North Carolina

Fishing in North Carolina

Fishing in North Carolina is like wandering in the heaven of fishing with all the pleasure of saltwater and freshwater fishing. North Carolina’s fishing piers are some of the world’s best fishing piers. So also the rivers, streams, lakes, ponds and reservoirs present world-class freshwater fishing.

Saltwater Fishing Destinations

Northern NC Fishing Piers:

Avlaon Fishing Pier – It is set in the heart of Kill Devil Hills. It is closed during winter, but in season, it is well-lit so that you can enjoy fishing any time.

Nags Head Fishing Pier – It is one of the Outer Bank’s most popular piers. It is opened from spring to fall and offers fantastic night fishing because of good lighting.

Jannet’s Fishing Pier – It is the oldest of the Outer Banks. It was destroyed by the Hurricane Isabel and is being reconstructed so as to face the hurricane.

Outer Banks Fishing Pier – It is open for you for 24 hours. It is renowned for its family-friendly climate and it has a good grill too.

Hatteras Island Fishing Piers:

Hatteras Island Fishing Pier – It is an excellent stop for the Outer Banks traveler. It is open from April to December, and if weather allows, on the off-season weekends too.

Avon Fishing Pier – This pier offers some of the world’s best red drum fishing. The World-All-Tackle Record for red drum of weight 94 pounds and 2 ounce, was caught about 200 yards from the pier in 1984. The pier is closed during winter.

Cape Hatteras Fishing Pier – It is known more as Frisco Pier, and offers a wonderful access to Hatteras’ south beach known for its world-class fishing. It is a popular destination for king mackerel and is open from late March to December.

Crystal Coast Fishing Piers:

Bogue Inlet Pier – It is the last of the Emerald Isle. It is well-lit for night fishing.

Oceana Fishing Pier – It is ideal for families, as it has playground for kids. Fishing is free for the guests of the motel here in the off-season.

Topsail Island Piers:

Surf City Pier – It is a wonderful pier for king fishermen.

Jolly Roger Fishing Pier – It is open from March to November.

Seaview Pier – It is best for its king mackerel fishing and is open from March to November.

Northern Cape Fear Area Fishing Piers:

Johnnie Mercer’s Pier – It is a family owned pier and fishing is $8 per rod. It is a very strong pier.

Carolina Beach Fishing Pier – This is also a family-owned pier.

Kure Beach Pier – It is one of the oldest of NC. Alcohol consumption is not allowed at this pier.

Southern Caper Fear Area Fishing Piers:

Ocean Crest Pier – This is an ideal for a pier as one should be and was chosen to be the best in 2005 by Fisherman’s Post. It is great for king mackerel fishing.

Yaupon Pier – This is tallest pier of NC. It also holds the proud record of a catch weighing more than any other pier in the state, i.e. 1150 pound state record tiger shark.

Holden Beach Pier – This is again an ideal destination for families. Alcohol consumption is prohibited.

Ocean Isle Beach Pier – It has very friendly people and many facilities, so it is a wonderful pier.

Sunset Beach Fishing Pier – This is also great for king fishermen. It is ideal too for aged and disabled anglers.

You should visit at least some of these piers, as they make the saltwater fishing in North Carolina as exciting as ever.

Freshwater Fishing Destinations

Eastern NC

Currituck Sound – The sound is situated in the extreme north of the state is renowned for its ‘brackish’ water fishing. It was one of the America’s prime largemouth bass fishing, but now is suffering a drastic drop in the freshwater fishing due to increased salinity of the water. The best fishing season is April to October. Weedless lures are must. Fly rod fishermen get good success here with large popping bugs.

Lakes – Lakes of Phelps, Mattamuskeet, Sutton, and Waccamaw offer great fishing of yellow and white perch, assorted sunfish, largemouth bass, striped bass, crappie, redear sunfish, pumpkinseed, bluegill and white catfish.

Rivers – Rivers Chowan, Roanoke, Tar and upper Pamlico, Lumber, Waccamaw, Neuse, Northeast Cape Fear, Cape Fear, and South and Black offer some of the finest freshwater fisheries in the state. The fishes found are largemouth bass, sunfish, bream, black crappie, striped bass, channel catfish, bullheads, and so on. As blueback herring and alewife are abundant in most of the waters, they work as excellent bait.

Trout Fee-Fishing Ponds in Western North Carolina

The ‘fee-fishing ponds’ or ‘catch-out ponds’ are designed specially for those trout enthusiasts for whom trout fishing in rugged mountains is practically impossible, e.g., elderly, disabled and families with children. These ponds provide easy access to trout and guarantee the anglers to get some or the other catch. Most of these require the anglers to keep and pay for the fish they catch and the cost range from $2.50 to $3.50 per pound.

You must have noticed that fishing in North Carolina is certainly a wonderful and satisfying experience with its wide range of choices. List the state as your favorite and pay it a visit at the earliest!