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North Carolina › Fishing › Warmwater Game Fish Regulations

Warmwater Game Fish Regulations

State waters are classified as: inland, joint and coastal (see “General Information” on Inland Fishing Regulations). These state waters are collectively referred to as public fishing waters. Certain fishes, including largemouth bass, crappie and mountain trout are designated inland game fish and under the jurisdiction of the Wildlife Resources Commission in all public waters; whereas, other species, including striped bass, white and yellow perch, flounder and red drum, are designated as inland game fish only in inland waters (see list on Inland Fishing Regulations).

* Please note: “In combination” means the total number for all species combined.
Warmwater Game Fish
Location	Size Limit	Daily Creel Limit*
Largemouth Bass
All public waters except those listed below	14-inch minimum, except 2 may be less than 14 inches	5, including only 2 less than 14 inches
In the following waters and their tributaries: Currituck, Roanoke, Croatan, and Albemarle Sounds Roanoke River downstream of Roanoke Rapids Dam Chowan River (including the Meherrin River) Yeopim River Pasquotank River Perquimans River Little River Big Flatty Creek North River Northwest River Scuppernong River Alligator River (including the Alligator/Pungo Canal (Intra- coastal Waterway) east of the N.C. Hwy 264/45 bridge) All other associated tributaries and canals to the waters listed above. Pungo Lake (Washington and Hyde counties) New Lake (Hyde Co.) Lake Raleigh (Wake Co.) Sutton Lake (New Hanover Co.)	14-inch minimum	5
Buckhorn Reservoir (Wilson and Nash counties)	16-inch minimum	5
Cane Creek Lake (Union Co.)	16-inch minimum	5
Lake Mattamuskeet and associated canals (Hyde Co.)	16-inch minimum, and only 1 may be greater than 20 inches	5, including only 1 greater than 20 inches
Lake Thom-A-Lex (Davidson Co.)	18-inch minimum	5
Lake Hampton (Yadkin Co.) Shearon Harris Reservoir (Chatham and Wake counties)	14-inch minimum, except 2 may be less than 14 inches and none between 16–20 inches may be possessed	5, including only 2 less than 14 inches
Lake Phelps	14-inch minimum and none between 16–20 inches may be possessed	5
New River (Alleghany Co. portion downstream of Fields Dam in Grayson Co., Va.)	No minimum size, none between 14–22 inches may be possessed, and only 1 largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, or spotted bass may be greater than 22 inches	5 largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and spotted bass in combination, including only 1 largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, or spotted bass greater than 22 inches
Lake Cammack (Alamance Co.)	No minimum size limit, and only 2 may be greater than 14 inches	10, including only 2 greater than 14 inches
Lake Holt (Granville Co.)		10, including only 2 greater than 14 inches
Lake Santeetlah (Graham Co.)	No minimum size limit, and only 5 largemouth bass and smallmouth bass in combination may be greater than 14 inches	No daily creel limit for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass less than 14 inches, and only 5 largemouth bass and smallmouth bass in combination may be greater than 14 inches
Lake Chatuge (Clay Co.)	12-inch minimum	10 largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, Alabama bass, and spotted bass in combination
Jean Guite Creek and associated canals within the Town of Southern Shores (Dare Co.)	No largemouth bass may be possessed	No largemouth bass may be possessed
Ponds associated with Martin Marietta Park (Craven Co.)	No largemouth bass may be possessed	No largemouth bass may be possessed
Smallmouth Bass
All public waters except those listed below	14-inch minimum, except 2 may be less than 14 inches	5, including only 2 less than 14 inches
New River (Alleghany Co. portion downstream of Fields Dam in Grayson Co., Va.)	No minimum size, none between 14–22 inches may be possessed, and only 1 largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, or spotted bass may be greater than 22 inches	5 largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and spotted bass in combination, including only 1 largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, or spotted bass greater than 22 inches
Lake Santeetlah (Graham Co.)	No minimum size limit, and only 5 largemouth bass and smallmouth bass in combination may be greater than 14 inches	No daily creel limit for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass less than 14 inches, and only 5 largemouth bass and smallmouth bass in combination may be greater than 14 inches
Lake Chatuge (Clay Co.)	No minimum size limit	10 largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, Alabama bass, and spotted bass in combination
Alabama Bass and Spotted Bass
All public waters except those listed below	None	None
New River (Alleghany Co. portion downstream of Fields Dam in Grayson Co., Va.)	No minimum size, none between 14–22 inches may be possessed, and only 1 largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, or spotted bass may be greater than 22 inches	5 largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and spotted bass in combination, including only 1 largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, or spotted bass greater than 22 inches
Lake Chatuge (Clay Co.)	No minimum size limit	10 largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, Alabama bass, and spotted bass in combination
Redeye Bass
All public waters	14-inch minimum, except 2 may be less than 14 inches	5, including only 2 less than 14 inches
Striped bass and Bodie bass (striped bass hybrid)
Inland impoundments and tributaries
Impounded inland waters and their tributaries except those listed below	20-inch minimum	4 in combination
In the following waters: John H. Kerr Reservoir Dan River (Caswell Co.), downstream of Danville, Va.	Oct. 1–May 31: 20-inch minimum June 1–Sept. 30: No minimum size limit	Oct. 1–May 31: 2 in combination June 1–Sept. 30: 4 in combination
Lake Gaston	Oct. 1–May 31: 20-inch minimum June 1–Sept. 30: No minimum size limit	4 in combination
Roanoke Rapids Reservoir		4 in combination
