Shorebite

Cape Lookout (ocean) tide chart

North Carolina · near Harkers Island (6 mi) · NOAA station 8656937 · times in local time (EDT)

Tides today, Sunday, October 11

12 AM6 AM12 PM6 PM1:35 AM · 0.2 ft7:57 AM · 4.6 ft2:19 PM · 0.2 ft8:16 PM · 3.7 ft4.6 ft
  • Low 1:35 AM 0.2 ft
  • High 7:57 AM 4.6 ft
  • Low 2:19 PM 0.2 ft
  • High 8:16 PM 3.7 ft

Sunrise 7:09 AM · Sunset 6:38 PM · New moon (0%)

Fishing forecast

Hour by hour at Cape Lookout (ocean)
73Good

Best times

6:00 PM–7:00 PM and 1:00 PM–2:00 PM

New moon (0% lit)

    Biting around here in October

    • Red drum (redfish) In seasonFlooded grass on high tide; creek mouths on the falling tide
    • Spotted seatrout In seasonMoving water around oyster bars, dawn and dusk
    • Southern flounder In seasonCreek mouths on the outgoing tide
    • Black drum In seasonBottom baits near structure
    • King mackerel In seasonNearshore and piers when water is warm

    General seasonal guide for Southeast. Seasons, sizes and limits vary, so check your state rules before keeping fish.

    Weather and conditions at Cape Lookout (ocean)

    Loading the National Weather Service forecast… Open it on weather.gov.

    Marine forecast: S of Cape Lookout NC to Surf City NC out to 20 NM

    Loading the latest National Weather Service forecast… Open it on weather.gov.

    Marine radio: weather channels and VHF

    NOAA Weather Radio

    • 162.400 MHz WX2 KEC84, New Bern, NC (47 mi)

    To get alerts on a weather alert radio, program county code 037031 (Carteret).

    VHF marine channels

    • Ch 16 Distress, safety and calling
    • Ch 9 Boater-to-boater calling
    • Ch 22A Coast Guard safety broadcasts
    • Ch 13 Bridge-to-bridge (big ships, drawbridges)
    • Ch 68, 69, 71, 72, 78A Recreational chat

    Weather radio broadcasts are continuous; VHF channels are the US standard. Local harbors and bridges may use others, so check your chart.

    Live readings from NOAA and the National Weather Service, loaded when you open this page.

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    Recent reports

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    Reports are from visitors and may be wrong. Inappropriate ones are removed.

    Tide times this week

    DayHigh and low tidesSunrise / sunsetMoon
    Sun Oct 11L 1:35 AM 0.2 ftH 7:57 AM 4.6 ftL 2:19 PM 0.2 ftH 8:16 PM 3.7 ft7:09 AM / 6:38 PMNew moon (0%)
    Mon Oct 12L 2:12 AM 0.3 ftH 8:37 AM 4.6 ftL 3:03 PM 0.4 ftH 8:55 PM 3.5 ft7:10 AM / 6:37 PMNew moon (2%)
    Tue Oct 13L 2:47 AM 0.4 ftH 9:16 AM 4.5 ftL 3:46 PM 0.6 ftH 9:34 PM 3.3 ft7:10 AM / 6:35 PMWaxing crescent (6%)
    Wed Oct 14L 3:24 AM 0.6 ftH 9:57 AM 4.3 ftL 4:30 PM 0.8 ftH 10:14 PM 3.1 ft7:11 AM / 6:34 PMWaxing crescent (12%)
    Thu Oct 15L 4:03 AM 0.8 ftH 10:40 AM 4.1 ftL 5:17 PM 1.0 ftH 10:58 PM 2.9 ft7:12 AM / 6:33 PMWaxing crescent (19%)
    Fri Oct 16L 4:46 AM 1.0 ftH 11:28 AM 3.9 ftL 6:09 PM 1.2 ftH 11:48 PM 2.8 ft7:13 AM / 6:31 PMWaxing crescent (28%)
    Sat Oct 17L 5:36 AM 1.1 ftH 12:23 PM 3.7 ftL 7:07 PM 1.3 ft7:14 AM / 6:30 PMFirst quarter (38%)

    Tidal currents near Cape Lookout (ocean)

    From NOAA's current predictions for Middle Marshes, S of at 6 ft depth, 6.9 miles away. Slack is when the current turns and the water is calmest; flood runs in with the rising tide and ebb runs out with the falling tide. Times are the peak of each run, in knots. The flood runs toward the ESE (123°) and the ebb toward the W (275°). The strongest current this week is 1.4 knots.

