Saltwater flats
9′ rod, 8 weight, sealed-drag reel, tropical floating line · Bonefish, redfish, permit and other flats species
Open checklist
Manteo & the Outer Banks
Manteo is the Dare County seat on Roanoke Island, between Roanoke Sound and Croatan Sound.
- North Carolina · East
- 8 waters
- 85 guides nearby
- 10 shops nearby
- ORF airport · 74 mi
Photo credit
The beach and dunes at Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge on the Outer Banks, North Carolina. Photo: Kyle Hartshorn, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
More about Manteo & the Outer Banks
Manteo is the Dare County seat on Roanoke Island, between Roanoke Sound and Croatan Sound; Nags Head and the Outer Banks beaches are across Roanoke Sound, and Oregon Inlet and Pea Island are to the south-east.
Waters around Manteo
About this
Tap a water for its live flow, access map, regulations and hatches.
Agency-named saltwater fishing waterRepresentative photo · not Roanoke SoundPhoto credit
The Ashley River at sunset from Brittlebank Park, Charleston, South Carolina. Photo: Ianmccor, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Roanoke Sound.
Roanoke Sound
North Carolina · 5 mi from Manteo
Agency-named saltwater fishing waterRepresentative photo · not Croatan SoundPhoto credit
The May River looking east from the Calhoun Street dock, Bluffton, South Carolina. Photo: Townofbluffton, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Croatan Sound.
Croatan Sound
North Carolina · 5 mi from Manteo
Agency-named saltwater fishing waterRepresentative photo · not Oregon InletPhoto credit
Lewis Bay, Hyannis, opening onto Nantucket Sound. Photo: EgorovaSvetlana, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Oregon Inlet.
Agency-named saltwater fishing waterRepresentative photo · not Pea Island
Agency-named saltwater fishing waterRepresentative photo · not Kitty Hawk BayPhoto credit
South Monomoy Island from the top of Monomoy Lighthouse, Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge. Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Northeast Region, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Not Kitty Hawk Bay.
Kitty Hawk Bay
North Carolina · 9 mi from Manteo
Agency-named saltwater fishing waterRepresentative photo · not Albemarle SoundPhoto credit
Tidal marsh near Muddy Creek on Pleasant Bay, Cape Cod. Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Northeast Region, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Not Albemarle Sound.
Albemarle Sound
North Carolina · 13 mi from Manteo
Agency-named saltwater fishing waterRepresentative photo · not Alligator RiverPhoto credit
Sunset over the Brewster flats on Cape Cod Bay. Photo: PapaDunes, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Alligator River.
Agency-named saltwater fishing waterRepresentative photo · not Currituck SoundCurrituck Sound
North Carolina · 28 mi from Manteo
Distances and official pages
The rivers, lakes or flats this hub is organised around, each with its straight-line distance from Manteo. Within 40 miles a water's own page names this hub as near; a farther one shows its distance instead. Where a nearby guide names a water on its own website, we say how many do. Access, seasons and special regulations differ by reach: check the agency pages under license and rules.
- Roanoke Sound5 mi from Manteo in a straight line
- Croatan Sound5 mi from Manteo in a straight line
- Oregon Inlet12 mi from Manteo in a straight line
- Pea Island17 mi from Manteo in a straight line
- Kitty Hawk Bay9 mi from Manteo in a straight line
- Albemarle Sound13 mi from Manteo in a straight line
- Alligator River18 mi from Manteo in a straight line
- Currituck Sound28 mi from Manteo in a straight line
All gauge readings
The first USGS gauge on each water: the latest reading, how it compares with that gauge's record for today's date, the 24-hour trend and the NWS flood stage; NOAA tides for the flats and beaches. Open a water for what the level means.
Reading the gauges around Manteo…
Meet local guides
About this
85 guide listings within 60 miles (2 fly-focused), fly-focused first. Unclaimed listings say so on their page: confirm licensing, rates and dates with the outfitter.
Fly shops nearby
About this
10 shop listings in the towns around Manteo, fly shops first. Confirm hours with the shop before you go.
Fish around Manteo
About this
Species the state agency lists on the waters here. A species listed for one water is not a promise for every water.
Redfish
Listed on 3 waters here
Photo credit
Red drum or redfish (Sciaenops ocellatus), illustration by Duane Raver for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Photo: Duane Raver, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Striped bass
Listed on 3 waters here
Photo credit
Striped bass (Morone saxatilis), illustration by Duane Raver for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Photo: Duane Raver, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Spotted seatrout
Listed on 3 waters here
Photo credit
Spotted seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus), illustration by Duane Raver for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Photo: Duane Raver, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Agency species and seasons (8 waters)
Taken from the state agency pages of 8 waters around Manteo, each on its own water page with the agency link. Seasons are quoted word for word and apply to the water named.