Lake Norman, Hyco Lake, Moss Lake, Mountain Island Reservoir, Oak Hollow Lake, Lake Thom-A-Lex, Lake Townsend, and Salem Lake	16-inch minimum	4 in combination
Lake Chatuge (Clay Co.)	No minimum size limit, and only 2 fish may be greater than 22 inches	15 in combination, including only 2 greater than 22 inches
Coastal Rivers and Impoundments
Roanoke River Striped Bass Management Area including: Roanoke River from Roanoke Rapids Dam downstream to mouth of the river at Albemarle Sound and its tributaries Cashie, Middle and Eastmost rivers and their tributaries	Season - March 1–April 30 (unless closed or extended by proclamation): 18-inch minimum, no fish between 22–27 inches	Season - March 1–April 30 (unless closed or extended by proclamation): Daily creel limit of 1
Albemarle Sound Striped Bass Management Area (including Roanoke Sound, Croatan Sound, Albemarle Sound, Currituck Sound and Chowan, Yeopim, Perquimans, Little, Pasquotank, North, Alligator and Scuppernong rivers and their tributaries)	Established by Division of Marine Fisheries
Central-Southern Striped Bass Management Area, inland waters including: Tar-Pamlico River and tributaries from Rocky Mount Mill Dam downstream to N&S Railroad Bridge at Washington Neuse River and tributaries from Falls Lake Dam downstream to Pitchkettle Creek Pungo River upstream of the US 264 bridge at Leechville Cape Fear River and tributaries from Buckhorn Dam downstream to Lock and Dam #1 All other unlisted inland waters of coastal rivers and tributaries	No striped bass may be possessed.
Central-Southern Striped Bass Management Area, joint waters including: Neuse River and tributaries from Pitchkettle Creek downstream to Southern Railroad Bridge at New Bern Pungo River downstream of the US 264 bridge at Leechville to Smith Creek Cape Fear River from Lock and Dam #1 downstream to the US 17-74-76 bridge at Wilmington All other unlisted joint waters of coastal rivers and tributaries	No striped bass may be possessed.
Central-Southern Striped Bass Management Area, coastal waters including: Tar-Pamlico River downstream of the N & S Railroad Bridge at Washington, including Pamlico Sound and tributaries designated as coastal waters Neuse River downstream of Southern Railroad Bridge at New Bern, including Pamlico Sound and tributaries designated as coastal waters Cape Fear River downstream of the US 17-74-76 bridge at Wilmington Pungo River downstream of Smith Creek All other unlisted coastal waters	Established by Division of Marine Fisheries
In the following waters: Pee Dee River and tributaries downstream of Blewett Falls Dam Lake Mattamuskeet	18-inch minimum	3 in combination
Ponds associated with Martin Marietta Park (Craven Co.)	No striped bass may be possessed.
Sunfish (except species listed below)
All public fishing waters except those listed below	None
In the following waters and their tributaries: Roanoke River downstream of Roanoke Rapids Dam Tar River downstream of Tar River Reservoir Dam Neuse River downstream of Falls Lake Dam Haw River downstream of Jordan Lake Dam Deep River downstream of Lockville Dam Cape Fear River Waccamaw River downstream of Lake Waccamaw Dam Lumber River, including Drowning Creek All public waters east of I-95, except Tar River Reservoir (Nash Co.)	None	30 in combination, including no more than 12 redbreast sunfish
Crappie (black and white)
All public fishing waters except those listed below	None
In the following waters and their tributaries: Tar River downstream of Tar River Reservoir Dam Neuse River downstream of Falls Lake Dam Haw River downstream of Jordan Lake Dam Deep River downstream of Lockville Dam Cape Fear River Waccamaw River downstream of Lake Waccamaw Dam Lumber River, including Drowning Creek Lake Norman All other public waters east of I-95, except Tar River Reservoir (Nash Co.), Sutton Lake (New Hanover Co.) and Roanoke River (see below) Hyco Lake Lake Ramseur Cane Creek Lake (Union Co.) All public waters west of I-77, except Lake Chatuge (Clay Co.) (see below) Lake Hampton (Yadkin Co.)	8-inch minimum	20 in combination
John H. Kerr Reservoir	9-inch minimum	25 in combination
B. Everett Jordan Reservoir	10-inch minimum	20 in combination
Roanoke River (downstream of Roanoke Rapids Dam), Cashie, Middle and Eastmost rivers and their tributaries
Lake Mattamuskeet and associated canals (Hyde Co.)
Buckhorn Reservoir (Wilson and Nash counties)	None	20 in combination
Lake Chatuge (Clay Co.)	None	30 in combination
Rock bass and Roanoke bass
All public fishing waters except those listed below	None
All public waters east of I-77	8-inch minimum	2 in combination
White bass
All inland fishing waters	14-inch minimum	10
White Perch
All inland fishing waters except those listed below	None	None
All public fishing waters in and west of Haywood, Buncombe and Rutherford counties	No live white perch may be possessed, transported or released.
American and hickory shad
All inland fishing waters except those listed below	None	10 in combination, including no more than 1 American shad
Cape Fear River and its tributaries	None	10 in combination, including no more than 5 American shad
Tar-Pamlico River, Pungo River, Pee Dee River, and their tributaries	None	10 in combination
Lake Gaston	No American shad may be possessed
Roanoke Rapids Reservoir
John H. Kerr Reservoir
Spotted sea trout, flounder, and red drum
All inland fishing waters	Same as those recreational limits established by Division of Marine Fisheries in adjacent joint and coastal fishing waters. For current limits, visit portal.ncdenr.org/web/mf/recreational-fishing-size-and-bag-limits or call 252-726-7021 or 800-682-2632.
Walleye
All public fishing waters except those listed below	None	8
Lake James and tributaries	15-inch minimum	8
Linville River upstream from N.C. 126 bridge	None	4
Lake Gaston	18-inch minimum	5
Roanoke Rapids Reservoir
John H. Kerr Reservoir
Muskellunge
All public fishing waters	42-inch minimum	1
Sauger
All public fishing waters	15-inch minimum	8
Kokanee salmon
All public fishing waters	None	4
BLACK BULLHEAD, BROWN BULLHEAD, FLAT BULLHEAD, SNAIL BULLHEAD, WHITE CATFISH, AND YELLOW BULLHEAD
All inland fishing waters	None	10 in combination
All other warmwater game fishes
All public fishing waters	None

