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Carolina Beach, NC Tide Chart Today & Tomorrow

North Carolina · NOAA station Wilmington Beach (0.8 mi) · updated Nov 12, 2026

Fri, Nov 13: High tide 9:50 AM (4.9 ft) and 10:09 PM (3.4 ft); low tide 3:04 AM (0.7 ft) and 4:20 PM (0.8 ft).

Tide todayHigh 9:50 AM · High 10:09 PMLow 3:04 AM · Low 4:20 PM
Today's range4.2 ft0.7 → 4.9 ft (MLLW)
Waves (buoy)Loading…NDBC 41110
Water temp (buoy)Loading… 
WindLoading…   
Sun6:42 AM – 5:08 PMFirst light 6:15 AM · Last light 5:35 PM

Buoy: NOAA NDBC 41110 (Masonboro Inlet, ILM2, NC (150)), 13 mi away. Buoy readings are recent observations, not a surf forecast. Wind: observed at NOAA CO-OPS station 8658163 (Wrightsville Beach), 13 mi away; forecast from the NOAA National Weather Service (api.weather.gov).

Carolina Beach tides — next 3 days

Shaded = night · heights in feet above MLLW · local time

YesterdayThu, Nov 12
6 AMNoon6 PM2:25a · 0.5′9:09a · 5.1′3:37p · 0.7′9:27p · 3.5′
  • Low 2:25 AM 0.5 ft
  • High 9:09 AM 5.1 ft
  • Low 3:37 PM 0.7 ft
  • High 9:27 PM 3.5 ft

First light 6:14 AMSunrise 6:41 AMSunset 5:09 PMLast light 5:36 PM

TodayFri, Nov 13
6 AMNoon6 PM3:04a · 0.7′9:50a · 4.9′4:20p · 0.8′10:09p · 3.4′
  • Low 3:04 AM 0.7 ft
  • High 9:50 AM 4.9 ft
  • Low 4:20 PM 0.8 ft
  • High 10:09 PM 3.4 ft

First light 6:15 AMSunrise 6:42 AMSunset 5:08 PMLast light 5:35 PM

TomorrowSat, Nov 14
6 AMNoon6 PM3:47a · 0.8′10:34a · 4.7′5:06p · 0.9′10:56p · 3.3′
  • Low 3:47 AM 0.8 ft
  • High 10:34 AM 4.7 ft
  • Low 5:06 PM 0.9 ft
  • High 10:56 PM 3.3 ft

First light 6:16 AMSunrise 6:43 AMSunset 5:08 PMLast light 5:35 PM

SundaySun, Nov 15
6 AMNoon6 PM4:34a · 1.0′11:21a · 4.4′5:53p · 1.0′11:49p · 3.3′
  • Low 4:34 AM 1.0 ft
  • High 11:21 AM 4.4 ft
  • Low 5:53 PM 1.0 ft
  • High 11:49 PM 3.3 ft

First light 6:17 AMSunrise 6:44 AMSunset 5:07 PMLast light 5:34 PM

MondayMon, Nov 16
6 AMNoon6 PM5:28a · 1.1′12:11p · 4.3′6:42p · 1.0′
  • Low 5:28 AM 1.1 ft
  • High 12:11 PM 4.3 ft
  • Low 6:42 PM 1.0 ft

First light 6:18 AMSunrise 6:45 AMSunset 5:07 PMLast light 5:34 PM

Today's tide windows

  • ▲ Rising 3:04 AM → 9:50 AM 0.7 → 4.9 ft
  • ▼ Falling 9:50 AM → 4:20 PM 4.9 → 0.8 ft
  • ▲ Rising 4:20 PM → 10:09 PM 0.8 → 3.4 ft
  • ▼ Falling 10:09 PM → 3:47 AM (next day) 3.4 → 0.8 ft

From NOAA high/low predictions for station 8658559.

This week's tide highlights

Fri, Nov 13 – Thu, Nov 19

Biggest high4.9 ftFri, Nov 13 9:50 AM
Lowest low0.5 ftThu, Nov 19 8:58 PM
Best daylight low0.8 ftFri, Nov 13 4:20 PMtide pools & beachcombing

Plan around it: Best tide for surf fishing · Best tide for surfing

NOAA predictions for station 8658559; daylight = first to last light (civil twilight). Predictions are astronomical and don't include wind, waves, or storm surge. Not for navigation.