    DaySlack water and peak currents
    Sun Oct 11Ebb 12:36 AM 1.2 knSlack 4:18 AMFlood 6:53 AM 1.4 knSlack 10:42 AMEbb 1:06 PM 1.4 knSlack 4:50 PMFlood 7:04 PM 1.3 knSlack 10:42 PM
    Mon Oct 12Ebb 1:15 AM 1.2 knSlack 4:56 AMFlood 7:30 AM 1.4 knSlack 11:22 AMEbb 1:48 PM 1.3 knSlack 5:32 PMFlood 7:45 PM 1.3 knSlack 11:15 PM
    Tue Oct 13Ebb 1:52 AM 1.1 knSlack 5:33 AMFlood 8:09 AM 1.3 knSlack 12:00 PMEbb 2:30 PM 1.2 knSlack 6:15 PMFlood 8:27 PM 1.2 knSlack 11:48 PM
    Wed Oct 14Ebb 2:26 AM 0.9 knSlack 6:10 AMFlood 8:51 AM 1.2 knSlack 12:39 PMEbb 3:12 PM 1.1 knSlack 6:59 PMFlood 9:12 PM 1.1 kn
    Thu Oct 15Slack 12:22 AMEbb 3:00 AM 0.8 knSlack 6:49 AMFlood 9:35 AM 1.1 knSlack 1:20 PMEbb 3:57 PM 1.0 knSlack 7:46 PMFlood 9:59 PM 1.0 kn
    Fri Oct 16Slack 12:59 AMEbb 3:36 AM 0.7 knSlack 7:32 AMFlood 10:23 AM 1.0 knSlack 2:05 PMEbb 4:45 PM 0.9 knSlack 8:39 PMFlood 10:49 PM 0.9 kn
    Sat Oct 17Slack 1:44 AMEbb 4:18 AM 0.7 knSlack 8:23 AMFlood 11:15 AM 0.9 knSlack 2:55 PMEbb 5:37 PM 0.8 knSlack 9:35 PMFlood 11:42 PM 0.8 kn

    Current predictions can differ a lot over short distances: check the station location on NOAA before planning a passage.

    Best fishing times at Cape Lookout (ocean)

    The bite score (0 to 100) adds up what anglers watch most: moving water (a tide running harder than usual here scores higher), solunar periods (major periods of about two hours centred on the moon overhead or underfoot, minor periods of about an hour on moonrise and moonset), dawn and dusk light, and how close it is to the new or full moon. Best times are the stretches of the day scoring near that day's top.

    DayBite scoreBest timesMajor periodsMinor periods
    Sun Oct 1173 · Good6:00 PM–7:00 PM, 1:00 PM–2:00 PM12:18 AM–2:18 AM, 12:41 PM–2:41 PM7:45 AM–8:45 AM, 6:30 PM–7:30 PM
    Mon Oct 1263 · Good6:00 PM–8:00 PM, 2:00 PM–3:00 PM1:04 AM–3:04 AM, 1:27 PM–3:27 PM8:47 AM–9:47 AM, 7:02 PM–8:02 PM
    Tue Oct 1344 · Fair6:00 AM–8:00 AM, 2:00 PM–4:00 PM1:51 AM–3:51 AM, 2:15 PM–4:15 PM9:48 AM–10:48 AM, 7:38 PM–8:38 PM
    Wed Oct 1432 · Slow2:40 AM–4:40 AM, 3:05 PM–5:05 PM10:47 AM–11:47 AM, 8:21 PM–9:21 PM
    Thu Oct 1523 · Slow3:30 AM–5:30 AM, 3:56 PM–5:56 PM11:42 AM–12:42 PM, 9:09 PM–10:09 PM
    Fri Oct 1630 · Slow4:21 AM–6:21 AM, 4:47 PM–6:47 PM12:32 PM–1:32 PM, 10:03 PM–11:03 PM
    Sat Oct 1736 · Fair6:00 PM–7:00 PM, 6:00 AM–7:00 AM5:12 AM–7:12 AM, 5:36 PM–7:36 PM1:16 PM–2:16 PM, 11:00 PM–12:00 AM

    A planning aid, not a guarantee. Wind, water clarity, bait and pressure changes matter too; the forecast above adds live wind and pressure when you open the page.

