Cape Lookout Shoals is a prominent and dynamic ocean fishing location off the coast of North Carolina, extending approximately 10 to 19 miles south from Beaufort Inlet into the Atlantic Ocean. This massive shoal system separates Onslow Bay to the west from Raleigh Bay, locally known as the "East Side," to the east. The area is renowned for its prolific predator fish populations, particularly large "old drum," which are drawn by immense schools of forage fish. Fishing here is considered challenging and rewarding, heavily influenced by ocean conditions, with the East Side noted for producing the most consistent action.