TidalMapShell Point, Harkers Island Tide Times
Shell Point, Harkers Island runs a mean tidal range of about 1.5 ft. This month the highest water, 2.2 ft, comes on the morning of Sep 29, and the lowest, a -0.1 ft minus tide, on the afternoon of Sep 10.
Tide predictions here are from the nearest NOAA gauge, Harkers Island Bridge (station 8656503, 5.5 km); NOAA publishes no separate water-level prediction for Shell Point, Harkers Island (it has a tidal-current station only), and the tide is effectively the same at this distance.
| High tide | 1:17 AM | 1.5 ft |
| Low tide | 7:37 AM | 0.3 ft |
| High tide | 1:49 PM | 1.8 ft |
| Low tide | 8:43 PM | 0.5 ft |
Monthly tide calendar
🌊 Biggest flood tides at Shell Point, Harkers Island this month: Sep 7, Sep 8, Sep 9, Sep 10, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30. These spring highs push water up into the grass and over the oyster rock; prime for poling into flooded marsh for tailing reds.
🔻 Negative (minus) low tides at Shell Point, Harkers Island this month: Sep 9, Sep 10, Sep 11, Sep 12. These drain the flats and expose the oyster rock, prime for sight-fishing and clamming.
About Shell Point
Shell Point sits at the eastern tip of Harkers Island, where Core Sound meets Back Sound. On land it's home to the Core Sound Waterfowl Museum & Heritage Center, the Cape Lookout National Seashore National Park Service headquarters, and a network of easy walking trails. The Shark Island Eats food truck is there when you've earned lunch. A passenger ferry to Cape Lookout runs from the NPS headquarters, so you can check the lighthouse and the bight without trailering a boat.
The public launch at Shell Point is for canoes and kayaks. Paddlers can work the grass edges of Back Sound or cross toward the Shackleford side on calm days. Trailer boats should launch elsewhere on the island.
The small beach at Shell Point is also a popular spot for windsurfing and sailing, and it marks the start of the Harkers Island Regatta, an annual event held in mid-July.
Fishing Shell Point
Shore fishing from Shell Point is often best on the outgoing tide, when bait flushes off the flats and down the point. The point itself is mostly armored in rip rap; there is a small beach, but watch for broken glass that tends to collect there. Use the tide tables above to time the fall; the ebb here tracks the Harkers Island Bridge gauge within minutes.
Best fishing times (solunar)
Major and minor solunar windows for Shell Point, Harkers Island, peak feeding activity is around the moon overhead/underfoot (majors) and moonrise/moonset (minors). Score is the day's activity coefficient (0–100).
| Day | Major windows | Minor windows | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Today 🌒 | 4:22–6:22 PM 4:47–6:47 AM | 11:28–1:28 PM 9:12–11:12 PM | 69 |
| Thu Sep 17 🌒 | 5:12–7:12 PM 5:37–7:37 AM | 12:26–2:26 PM 9:56–11:56 PM | 56 |
| Fri Sep 18 🌓 | 6:03–8:03 PM 6:28–8:28 AM | 1:19–3:19 PM 10:47–12:47 AM | 43 |
| Sat Sep 19 🌓 | 6:53–8:53 PM 7:18–9:18 AM | 2:07–4:07 PM — | 41 |
| Sun Sep 20 🌓 | 7:43–9:43 PM 8:08–10:08 AM | 2:49–4:49 PM 11:42–1:42 AM | 54 |
| Mon Sep 21 🌓 | 8:30–10:30 PM 8:55–10:55 AM | 3:25–5:25 PM 12:40–2:40 AM | 67 |
| Tue Sep 22 🌔 | 9:16–11:16 PM 9:41–11:41 AM | 3:57–5:57 PM 1:40–3:40 AM | 77 |
Predictions & observations: NOAA CO-OPS station 8656503. Solunar windows computed from the moon's position for this location. Times shown in the station's local time. Not for navigation.
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