- Flounder3 waters
- Red Drum3 waters
- Spotted Seatrout3 waters
- Striped Bass3 waters
- Bluefish1 water
Species guides mention (63)
Counted from the species each guide lists on its own site. This is what guides advertise, not an agency species list or a promise of what you will catch.
- Tuna40
- Striped bass16
- Rockfish & lingcod14
- Tarpon4
- Bonefish1
- Brook trout1
- Catfish1
- Coho salmon1
Things to know
Fishing license: North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
Fees on the agency page.
Getting there
ORF Norfolk International Airport · 74 mi
Regulations and access
Seasons, limits and access: agency pages.
Official license and rules pages
Buy the license from the agency and read its current regulations before you go. These links are the authoritative pages; nothing on this page grants or implies access to any water, and fees are only shown when read from the agency page on a stated date.
Nothing here grants or implies access to any water.
Veteran-owned and veteran programs
About this
Near Manteo & the Outer Banks. Each fact comes from the business's own website, an official register or an approved claim; the listing page links the source.
- Fishin Fannatic SportfishingGuide · Wanchese · 5 miMilitary discount · from their website
- Grandpa ChartersGuide · Wanchese · 5 miAccessible or adaptive · from their website
- Wild Card ChartersGuide · Wanchese · 5 miVeteran-owned · from their website
- Corolla Bait TackleGuide · Corolla · 33 miAccessible or adaptive · from their website
- Countrytime CoastalGuide · Hatteras · 48 miVeteran-owned · from their websiteVeterans on the team · from their website
- Gecko SportfishingGuide · Ocracoke · 57 miVeterans on the team · from their website
The Manteo & the Outer Banks area
About this
The circle is the 60-mile area this page covers, around Manteo. Tap a water for its page. Shops and guides appear where they publish a street address on their own website; all of them are listed above.
Map of the Manteo & the Outer Banks area: its waters, shops and guides
Map of Manteo & the Outer Banks: the 60-mile area this page covers, its waters, and shops and guides with an exact address.
Guide season: May to October
About this
Read from the websites of 5 guides within 60 miles that state a season. It is when they run trips, not a hatch chart or a conditions report; closures and seasons are set by the agency pages.
- Jan0
- Feb0
- Mar1
- Apr2
- May4
- Jun5
- Jul5
- Aug5
- Sep4
- Oct4
- Nov1
- Dec1
Restrooms near Manteo & the Outer Banks
Restrooms near Manteo & the Outer Banks
Restrooms within 5 miles of the centre of Manteo & the Outer Banks in a straight line, nearest first, with what anglers found when they went. The map says a restroom is there, not whether it is clean or open today.
Map of 8 restrooms near Manteo & the Outer Banks
Skip the map; every place is in the list belowMap of 8 restrooms near Manteo & the Outer Banks, numbered as in the list, with the town centre marked.
Restroom
0.4 mi away in a straight lineNot rated yet — be the first to tell other anglers if it's clean.
We don't know yet: is it clean? · flush or vault? · free? · open to everyone? · step-free? — tell other anglers: show the questions
- Is it clean?
- Flush or vault?
- Free?
- Open to everyone?
- Step-free?
Mapped on OpenStreetMap · see or fix it on the map
Restroom
0.6 mi away in a straight lineNot rated yet — be the first to tell other anglers if it's clean.
We don't know yet: is it clean? · flush or vault? · free? · open to everyone? · step-free? — tell other anglers: show the questions
- Is it clean?
- Flush or vault?
- Free?
- Open to everyone?
- Step-free?
Mapped on OpenStreetMap · see or fix it on the map
Restroom
0.6 mi away in a straight lineNot rated yet — be the first to tell other anglers if it's clean.
We don't know yet: is it clean? · flush or vault? · free? · open to everyone? · step-free? — tell other anglers: show the questions
- Is it clean?
- Flush or vault?
- Free?
- Open to everyone?
- Step-free?
Mapped on OpenStreetMap · see or fix it on the map
Restroom
2.3 mi away in a straight lineNot rated yet — be the first to tell other anglers if it's clean.
We don't know yet: is it clean? · flush or vault? · free? · open to everyone? · step-free? — tell other anglers: show the questions
- Is it clean?
- Flush or vault?
- Free?
- Open to everyone?
- Step-free?
Mapped on OpenStreetMap · see or fix it on the map
Restroom
2.7 mi away in a straight line- Wheelchair accessible (mapped)
Not rated yet — be the first to tell other anglers if it's clean.
We don't know yet: is it clean? · flush or vault? · free? · open to everyone? — tell other anglers: show the questions
- Is it clean?
- Flush or vault?
- Free?
- Open to everyone?
Mapped on OpenStreetMap · see or fix it on the map
Restroom
2.9 mi away in a straight line- Wheelchair accessible (mapped)
Not rated yet — be the first to tell other anglers if it's clean.
We don't know yet: is it clean? · flush or vault? · free? · open to everyone? — tell other anglers: show the questions
- Is it clean?
- Flush or vault?
- Free?