    Best daylight low tides in the next two weeks

    The lowest water that falls between sunrise and sunset, for tide pooling and beachcombing.

    1. 0.2 ft at 2:19 PM on Sunday, October 11
    2. 0.3 ft at 12:16 PM on Saturday, October 24
    3. 0.4 ft at 3:03 PM on Monday, October 12
    4. 0.5 ft at 11:29 AM on Friday, October 23
    5. 0.6 ft at 3:46 PM on Tuesday, October 13
    6. 0.8 ft at 10:40 AM on Thursday, October 22

    Tide table: October 11 to November 10, 2026

    Full 2026 tide table Full 2027 tide table

    DayHigh and low tidesSunrise / sunset
    Sun Oct 11L 1:35 AM 0.2 ftH 7:57 AM 4.6 ftL 2:19 PM 0.2 ftH 8:16 PM 3.7 ft7:09 AM / 6:38 PM
    Mon Oct 12L 2:12 AM 0.3 ftH 8:37 AM 4.6 ftL 3:03 PM 0.4 ftH 8:55 PM 3.5 ft7:10 AM / 6:37 PM
    Tue Oct 13L 2:47 AM 0.4 ftH 9:16 AM 4.5 ftL 3:46 PM 0.6 ftH 9:34 PM 3.3 ft7:10 AM / 6:35 PM
    Wed Oct 14L 3:24 AM 0.6 ftH 9:57 AM 4.3 ftL 4:30 PM 0.8 ftH 10:14 PM 3.1 ft7:11 AM / 6:34 PM
    Thu Oct 15L 4:03 AM 0.8 ftH 10:40 AM 4.1 ftL 5:17 PM 1.0 ftH 10:58 PM 2.9 ft7:12 AM / 6:33 PM
    Fri Oct 16L 4:46 AM 1.0 ftH 11:28 AM 3.9 ftL 6:09 PM 1.2 ftH 11:48 PM 2.8 ft7:13 AM / 6:31 PM
    Sat Oct 17L 5:36 AM 1.1 ftH 12:23 PM 3.7 ftL 7:07 PM 1.3 ft7:14 AM / 6:30 PM
    Sun Oct 18H 12:46 AM 2.7 ftL 6:35 AM 1.2 ftH 1:22 PM 3.6 ftL 8:06 PM 1.3 ft7:15 AM / 6:29 PM
    Mon Oct 19H 1:50 AM 2.8 ftL 7:41 AM 1.3 ftH 2:22 PM 3.6 ftL 8:59 PM 1.2 ft7:15 AM / 6:28 PM
    Tue Oct 20H 2:52 AM 2.9 ftL 8:47 AM 1.2 ftH 3:17 PM 3.6 ftL 9:45 PM 1.1 ft7:16 AM / 6:27 PM
    Wed Oct 21H 3:45 AM 3.2 ftL 9:46 AM 1.0 ftH 4:06 PM 3.7 ftL 10:25 PM 0.8 ft7:17 AM / 6:25 PM
    Thu Oct 22H 4:32 AM 3.6 ftL 10:40 AM 0.8 ftH 4:51 PM 3.8 ftL 11:02 PM 0.6 ft7:18 AM / 6:24 PM
    Fri Oct 23H 5:16 AM 3.9 ftL 11:29 AM 0.5 ftH 5:33 PM 3.8 ftL 11:39 PM 0.3 ft7:19 AM / 6:23 PM
    Sat Oct 24H 5:58 AM 4.3 ftL 12:16 PM 0.3 ftH 6:16 PM 3.8 ft7:20 AM / 6:22 PM
    Sun Oct 25L 12:17 AM 0.1 ftH 6:40 AM 4.7 ftL 1:03 PM 0.1 ftH 6:58 PM 3.8 ft7:21 AM / 6:21 PM
    Mon Oct 26L 12:57 AM -0.1 ftH 7:24 AM 4.9 ftL 1:50 PM 0.0 ftH 7:43 PM 3.8 ft7:22 AM / 6:20 PM
