If you're heading out to fish in the Atlantic Ocean off North Carolina today, December 28, 2024, here's what you need to know:

First, let's look at the tides. For Atlantic Beach, the high tide is at 5:14 AM with a height of 4.05 feet, followed by a low tide at 11:53 AM with a height of 0.28 feet. The second high tide is at 5:26 PM with a height of 2.68 feet, and the final low tide is at 11:17 PM with a height of 0 feet[2].

The weather is expected to be cool, typical of December, with sunrise at 7:13 AM and sunset at 5:04 PM. The moonrise is early at 5:16 AM, and moonset is at 2:54 PM[2].

Yesterday saw decent fish activity, with anglers catching a variety of species including bluefish and gray trout. The cooler waters have been favorable for these catches[1].

For December fishing, especially with the colder weather fronts, bigger speckled trout are a good target. Hard baits like MirrOlures, specifically the 17MR and 22MR suspending baits, have been effective for catching trout. For redfish, which can be found on oyster rocks, flats, and sand bars, scented grubs like the Berkley Gulp Dragon tail or shrimp are highly recommended. Rig these grubs with thirty-pound fluorocarbon and darker colored jig heads for better results[4].

If you're looking for striped bass, the Cape Fear River is a good spot, although it's catch and release only. Use swim bait lures like Berkley Power Bait Cull shad, rigged on swimbait hooks for weedless fishing[4].

Hot spots include the areas around Atlantic Beach, where you can find bluefish and gray trout, and the Cape Fear River for striped bass. Additionally, the shallow flats and oyster rocks near Wrightsville Beach are great for targeting redfish[1][4].

Make sure to check your gear before you leave the dock and adjust your fishing strategy according to the changing tides and weather conditions. Good luck out there