As of November 15, 2024, the fishing scene in the Atlantic Ocean off North Carolina is thriving, especially with the cooler waters setting in. Here’s what you need to know for a successful day on the water.

### Tides and Weather
Today, the sun rises at 6:45 AM and sets at 5:08 PM. The tidal coefficients are very high, indicating significant tidal movements. For Oak Island, the tides are as follows: high tide at 6:16 AM with 6.5 feet, low tide at 12:45 PM with -0.3 feet, high tide at 6:41 PM with 5.4 feet, and low tide at 11:57 PM with -0.7 feet[3].

### Fish Activity
Fall fishing is in full swing, and the variety of fish is impressive. Inshore anglers are enjoying a hot speckled trout bite, particularly in the creeks and around shell bottoms and shell banks. Live shrimp under a cork is the go-to bait for these trout. Red drum, both slot and over-slot, are being caught in good numbers using cut bait around docks and deeper grass banks. Flounder are also abundant, especially when fishing around creek mouths and oyster structures[5].

### Best Spots
For inshore fishing, target the creeks and areas around Dutchman Creek and the shell-bottomed areas near Oak Island. Nearshore, the structures off the beach are producing bull red drum, spanish mackerel, and even some cobia. The local piers are also seeing spanish mackerel and other surf species like bluefish, spot, whiting, and red drum[5].

### Best Lures and Bait
For speckled trout, live shrimp under a cork is the best option. For red drum, cut pogies or live shrimp on the bottom are highly effective. Nearshore, trolling with jigs can catch spanish mackerel and bluefish. Bottom fishing in the 10-15 mile areas is yielding black sea bass, gray trout, and porgies, while offshore, king mackerel and cobia are hitting drift lines[5].

### Recent Catches
Yesterday saw a nice mix of catches. Anglers reported catching speckled trout, red drum, flounder, and a variety of surf species. The nearshore waters produced bull red drum, spanish mackerel, and some king mackerel. Offshore, wahoo, blackfin tuna, and sailfish were also caught by those venturing out to the Gulf Stream[2][4].

With these conditions and the right gear, you're set for a fantastic day of fishing in the Atlantic Ocean off North Carolina. Enjoy your time on the water