Cape Fear River at Wilm O Huske Lock near Tarheel
River flow & level · USGS gauge 02105500 · North Carolina · drains 4,852 sq mi
Latest reading Oct 26, 6:00 PM · streamflow
The Cape Fear River at Wilm O Huske Lock near Tarheel is running 702 cfs, 58% of the median flow for October 26 (1,220 cfs, 45 years). Gage height is 1.13 ft, 40.9 ft below flood stage (42.0 ft). Flow is down 3% from 24 hours ago.
Streamflow
cubic feet per secondReadingNormal range for the date (25th–75th pct.)Median for the date
Gage height & flood stages
ft above gauge datumAction (41.0 ft) is 39.9 ft above the latest reading, off this chartMinor (42.0 ft) is 40.9 ft above the latest reading, off this chartModerate (55.0 ft) is 53.9 ft above the latest reading, off this chartMajor (65.0 ft) is 63.9 ft above the latest reading, off this chart
Action (41.0 ft) is 39.9 ft above the latest reading, off this chartMinor (42.0 ft) is 40.9 ft above the latest reading, off this chartModerate (55.0 ft) is 53.9 ft above the latest reading, off this chartMajor (65.0 ft) is 63.9 ft above the latest reading, off this chart
Action (41.0 ft) is 39.9 ft above the latest reading, off this chartMinor (42.0 ft) is 40.9 ft above the latest reading, off this chartModerate (55.0 ft) is 53.9 ft above the latest reading, off this chartMajor (65.0 ft) is 63.9 ft above the latest reading, off this chart
ReadingNormal range for the date (25th–75th pct.)Median for the date
Cape Fear River at Wilm O Huske Lock near Tarheel fishing report & conditions
updated Oct 26, 6:49 PM ETFlow 58% of normal, flow steady, light NNE wind — good fall fishing day (7/10), best window 7:33 AM–8:33 AM (moonset near sunrise).
Flow 58% of normal, flow steady, light NE wind, pressure steady — good fall fishing day (7/10), best window 6:48 PM–7:48 PM (moonrise near sunset).
- Water temp—no water-temperature sensor on this water yet
- Air temphigh 75°F / low 41°FSunny
- WindLight NNE4–7 mph 6 AM–6 PM, gusts to 14
- Flow58% of normalFlow steady (-3% in 24 h)
Official North Carolina fishing info: NC Wildlife Resources Commission — Where to fish
Best fishing times today
Today is a good fishing day (solunar + local conditions)
7/10
Full moon · 99% lit · New moon Mon, Nov 9 · Sunrise 7:30 AM · Sunset 6:27 PM
Major fishing times
- Moon underfoot12:22 PM–2:22 PM
Minor fishing times
- Moonset7:33 AM–8:33 AMSunrise
- Moonrise6:03 PM–7:03 PMSunset
Fishing times for the next 7 days
| TodayOct 26 | 7/10Good | Major 12:22 PM–2:22 PM Minor 7:33 AM–8:33 AM · 6:03 PM–7:03 PM Light wind 4–7 mph |
|---|---|---|
| TueOct 27 | 6/10Good | Major 12:50 AM–2:50 AM · 1:20 PM–3:20 PM Minor 8:47 AM–9:47 AM · 6:48 PM–7:48 PM Light wind 2–7 mph · pressure steady |
| WedOct 28 | 4/10Fair | Major 1:51 AM–3:51 AM · 2:22 PM–4:22 PM Minor 10:01 AM–11:01 AM · 7:42 PM–8:42 PM Light wind 6–9 mph · pressure steady |
| ThuOct 29 | 5/10Fair | Major 2:55 AM–4:55 AM · 3:27 PM–5:27 PM Minor 11:10 AM–12:10 PM · 8:45 PM–9:45 PM Light wind 6–7 mph |
| FriOct 30 | 4/10Fair | Major 3:59 AM–5:59 AM · 4:31 PM–6:31 PM Minor 12:11 PM–1:11 PM · 9:54 PM–10:54 PM Light wind 4–6 mph |
| SatOct 31 | 5/10Fair | Major 5:01 AM–7:01 AM · 5:31 PM–7:31 PM Minor 1:01 PM–2:01 PM · 11:06 PM–12:06 AM Light wind 4–7 mph |
| SunNov 1 | 5/10Fair | Major 4:59 AM–6:59 AM · 5:26 PM–7:26 PM Minor 12:42 PM–1:42 PM · 11:17 PM–12:17 AM Light wind 5–8 mph |
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). On a lake or river there is no tide, so instead of tide changes we score the local conditions anglers watch: the barometric pressure trend, the wind, whether the river is steady, and the water temperature where it is measured.
