Single-zone SST guide

Blackfin Tuna water temperature at Onslow Bay & Morehead City Offshore.

  • Thunnus atlanticus
  • Tuna
  • August: good

Typical August SST in Onslow Bay & Morehead City Offshore is 78–84°F. Blackfin Tuna prefer 68–82°F with peak activity in 72–80°F.

SST threshold

Blackfin Tuna threshold gauge.

50°55°60°65°70°75°80°85°90°Peak 72–80°
Outside toleranceSuboptimalGoodPeak·Dashed line = hard threshold

Year-round overlap

Onslow Bay & Morehead City Offshore SST × Blackfin Tuna range.

Where Onslow Bay & Morehead City Offshore typical monthly SST overlaps with blackfin tuna's preferred and optimal ranges, the species is in range.

Best months

April, May, June, July, August, September, October

MonthZone SSTStatus
Jan58–66°FOutside
Feb56–64°FOutside
Mar60–68°FOutside
Apr66–74°FPeak
May70–78°FPeak
Jun74–82°FPeak
Jul78–84°FPeak
Augnow78–84°FPeak
Sep76–82°FPeak
Oct70–78°FPeak
Nov64–72°FFishable
Dec60–68°FOutside

Best months

May, June, September, October

Chunk bait at offshore reefs, rigs, and the Gulf Stream edge. Vertical jigging is highly effective. Sunrise and sunset bites are strongest.

Verify with current SST imagery

These ranges are climatological norms. Actual SST varies year over year — get an SST satellite shot the day before you run.

Live SST imagery for Onslow Bay & Morehead City Offshore.

Bield: Fish overlays current NOAA CoastWatch SST onto your chartplotter view and alerts you when Onslow Bay & Morehead City Offshore hits blackfin tuna's optimal 72–80°F window.

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