Best fishing times today in Carolina Beach

Today is a good fishing day (solunar + tide)

7/10

Waxing crescent · 17% lit · Full moon Tue, Nov 24

Major fishing times

Minor fishing times

Fishing times for the next 7 days
TodayNov 137/10GoodMajor 2:08 am – 4:08 am · 2:33 pm – 4:33 pm
Minor 10:13 am – 11:13 am · 7:55 pm – 8:55 pm
SatNov 147/10GoodMajor 2:57 am – 4:57 am · 3:21 pm – 5:21 pm
Minor 10:54 am – 11:54 am · 8:53 pm – 9:53 pm
SunNov 158/10ExcellentMajor 3:45 am – 5:45 am · 4:08 pm – 6:08 pm
Minor 11:29 am – 12:29 pm · 9:52 pm – 10:52 pm
MonNov 168/10ExcellentMajor 4:30 am – 6:30 am · 4:52 pm – 6:52 pm
Minor 12:01 pm – 1:01 pm · 10:51 pm – 11:51 pm
TueNov 178/10ExcellentMajor 5:14 am – 7:14 am · 5:35 pm – 7:35 pm
Minor 12:29 pm – 1:29 pm · 11:50 pm – 12:50 am
WedNov 187/10GoodMajor 5:57 am – 7:57 am · 6:18 pm – 8:18 pm
Minor 12:55 pm – 1:55 pm
ThuNov 197/10GoodMajor 6:39 am – 8:39 am · 7:01 pm – 9:01 pm
Minor 12:49 am – 1:49 am · 1:21 pm – 2:21 pm
How this rating works

Solunar theory says fish feed more when the moon is overhead or underfoot (major periods, about 2 hours) and around moonrise and moonset (minor periods, about 1 hour). We score each day from 1 to 10 by checking when those periods happen, using the NOAA tide predictions for station 8658559 and the sun times for this spot:

Baseevery day starts at 11
Sunrise / sunseta period overlaps sunrise or sunset ±1 h: major +2, minor +1 (max 3) (Moon overhead × sunset +2)2
Tidea NOAA high or low falls inside a period (tide change): major +2, minor +1; moving water during a major period (no high/low within 1 h of it) +1 (max 4) (Moon underfoot – tide change +2; Moon overhead – tide change +2)4
Moon phasewithin 2 days of a new or full moon +2, within 4 days +1 (today: 4.4 days)0
Today7, rounded7/10

1–3 poor · 4–5 fair · 6–7 good · 8–10 excellent. Solunar times are a rule of thumb, not a guarantee: weather, water temperature and bait matter a lot. Tide changes and moving water are specific to this station, so nearby spots can score differently.

Solunar periods calculated for 34.04, -77.90 (moon times from astronomical equations, local time). Not a fishing forecast.

Carolina Beach tide table & sun times — next 7 days

Thu, Nov 12Sun 6:41 AM – 5:09 PMLow 2:25 AM
0.54 ft		High 9:09 AM
5.10 ft		Low 3:37 PM
0.67 ft		High 9:27 PM
3.51 ft
Fri, Nov 13Sun 6:42 AM – 5:08 PMLow 3:04 AM
0.68 ft		High 9:50 AM
4.88 ft		Low 4:20 PM
0.82 ft		High 10:09 PM
3.38 ft
Sat, Nov 14Sun 6:43 AM – 5:08 PMLow 3:47 AM
0.82 ft		High 10:34 AM
4.65 ft		Low 5:06 PM
0.94 ft		High 10:56 PM
3.29 ft
Sun, Nov 15Sun 6:44 AM – 5:07 PMLow 4:34 AM
0.95 ft		High 11:21 AM
4.44 ft		Low 5:53 PM
1.00 ft		High 11:49 PM
3.28 ft
Mon, Nov 16Sun 6:45 AM – 5:07 PMLow 5:28 AM
1.06 ft		High 12:11 PM
4.26 ft		Low 6:42 PM
1.00 ft
Tue, Nov 17Sun 6:46 AM – 5:06 PMHigh 12:46 AM
3.38 ft		Low 6:29 AM
1.10 ft		High 1:05 PM
4.14 ft		Low 7:29 PM
0.91 ft
Wed, Nov 18Sun 6:47 AM – 5:05 PMHigh 1:44 AM
3.62 ft		Low 7:34 AM
1.05 ft		High 1:58 PM
4.06 ft		Low 8:14 PM
0.75 ft
Thu, Nov 19Sun 6:48 AM – 5:05 PMHigh 2:39 AM
3.98 ft		Low 8:38 AM
0.89 ft		High 2:51 PM
4.03 ft		Low 8:58 PM
0.54 ft
Fri, Nov 20Sun 6:49 AM – 5:05 PMHigh 3:30 AM
4.43 ft		Low 9:38 AM
0.66 ft		High 3:43 PM
4.04 ft		Low 9:41 PM
0.29 ft

Tide times and heights (ft, MLLW) are NOAA predictions for station 8658559; first light (civil dawn), sunrise, sunset and last light (civil dusk) are calculated for Carolina Beach with the NOAA solar equations. Times are local.

