division in developing Amendment 5 to the N.C. Southern Flounder Fishery Management Plan. The Division is developing Amendment 5 to further address the NC Marine Fisheries Commission’s request to expand recreational access to the flounder fishery while continuing to rebuild the Southern Flounder stock. Amendment 5 will also seek to address issues in the commercial fishery.

The deadline to apply is April 10, 2026.

The Division will hold an in-person, workshop-style meeting that will allow committee members and Division staff to collaborate on drafting potential Southern Flounder management measures in a more effective and less formal setting than traditional meetings.

The Division is looking for individuals with expertise in Southern Flounder fisheries. Commercial and recreational fishermen from all coastal regions are encouraged to apply. Scientists and representatives of non-governmental organizations with an interest in Southern Flounder are also invited to participate.

To be qualified to serve on the committee, applicants must not have had a significant fisheries violation within the past three years.

Interested individuals must attend and actively participate in the three-day workshop scheduled for June 2 – 4 at Carteret Community College in Morehead City. Participation includes reviewing documents to provide input to the Division for consideration to refine management options in draft Amendment 5.

Advisors who complete the necessary paperwork will be reimbursed for travel and other expenses incurred in relation to their official duties. Apply to serve as an advisor by completing the online Southern Flounder Fishery Management Plan Advisory Committee application. If you would prefer to apply by mail, please download the printable application and send it to:

N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries
P.O. Box 769
Morehead City, N.C. 28557
Attention: Southern Flounder FMP

Applications must be submitted online or postmarked by April 10, 2026.

The Marine Fisheries Commission chairman will appoint members from the pool of applicants.

For More Information 
Contact:   Patricia Smith
Phone: 252-515-5500

for Black Sea Bass in the South Atlantic Region

What/When:

• The 2026-2027 recreational fishing season for black sea bass in federal waters of the South Atlantic, south of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina (35°15.19′ N. latitude), will open at 12:01 a.m., local time, on April 1, 2026, and remain open through March 31, 2027*.
• Estimates indicate recreational landings for the 2026-2027 fishing year will be below the 2026-2027 recreational catch limit. Therefore, black sea bass will be open for the entire 2026-2027 recreational fishing year.

Why This Announcement is Happening:

• NOAA Fisheries projects that recreational landings will not exceed the 2026-2027 recreational catch limit of 366,510 pounds whole weight based on recent landings data.
• This announcement is in compliance with the current regulations which require NOAA Fisheries to announce the length of the recreational season.

*    The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council has approved Regulatory Amendment 37 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region for review and implementation by NOAA Fisheries.  If implemented, the regulatory amendment would establish an annual catch target for the recreational sector of 63,143 pounds whole weight.  NOAA Fisheries would project the length of recreational fishing seasons based on this annual catch target.

It is currently unknown whether the timing for Regulatory Amendment 37 could affect the 2026-2027 fishing year for black sea bass.  However, if NMFS does implement Regulatory Amendment 37, NMFS would inform fishermen and the public about how that action would affect the length of the recreational season for black sea bass at the time of implementation.

This bulletin provides only a summary of the existing regulations.  Full regulations can be found in the Code of Federal Regulations at 50 CFR part 622 or at https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-50/chapter-VI/part-622/subpart-I/.

MOREHEAD CITY – The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries reminds fishermen that a one-month striped bass season will open April 1 in portions of the Tar-Pamlico and Neuse rivers and their tributaries.

The season will open April 1 and close April 30 for both recreational and commercial fisheries. The following provisions will apply:

Recreational

• Creel limit: One fish per person per day
• Size limit: 18-inch minimum total length and no striped bass between 22- and 27-inches total length

Commercial

• Trip limit: One fish per person per day
• Size limit: 18-inch minimum total length and no striped bass between 22- and 27-inches total length
• Hook-and-line allowed as legal commercial gear in the striped bass fishery
• Commercial tagging requirements will continue
• Tie-down and distance from shore requirements for gill nets will be maintained

Area Description

The recreational and commercial striped bass season in the Tar-Pamlico and Neuse rivers will open upriver of the demarcation lines below.