    Tue Oct 27L 1:39 AM -0.2 ftH 8:10 AM 5.1 ftL 2:39 PM 0.0 ftH 8:28 PM 3.7 ft7:22 AM / 6:19 PM
    Wed Oct 28L 2:24 AM -0.2 ftH 8:59 AM 5.1 ftL 3:30 PM 0.1 ftH 9:17 PM 3.5 ft7:23 AM / 6:18 PM
    Thu Oct 29L 3:12 AM -0.1 ftH 9:51 AM 5.0 ftL 4:25 PM 0.2 ftH 10:11 PM 3.4 ft7:24 AM / 6:17 PM
    Fri Oct 30L 4:06 AM 0.0 ftH 10:47 AM 4.8 ftL 5:23 PM 0.4 ftH 11:10 PM 3.3 ft7:25 AM / 6:16 PM
    Sat Oct 31L 5:06 AM 0.2 ftH 11:48 AM 4.5 ftL 6:26 PM 0.5 ft7:26 AM / 6:15 PM
    Sun Nov 1H 12:17 AM 3.2 ftL 5:14 AM 0.4 ftH 11:55 AM 4.3 ftL 6:31 PM 0.6 ft6:27 AM / 5:14 PM
    Mon Nov 2H 12:30 AM 3.3 ftL 6:29 AM 0.6 ftH 1:02 PM 4.1 ftL 7:34 PM 0.5 ft6:28 AM / 5:13 PM
    Tue Nov 3H 1:41 AM 3.5 ftL 7:45 AM 0.6 ftH 2:07 PM 4.0 ftL 8:31 PM 0.5 ft6:29 AM / 5:12 PM
    Wed Nov 4H 2:45 AM 3.7 ftL 8:55 AM 0.6 ftH 3:06 PM 3.8 ftL 9:21 PM 0.3 ft6:30 AM / 5:11 PM
    Thu Nov 5H 3:41 AM 4.0 ftL 9:56 AM 0.5 ftH 3:59 PM 3.7 ftL 10:06 PM 0.2 ft6:31 AM / 5:10 PM
    Fri Nov 6H 4:30 AM 4.2 ftL 10:49 AM 0.3 ftH 4:46 PM 3.6 ftL 10:48 PM 0.2 ft6:32 AM / 5:09 PM
    Sat Nov 7H 5:14 AM 4.4 ftL 11:37 AM 0.3 ftH 5:30 PM 3.5 ftL 11:26 PM 0.2 ft6:33 AM / 5:08 PM
    Sun Nov 8H 5:55 AM 4.5 ftL 12:22 PM 0.3 ftH 6:11 PM 3.4 ft6:34 AM / 5:07 PM
    Mon Nov 9L 12:03 AM 0.2 ftH 6:34 AM 4.5 ftL 1:03 PM 0.3 ftH 6:51 PM 3.3 ft6:35 AM / 5:07 PM
    Tue Nov 10L 12:39 AM 0.3 ftH 7:12 AM 4.5 ftL 1:44 PM 0.4 ftH 7:29 PM 3.1 ft6:36 AM / 5:06 PM

    Heights are in feet above mean lower low water (MLLW), the zero line on most US nautical charts. A minus height means the water drops below that line.

    Around Cape Lookout (ocean)

    Beaches

    Boat ramps

    Fishing piers and docks

    Distances from the tide station. Places from © OpenStreetMap contributors; links open in Google Maps.

    Fish in the waters around Cape Lookout (ocean)

    40 kinds of fish, sharks and rays have been recorded within 15 km (about 9 miles) of this spot, most often Cownose Ray, Spot Croaker, Sargassumfish. The bar shows how many records each has.

