Live tide predictions for Frisco, NC on Hatteras Island. Tide times reference the Hatteras NOAA primary gauge with a small local offset. Frisco is where many surf fishermen post up for the south-facing beaches between Buxton and Hatteras Village.
Today’s high and low tide times in Frisco
Right now at Frisco, NC the tide is falling. Next high tide: 6:31 PM today. Next low tide: 12:20 PM today.
| Day | Tide | Time | Height |
|---|---|---|---|
| Today (Thu 10/8) | High tide | 6:08 AM | 3.6 ft |
| Today (Thu 10/8) | Low tide | 12:20 PM | 0.2 ft |
| Today (Thu 10/8) | High tide | 6:31 PM | 3.7 ft |
| Tomorrow (Fri 10/9) | Low tide | 12:41 AM | 0.1 ft |
| Tomorrow (Fri 10/9) | High tide | 6:55 AM | 3.8 ft |
| Tomorrow (Fri 10/9) | Low tide | 1:10 PM | 0.1 ft |
| Tomorrow (Fri 10/9) | High tide | 7:16 PM | 3.6 ft |
High and low tide times for Frisco, NC, today and tomorrow, from NOAA station 8654400 (local time). The interactive chart above shows the full curve.
About tides at Frisco
Frisco sits between Buxton and Hatteras Village on Hatteras Island, where the beach turns south-facing as the island bends west toward Hatteras Inlet. This south-facing exposure means Frisco often gets cleaner surf when northeast winds blow up other OBX beaches. The ocean surf range along Frisco beach is 2.99 ft, from reference station 8654400 (Cape Hatteras Fishing Pier) — the gauge this page charts. The sound-side harbor gauge at Hatteras Village (8654467) shows a mean range of only about 0.5 ft. Ocean high water here arrives close to the Cape Hatteras Fishing Pier times charted above; the sound side at Hatteras Village runs noticeably later.
Reference station
Tide times here are predicted from the Cape Hatteras Fishing Pier (8654400) ocean gauge, just around the cape. Its mean range of 2.99 ft is the ocean figure for Frisco beach; the sound-side gauge at Hatteras Village (8654467) is a separate and much smaller tide. For the interactive tide chart with high/low markers, use the parent station page.
Best tides for surf fishing in Frisco
Frisco is famous among OBX surf fishermen for drum, sheepshead at the rock structures, and king mackerel from the pier. The dropping tide just past high is the classic drum bite window. Cut mullet or sand fleas on a fish-finder rig is the standard setup.
Beach driving and tides in Frisco
Frisco falls under the Cape Hatteras National Seashore ORV permit. Ramps 49 and 55 access this stretch. Time your drive for the falling tide and watch for shorebird closures during nesting season. See our permits guide.
Need a 4x4 for the Frisco and Cape Hatteras ramps? Beach4x4 rents permitted, sand-ready Jeeps and 4WD SUVs equipped for Cape Hatteras National Seashore — ORV permit and recovery gear included.
How to use the Frisco tide chart
The Frisco tide chart shows two high tides and two low tides each day, listed with the predicted time and the height in feet above mean lower low water (MLLW). The ocean range along Frisco beach is 2.99 feet at station 8654400, the gauge charted above. The sound-side gauge at Hatteras Village (8654467) shows only about 0.5 feet, so soundside water barely moves by comparison. Because the south-facing beach here often stays cleaner when northeast winds churn up the rest of the OBX, pairing the tide chart with the wind direction is the key to picking a good window.
For surf fishing, work backward from high tide on the Frisco tide chart: the drop just past high is the classic drum bite window along this stretch. If you are driving the beach via Ramp 49 or Ramp 55, plan your trip around the falling tide so you are on firm, compacted sand rather than the soft dry sand up near the dune line where vehicles bog down.
Frisco tide chart FAQ
What tide station does the Frisco tide chart use?
Frisco has no NOAA gauge of its own. The Frisco tide chart uses station 8654400, the Cape Hatteras Fishing Pier just around the cape, which is the correct ocean reference for Frisco beach.
What is the tidal range at Frisco?
On the ocean beach at Frisco the mean range is 2.99 feet, from NOAA station 8654400 (Cape Hatteras Fishing Pier) — the gauge charted on this page. The sound-side harbor gauge at Hatteras Village (8654467) reports roughly 0.5 feet. Two highs and two lows per day; spring tides run slightly larger, neap tides smaller.
What is the best tide for surf fishing in Frisco?
Most Frisco regulars favor the dropping tide just past high for drum, with sheepshead holding around the rock structures and king mackerel taken from the pier. Always read the Frisco tide chart together with the wind and swell forecast before committing to a spot.