| Base | every day starts at 1 | 1 |
|---|---|---|
| Sunrise / sunset | a period overlaps sunrise or sunset ±1 h: major +2, minor +1 (max 3) (Moonset × sunrise +1; Moonrise × sunset +1) | 2 |
| Moon phase | within 2 days of a new or full moon +2, within 4 days +1 (today: 0.5 days) | 2 |
| Local conditions | pressure 6 AM→6 PM: falling +2, steady or slowly rising +1, rising fast 0 · daytime wind 4–15 mph +1, over 20 mph (or gusts over 30) −1 · flow within ±15% in 24 h +1, rising over 25% −1 · water 55–75°F +1, below 45°F or above 85°F −1 (0 to 4 in total)
| 2 |
| Today | 7, rounded | 7/10 |
1–3 poor · 4–5 fair · 6–7 good · 8–10 excellent. Pressure and wind are the NOAA National Weather Service hourly forecast for this spot; the level/flow trend is the latest 24 hours of readings on this page. Days 2–7 score sun, moon, forecast pressure and forecast wind only (level and water temperature aren’t forecast). Solunar times are a rule of thumb, not a guarantee.
Solunar periods calculated for 34.84, -78.82 (moon times from astronomical equations, Cape Fear River at Wilm O Huske Lock near Tarheel local time).
Best fishing times today
Today is a good fishing day (solunar + local conditions)
7/10
Waning gibbous · 97% lit · New moon Mon, Nov 9 · Sunrise 7:31 AM · Sunset 6:26 PM
Major fishing times
- Moon overhead12:50 AM–2:50 AM
- Moon underfoot1:20 PM–3:20 PM
Minor fishing times
- Moonset8:47 AM–9:47 AM
- Moonrise6:48 PM–7:48 PMSunset
Fishing times for the next 7 days
| TodayOct 27 | 7/10Good | Major 12:50 AM–2:50 AM · 1:20 PM–3:20 PM Minor 8:47 AM–9:47 AM · 6:48 PM–7:48 PM Light wind 2–7 mph · pressure steady |
|---|---|---|
| WedOct 28 | 4/10Fair | Major 1:51 AM–3:51 AM · 2:22 PM–4:22 PM Minor 10:01 AM–11:01 AM · 7:42 PM–8:42 PM Light wind 6–9 mph · pressure steady |
| ThuOct 29 | 5/10Fair | Major 2:55 AM–4:55 AM · 3:27 PM–5:27 PM Minor 11:10 AM–12:10 PM · 8:45 PM–9:45 PM Light wind 6–7 mph |
| FriOct 30 | 4/10Fair | Major 3:59 AM–5:59 AM · 4:31 PM–6:31 PM Minor 12:11 PM–1:11 PM · 9:54 PM–10:54 PM Light wind 4–6 mph |
| SatOct 31 | 5/10Fair | Major 5:01 AM–7:01 AM · 5:31 PM–7:31 PM Minor 1:01 PM–2:01 PM · 11:06 PM–12:06 AM Light wind 4–7 mph |
| SunNov 1 | 5/10Fair | Major 4:59 AM–6:59 AM · 5:26 PM–7:26 PM Minor 12:42 PM–1:42 PM · 11:17 PM–12:17 AM Light wind 5–8 mph |
| MonNov 2 | 5/10Fair | Major 5:52 AM–7:52 AM · 6:17 PM–8:17 PM Minor 1:17 PM–2:17 PM Light wind 4–7 mph |
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). On a lake or river there is no tide, so instead of tide changes we score the local conditions anglers watch: the barometric pressure trend, the wind, whether the river is steady, and the water temperature where it is measured.