    • Cownose Ray Rhinoptera bonasusSalt water · 730 records
    • Spot Croaker Leiostomus xanthurusSalt water · 78 records
    • Sargassumfish Histrio histrioSalt water · 73 records
    • Pinfish Lagodon rhomboidesSalt water · 59 records
    • Pigfish Orthopristis chrysopteraSalt water · 53 records
    • Round Scad Decapterus punctatusSalt water · 50 records
    • Atlantic Sharpnose Shark Rhizoprionodon terraenovaeSalt water · 50 records
    • Blackcheek Tonguefish Symphurus plagiusaSalt water · 49 records
    • Inshore Lizardfish Synodus foetensSalt water · 47 records
    • Atlantic Croaker Micropogonias undulatusSalt water · 46 records
    • Blacknose Shark Carcharhinus acronotusSalt water · 45 records
    • Sheepshead Minnow Cyprinodon variegatusSalt water · 45 records
    • Planehead Filefish Stephanolepis hispidusSalt water · 44 records
    • Summer Flounder Paralichthys dentatusSalt water · 43 records
    • Weakfish Cynoscion regalisSalt water · 40 records
    • Dusky Shark Carcharhinus obscurusSalt water · 40 records
    • Windowpane Scophthalmus aquosusSalt water · 39 records
    • Broad-striped Anchovy Anchoa hepsetusSalt water · 39 records
    • Scalloped Hammerhead Sphyrna lewiniSalt water · 39 records
    • Butterfish Peprilus triacanthusSalt water · 36 records
    • Smooth Dogfish Mustelus canisSalt water · 36 records
    • Striped Killifish Fundulus majalisSalt water · 36 records
    • Spotted Hake Urophycis regiaSalt water · 34 records
    • Mummichog Fundulus heteroclitusSalt water · 34 records
    • Striped Searobin Prionotus evolansSalt water · 33 records
    • Crested Blenny Hypleurochilus geminatusSalt water · 32 records
    • Blue Runner Caranx crysosSalt water · 31 records
    • Atlantic Bumper Chloroscombrus chrysurusSalt water · 30 records
    • Atlantic Silverside Menidia menidiaSalt water · 30 records
    • Blacktip Shark Carcharhinus limbatusSalt water · 30 records
    • Atlantic Thread Herring Opisthonema oglinumSalt water · 29 records
    • Eastern Mosquitofish Gambusia holbrookiBrackish water · 27 records
    • Lookdown Selene vomerSalt water · 27 records
    • Atlantic Moonfish Selene setapinnisSalt water · 27 records
    • Bluefish Pomatomus saltatrixSalt water · 27 records
    • Southern Kingfish Menticirrhus americanusSalt water · 25 records
    • Silver Croaker Bairdiella chrysouraSalt water · 25 records
    • Northern Searobin Prionotus carolinusSalt water · 25 records
    • Spinner Shark Carcharhinus brevipinnaSalt water · 24 records
    • Common Dolphinfish Coryphaena hippurusSalt water · 23 records

    Records from GBIF datasets released under CC0 or CC BY 4.0 (museum collections, surveys and community sightings). It shows what has been found here, not a complete list. Check your state rules before keeping fish.

    About the tides at Cape Lookout (ocean)

    Cape Lookout (ocean) gets two high tides and two low tides most days, but one high is clearly higher than the other (and one low clearly lower), which is called a mixed tide. Over the next month the water typically rises or falls about 3.3 ft between a high and the next low.

    The biggest swings in this window come around Wednesday, October 28, when the day's range reaches 5.3 ft, and again around Sunday, October 11 (4.5 ft). Here the biggest ranges depend on the moon's phase and on how far north or south of the equator it is, so they don't always line up with the new and full moon. The calmest day is Monday, October 19, with only 2.3 ft between the day's highest and lowest water.

    The lowest tide of the month is -0.2 ft at 2:24 AM on Wednesday, October 28. There are 6 minus tides (lows below the chart's zero line) in this window: the best times for tide pools, clamming and walking the flats.

    The highest predicted tide is 5.1 ft at 8:59 AM on Wednesday, October 28. Onshore wind or a storm can push the real water level above that.

    This is a subordinate station: NOAA calculates its times and heights by adjusting a nearby reference station, so expect them to be a few minutes or a few tenths of a foot off on any given day.

    Station details

    Reference station: Cape Hatteras Fishing Pier.

    Nearby tide stations

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