• Tar-Pamlico River: Upriver of a line beginning at a point at Gum Point 35° 25.1669’ N - 76° 45.5251’ W; running southwesterly to a point at Fork Point at 35° 23.4453’ N - 76° 46.4346’ W.
• Neuse River: Upriver of a line beginning at a point at Cooper Point 35° 02.1433’ N - 76° 55.9965’ W; running southwesterly to a point at Fisher Landing Point 35° 00.1550’ N - 76° 58.5738’ W.

The Division established the Striped Bass season through Proclamation FF-19-2026 (recreational) and Proclamation FF-20-2026 (commercial).

The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission has issued a similar proclamation for Striped Bass in waters under its jurisdiction. See WRC news release.

A recent analysis showed the harvest closure, implemented in 2019, did not result in increased striped bass abundance in these rivers. The analysis also indicates that reaching sustainability of the Tar-Pamlico and Neuse rivers stocks is unlikely due to factors other than fishing mortality and inadequate spawning abundance.

The Division of Marine Fisheries and N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission developed the one-month harvest season to allow for some access to stocked fish in the Tar-Pamlico and Neuse rivers. The season and locations were selected to limit harvest of Albemarle Sound-Roanoke River stock striped bass that occur in these rivers.

Results from a 2022 stock assessment update indicate the Albemarle Sound-Roanoke River striped bass stock is overfished and overfishing is occurring. A harvest season will not open in these waters.

For more information, see the 2026 Revision to Amendment 2 to the Estuarine Striped Bass Fishery Management Plan or contact Division striped bass species leads Todd Mathes at 252-948-3872 or Todd.Mathes@deq.nc.gov or Robert Corbett at 252-381-6000 or Robert.Corbett@deq.nc.gov.

Hook offset — whether it’s a slightly turned point, an out-turned eye, or a purpose-designed offset hook — can dramatically increase your hook-up ratio. While a perfectly straight hook might look ideal, a small offset often helps the hook grab and hold far more effectively when a fish bites.

Here’s why.

1. It Helps the Hook “Find” Flesh

A perfectly straight hook can slide across a fish’s mouth without penetrating, especially on hard-mouthed species. An offset point creates a natural angle that encourages the hook to dig in rather than glance off.

Think of it like a tire tread — angled surfaces grip better than flat ones.

2. It Promotes Self-Hooking

When a fish turns away after taking the bait, pressure comes onto the hook. An offset design causes the hook to rotate, positioning the point toward the jaw or corner of the mouth.

This is why many modern hooks are engineered to:

• Turn inward (circle hooks)
• Kick outward slightly
• Offset the point from the shank
• Use a turned eye to align pull direction

The hook essentially sets itself.

3. It Improves Alignment with the Leader

If the leader exits the hook eye at a slight angle, it changes how force is applied during the strike. Offset hooks align the pull so that tension drives the point inward instead of sideways.

Poor alignment = sliding

Correct alignment = penetration

4. It Presents Bait More Naturally

Certain baits sit better on an offset hook:

• Mullet fillets
• Shrimp
• Soft plastics
• Combo baits

The bait doesn’t spin as easily and often moves more naturally in current, keeping the hook point exposed and ready.

5. It Targets the Corner of the Mouth

Offset hooks tend to catch in the corner of the jaw, which is:

• Stronger tissue
• Less likely to tear out
• Safer for catch-and-release
• Easier to unhook

This is especially valuable for powerful species that shake violently.

6. It Reduces Missed Strikes in Moving Water

In surf conditions, baits are constantly shifting. A straight hook may never orient correctly when the fish grabs it. An offset hook compensates for this chaos, increasing the chances that at some point the point meets flesh.

Important: Too Much Offset Can Be Bad

Excessive offset can:

• Weaken the hook structure
• Cause gut hooking
• Reduce penetration if over-angled
• Fail under heavy pressure

Quality hooks use subtle, engineered offsets — not extreme bends.