| Base | every day starts at 1 | 1 |
|---|---|---|
| Sunrise / sunset | a period overlaps sunrise or sunset ±1 h: major +2, minor +1 (max 3) (Moonrise × sunset +1) | 1 |
| Moon phase | within 2 days of a new or full moon +2, within 4 days +1 (today: 1.5 days) | 2 |
| Local conditions | pressure 6 AM→6 PM: falling +2, steady or slowly rising +1, rising fast 0 · daytime wind 4–15 mph +1, over 20 mph (or gusts over 30) −1 · flow within ±15% in 24 h +1, rising over 25% −1 · water 55–75°F +1, below 45°F or above 85°F −1 (0 to 4 in total)
| 3 |
| Today | 7, rounded | 7/10 |
1–3 poor · 4–5 fair · 6–7 good · 8–10 excellent. Pressure and wind are the NOAA National Weather Service hourly forecast for this spot; the level/flow trend is the latest 24 hours of readings on this page. Days 2–7 score sun, moon, forecast pressure and forecast wind only (level and water temperature aren’t forecast). Solunar times are a rule of thumb, not a guarantee.
Solunar periods calculated for 34.84, -78.82 (moon times from astronomical equations, Cape Fear River at Wilm O Huske Lock near Tarheel local time).
Weather & wind at Cape Fear River at Wilm O Huske Lock near Tarheel
air temperature, not water3-day forecast
- Tonight41°Mostly ClearWind N 0 to 3 mphRain 0%
- Tuesday75° / 51°SunnyWind NE 2 to 7 mphRain 0%
- Wednesday76° / 57°Partly SunnyWind NE 6 to 9 mphRain 1%
NOAA National Weather Service forecast for 34.836, -78.824 (grid ILM), issued Oct 26, 6:00 PM local time. High / low are air temperatures; water temperature is in the fishing section above. The “Air temp & weather” tile at the top refreshes live.
Flood stages
NOAA NWS gauge STPN7- Action stage41 ft+39.9 ft from now
- Minor stage42 ft+40.9 ft from now
- Moderate stage55 ft+53.9 ft from now
- Major stage65 ft+63.9 ft from now
- Record crest75.5 ft1945
October 26 in history
45 years of flow records- Today702 cfs
- Same date last year758 cfs2025
- Median1,220 cfs
- Normal range918 cfs – 1,900 cfs25th–75th percentile
- Highest since 198221,900 cfs1991
- Lowest since 1982508 cfs2010
Last 10 days
| Date | Mean flow (cfs) | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Mon Oct 26 (today) | 710 | -1% |
| Sun Oct 25 | 717 | -1% |
| Sat Oct 24 | 724 | -5% |
| Fri Oct 23 | 765 | -2% |
| Thu Oct 22 | 779 | -4% |
| Wed Oct 21 | 814 | -6% |
| Tue Oct 20 | 862 | +1% |
| Mon Oct 19 | 850 | +2% |
| Sun Oct 18 | 833 | +7% |
| Sat Oct 17 | 778 | -16% |
Daily mean of all readings that day; today is the average so far.
Nearby lakes & rivers
- Cape Fear River at Lock 1 near Kelly42 mi · River798 cfs57% of normal
- Harris Lake54 mi · Lake217.20 ft−2.80 ft vs normal full pond
- Pee Dee River near Bennettsville57 mi · River1,640 cfs62% of normal
- Jordan Lake58 mi · Lake · Dam near Moncure212.95 ft−3.05 ft vs normal pool
- Lake Sutton60 mi · Lake9.60 ft−0.90 ft vs normal full pond
- Pee Dee River near Rockingham60 mi · River1,450 cfs38% of normal
About this data
- Gauge
- USGS 02105500 — Cape Fear R At Wilm O Huske Lock Nr Tarheel, Nc
- Location
- 34.8356, -78.8236 · North Carolina
- Drainage area
- 4,852 sq mi
- Measures
- Streamflow (discharge), cubic feet per second
- Daily statistics
- 1982–2025 (approved daily values)
- Latest reading
- Oct 26, 6:00 PM local time (provisional)
- Page built
- Oct 26, 2026 6:49 PM ET
- Flood stages
- NWS gauge STPN7 — National Water Prediction Service
Source: U.S. Geological Survey Water Data for the Nation (USGS monitoring location page). Readings every 15–60 minutes; the newest values are provisional. Percentiles compare today’s reading with every past year’s daily mean for the same calendar date. Weather: NOAA National Weather Service.