- Open to everyone?
Mapped on OpenStreetMap · see or fix it on the map
Restroom
3.4 mi away in a straight line- Public (mapped)
Not rated yet — be the first to tell other anglers if it's clean.
We don't know yet: is it clean? · flush or vault? · free? · step-free? — tell other anglers: show the questions
- Is it clean?
- Flush or vault?
- Free?
- Step-free?
Mapped on OpenStreetMap · see or fix it on the map
Restroom
3.7 mi away in a straight line- Portable toilet (mapped)
- Not wheelchair accessible (mapped)
Not rated yet — be the first to tell other anglers if it's clean.
We don't know yet: is it clean? · free? · open to everyone? — tell other anglers: show the questions
- Is it clean?
- Free?
- Open to everyone?
Mapped on OpenStreetMap · see or fix it on the map
Restroom locations and map details: © OpenStreetMap contributors, Open Database License, read Oct 24, 2026. Ratings, answers and photos are members' own; who shared them is never shown, and every photo is reviewed before it appears. Visits older than 18 months no longer count. Distances are straight-line miles, not driving. Nothing here grants access to private land. Community guidelines.
Base yourself nearby
About this
Manteo, Nags Head and Kill Devil Hills have most of the places to stay; Rodanthe and the Hatteras Island villages are smaller. We do not list or price properties. The search opens an outside site.
Nearest airports
About this
Distances are straight-line from the town centre, computed from OurAirports open data; distances by road are longer. Fares are never estimated here.
- ORF Norfolk International AirportNorfolk, VA · 74 mi · major hubSearch flights
- EWN Coastal Carolina Regional AirportNew Bern, NC · 96 mi · regionalSearch flights
- PHF Newport News Williamsburg International AirportNewport News, VA · 96 mi · regionalSearch flights
Rough out the trip
About this
Set nights, anglers and guided days. Each line says where its figure comes from, and anything we cannot source honestly (guide rates, fares, license fees not read from the agency page) stays a link rather than a number.
Estimates, not quotes
- Fishing licenseSee sourceAgency page
Source
One per angler (2 anglers). Fees are set by North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission; see the agency page.
Source: North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission - Guided days38 rates pagesFingeance Sportfishing ChartersFowl HookedC-Legs SportfishingHog Wild Charters
Source
1 guided day for 2 anglers. We do not copy guide rates: 38 guides near here publish a rates page on their own website.
Source: Guide websites (rates pages linked, never copied) - Find lodgingSee sourceSearch lodging
Source
Search places to stay near the destination. We do not list or price properties.
Source: Lodging search link - FlightsSee sourceSearch flights
Source
Fares are not estimated here. Search flights to ORF (Norfolk International Airport).
Source: Flight search link (no fares quoted)
No priced itemsUse the links for real figures.
How we estimate
Estimates, not quotes. Nothing here is a price from a guide, a property or an airline; confirm every cost with the provider before you book. No placeholder lodging range is configured for this region, and licenses, guided days and flights are never priced here.
Parks, forests and visitor offices
About this
For the non-fishing days, or the people traveling with you. Official sources only; what to do there is for their pages to say.
Gear checklist
About this
A saltwater flats fly-fishing checklist: a 9 ft 8 weight rod, sealed-drag reel, tropical line, fluorocarbon leaders and shrimp/crab flies, plus sun protection and flats booties, with estimated prices and where to buy.
Watch: flats fishing basics
About this
Sight casting, the strip set and sun on the water.
Public YouTube videos from established channels, chosen by us to support this page. Not sponsored; the creators are not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear.
FLY FISHING FOR REDFISH BASICS 101 INTRODUCTION FOR BEGINNERSEmbedded from YouTube · Huge Fly Fisherman · not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear. Watch on YouTube How To Set Up For A Bonefish TripEmbedded from YouTube · The New Fly Fisher · not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear. Watch on YouTube
Not sponsored All videos on saltwater flats
Stories from North Carolina
About this
Trip stories anglers chose to share publicly, tagged with a water in North Carolina.
No North Carolina stories yet.
Sources for this page
All 8 sources
Guide and shop listings come from the Legendary directories (open map records checked against each business’s own website). Everything else links to the publisher below; this page copies none of their text. A destination hub organises discovery; it does not assert public access, current fish presence, guide availability or fishing conditions.
- North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission: fishing licensesNorth Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
- North Carolina recreational size and bag limits (coastal waters)North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries
- Pea Island National Wildlife RefugeU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
- Cape Hatteras National SeashoreNational Park Service
- Alligator River National Wildlife RefugeU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
- Outer Banks Visitors BureauOuter Banks Visitors Bureau (Dare County tourism office)
- OurAirports open data (airport locations)OurAirports, public domain
- Overture Maps places (guide and shop map records)Overture Maps Foundation, CDLA-Permissive 2.0
Links checked 24 Oct 2026. Not a claim of access or conditions.