Takeaway

Hooking isn’t just about sharpness — it’s about geometry.

A small offset changes how the hook enters, rotates, and holds under pressure. That tiny design tweak can be the difference between feeling a bite… and landing the fish.

If the hook turns correctly, the fish stays connected.

How to fish it right — and how NOT to waste your time!

Wind is one of the most misunderstood factors in fishing. Most anglers assume wind = bad fishing, but that’s only true if you don’t know how to adjust.

Let’s break it down

HOW TO FISH IN THE WIND (THE RIGHT WAY)

1. FISH THE WINDWARD SIDE

Wind pushes:

• Bait
• Oxygen
• Current

Fish follow food, not comfort.

The side the wind is blowing into often holds more active fish, especially predators.

Tip: Wind blowing onto the beach = stirred sand + disoriented bait = feeding fish.

2. ADJUST YOUR CASTING ANGLE

Casting straight into heavy wind kills distance and accuracy.

Do this instead:

• Cast with the wind or at a diagonal
• Let the wind help load your line
• Lower your rod tip during the cast to reduce drag

3. GO HEAVIER (BUT SMART)

Wind creates bow in your line and moves rigs.

Use:

• Heavier pyramid or spider weights in surf
• Slightly heavier jig heads in bays
• Streamlined sinkers instead of bulky ones

Don’t just add weight blindly—too much kills presentation.

4. CONTROL YOUR LINE

Wind causes slack = missed bites.

Fix it by:

• Keeping rod tips lower
• Maintaining tension
• Using braid for better feel
• Shortening leader length when necessary

5. FISH STRUCTURE THAT BLOCKS WIND

Look for:

• Jetties
• Points
• Sandbars
• Backside of dunes or shoreline curves

These areas:

• Reduce wave energy
• Trap bait
• Give fish ambush points

HOW NOT TO FISH IN THE WIND

1. DON’T FISH THE LEE SIDE JUST FOR COMFORT

Calm water feels nice—but often holds less bait and less active fish.

Comfort ≠ production.

2. DON’T USE ULTRA-LIGHT GEAR

Wind + light tackle =

• Zero control
• Poor hook sets
• Tangled lines
• Lost rigs

Match your gear to conditions, not vibes.

3. DON’T CAST HIGH

• High casts catch wind like a parachute.
• Keep casts low and tight

Use sidearm or modified overhead casts

4. DON’T IGNORE WIND DIRECTION CHANGES

A wind shift can:

• Kill a bite
• Turn it on instantly
• Move fish from gut to gut

Always re-evaluate when the wind changes.

Takeaway

Wind isn’t the enemy—ignorance is.

• Wind is information, not just weather.
  Fish respond to what wind does to water, bait, and oxygen, not to the wind itself.
• In winter, prioritize protection and warmth.
  Wind cools shallow water, so sheltered pockets are usually better.
• In summer, prioritize wind-blown water.
  Wind adds oxygen and concentrates bait, making windy banks the most “alive” water on many flats.

When the bite is slow, move water before changing lures.
Switching from windy to protected (or vice versa) often makes a bigger difference than swapping baits.

You do NOT need to bomb it 100 yards every time.

Here’s why

The First Gut is a Feeding Lane

Most bait gets pushed into the first and second gut by waves.

Predators don’t waste energy sitting in deep water all day.

They sit where bait is forced to them.

That’s usually:

• Just behind the first sandbar
• In cuts between bars
• In troughs you can literally see from shore

Fish Conserve Energy

Redfish, drum, even sharks will:

• Sit in deeper troughs
• Wait for tide movement
• Ambush bait in current seams

They aren’t marathon swimmers chasing your 120-yard cast.

Waves Do the Work

Breaking waves:

• Disorient bait
• Create oxygen
• Push food into predictable lanes

That chaos = feeding opportunity.

Takeaway

If you can’t identify:

• Sandbar cuts
• Water color changes
• Moving water

You’re guessing — not fishing.

Distance doesn’t equal skill.

Reading water does.