As of November 3, 2024, the fishing scene in the Atlantic Ocean off North Carolina is looking promising. Here’s what you need to know for a successful day on the water.

### Weather and Tides
Today, you can expect mild temperatures with the air temperature around 73 degrees and the water temperature at about 70 degrees. The winds are light, coming from the northeast at around 10 knots. For tides, the high tide is at 6:43 a.m. and 7:05 p.m., with the low tide at 12:36 p.m. Sunrise is at 6:43 a.m., and sunset will be at 5:05 p.m.

### Fish Activity
Yesterday saw a lot of activity from various fish species. Red drum, speckled trout, and black drum are making strong appearances. Bluefish and spanish mackerel are also plentiful, with most bluefish in the 2-4 lb. range. Sea mullet, pompano, and even some larger sheepshead are being caught as well.

### Best Lures and Bait
For speckled trout, topwater plugs, hard suspending lures, and soft plastics are working well, especially around creek mouths and current lines. Red drum are hitting live shrimp, cut bait, and artificials, with topwaters effective in the mornings and sight casting on sand and mud flats later in the day. Black drum are being caught using fresh shrimp on a Carolina rig, particularly around oyster bars and deep creek holes. For sheepshead, live fiddler crabs or mud crabs around docks and hard structures are the way to go.

### Hot Spots
One of the hot spots right now is the Cape Fear River, particularly the southern end, where speckled trout and red drum are active. The Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) around the Carolina Beach Inlet is also producing good results, especially during outgoing tides. For those targeting sheepshead, the docks near Snows Cut and any hard structure in the Cape Fear River are good bets.

Overall, it's a great time to be out on the water in North Carolina, with a variety of species available and favorable conditions. Make sure to get your gear ready and take advantage of these prime fishing opportunities.