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About the tide at Carolina Beach

Carolina Beach has a semidiurnal tide: two high tides and two low tides of similar height each day. The average rise or fall between high and low tide is 4.2 ft, growing to about 5.8 ft at spring tides (around new and full moon) and shrinking to about 3.7 ft at neap tides (around the quarter moons). The highest tide predicted in the next 12 months is 6.3 ft on November 25, 2026 at 7:33 AM; the lowest is -1.2 ft on January 23, 2027 at 1:18 AM, and 259 low tides in that period drop below zero (MLLW).

Tide type
Semidiurnal
Mean range
4.2 ft
Spring / neap range
5.8 ft / 3.7 ft
Average higher high
4.8 ft
Average lower low
0.0 ft
Highest tide, next 12 months
6.3 ft · Nov 25, 2026
Lowest tide, next 12 months
-1.2 ft · Jan 23, 2027
Negative low tides (12 months)
259

Computed from 12 months of NOAA high/low predictions for station 8658559 (Wilmington Beach); heights in feet above MLLW.

Plan your trip to Carolina Beach

Book around Carolina Beach

StaysHotels & beach rentals in Carolina BeachCarolina Beach, NCCompare stays on Stay22 →ToursKayak, boat & sightseeing toursAround WilmingtonSee tours on GetYourGuide →FishingFishing charters & boat tripsAround WilmingtonSee trips on Viator →Surf lessonSurf schools & lessonsUS & CaribbeanFind a lesson on BookSurfCamps →

Tours nearby on Viator

Top-rated trips on the water in and around Carolina Beach: photos, prices and reviews from Viator

FishingPrivate Boat Charter for Masonboro Island and Wrightsville BeachAround Masonboro★ 5.0 (9) · 5 h · from $1,225See on Viator →SnorkelCarolina Beach Dive Bar and History TourCarolina Beach★ 5.0 (9) · 2 h · from $30See on Viator →CruiseCarolina Beach Shared Soundside Scenic CruiseCarolina Beach1.5 h · from $58See on Viator →FishingWrightsville Beach Day Sail Private Catamaran CharterAround Wrightsville Beach4 h · from $1,200See on Viator →FishingSailing Charters in WilmingtonAround Wilmington★ 5.0 (214) · 2 h · from $89See on Viator →CruiseSunset Harbor Cruise TourAround Wilmington★ 4.9 (185) · 1.5 h · from $50See on Viator →

Prices are “from” per person (or per group/boat where the trip says so) and can change; check the date you want on Viator.

Popular tours around Wilmington

Live from GetYourGuide: photos, prices and ratings

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Surf camps & trips

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Photos via Wikimedia Commons, cropped: Ken Thomas (Public domain) · Fred Hsu on en.wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Florida Memory (Public domain) · Rod Allday (CC BY-SA 2.0) · Bernal Saborio from Costa Rica (CC BY-SA 2.0) · Armando Olivo Martín del Campo (CC BY-SA 4.0). Photos show the area or activity, not a specific listing.

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About Carolina Beach

Carolina Beach is a town in New Hanover County, North Carolina, on Pleasure Island, south of Wilmington.

Tide station used
Wilmington Beach, NC (NOAA 8658559, subordinate station (time and height offsets from a reference station))
Distance to station
0.8 miles
County
New Hanover County
Coordinates
34.0419, -77.8998 (US Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer internal point (Carolina Beach town, GEOID 3710500))
Time zone
America/New_York

NOAA's Wilmington Beach station, on the oceanfront just south of town, was chosen over a reference station on the Cape Fear River.

FAQ

When is high tide today in Carolina Beach, NC?

On Fri, Nov 13, predicted high tide for Carolina Beach (NOAA station Wilmington Beach) is at 9:50 AM (4.9 ft), 10:09 PM (3.4 ft) local time.

When is low tide today in Carolina Beach, NC?

On Fri, Nov 13, predicted low tide for Carolina Beach is at 3:04 AM (0.7 ft), 4:20 PM (0.8 ft) local time.

When are high and low tide tomorrow in Carolina Beach, NC?

On Sat, Nov 14, predicted high tides are at 10:34 AM (4.7 ft) and 10:56 PM (3.3 ft) for Carolina Beach; low tides are at 3:47 AM (0.8 ft) and 5:06 PM (0.9 ft) (local time).

Which tide station is used for Carolina Beach?

NOAA CO-OPS station 8658559 (Wilmington Beach, NC), a subordinate station (time and height offsets from a reference station), about 0.8 miles from the Carolina Beach reference point. Heights are in feet above Mean Lower Low Water (MLLW).

What time is sunrise and sunset in Carolina Beach today?

On Fri, Nov 13, first light (civil dawn) is about 6:15 AM, sunrise 6:42 AM, sunset 5:08 PM and last light (civil dusk) 5:35 PM local time (calculated).

Other beaches & towns nearby

Tide stations near Carolina Beach