Regulations for Mountain Trout

Brook, brown and rainbow trout require cold, clean water and are therefore generally restricted to mountain streams and lakes. Those mountain waters that support trout and are open to public fishing are designated as “Public Mountain Trout Waters” by the Wildlife Resources Commission and are managed for public trout fishing. A significant number of trout fishing opportunities in western North Carolina are located on private property. These landowners have generously allowed public access for fishing. Please respect their property. Your cooperation is needed
to protect fishing opportunities for future generations. The Commission conspicuously marks Public Mountain Trout Waters with regulation signs that indicate locations for public access. When anglers encounter “posted against trespass” signs along these designated sections on private lands, they should respect the property owner’s rights and choose another location along that stream to fish. Maps of trout water and their classifications may be viewed at ncwildlife.org/trout.

Mountain Trout
Location/Season	Size Limit	Daily Creel Limit*	Lures/Bait Restrictions*
HATCHERY SUPPORTED TROUT WATERS
Aug. 1, 2021 – Feb. 28, 2022 7 a.m. April 2, 2022 – July 31, 2022 All Hatchery Supported Trout Waters not listed below	None	7	None
March 1, 2022 – April 1, 2022 No fishing allowed All Hatchery Supported Trout Waters not listed below**	**	**	**
No closed season Linville River and tributaries within Linville Gorge Wilderness Area Power reservoirs and municipal water supply reservoirs	None	7	None
WILD TROUT WATERS
No closed season	7 inches	4	Artificial lures with a single hook.
WILD TROUT NATURAL BAIT WATERS
No closed season	7 inches	4	Artificial lures or natural bait with a single hook. No live fish allowed as bait.
DELAYED HARVEST TROUT WATERS
Oct. 1, 2021 – June 3, 2022 No trout may be possessed No fishing allowed from ½ hour after sunset on June 3, 2022, to 6 a.m. on June 4, 2022	**	**	Artificial lures with a single hook. Natural bait may not be possessed. **
Aug 1, 2021 – Sept. 30, 2021 June 4, 2022 – July 31, 2022 (Note: youth under 18 years old only fishing from 6 a.m. until noon on June 4, 2022)	None	7	None
CATCH AND RELEASE / ARTIFICIAL FLIES and Lures ONLY TROUT WATERS
No closed season **No trout may be possessed	**	**	Artificial flies and lures with a single hook. Natural bait may not be possessed.
SPECIAL REGULATION TROUT WATERS
No closed season Catawba River from Muddy Creek to Morganton water intake dam	14 inches	2	None
Apalachia Reservoir	None but only one trout may be greater than 14 inches	3 including only one trout greater than 14 inches	None
Undesignated TROUT WATERS
No closed season	None	7	None
* See General Mountain Trout Regulations for a definition of artificial lure and natural bait