Fishing in
North Carolina
12,962 named waters · 0 stocked in the last 30 days
North Carolina's Outer Banks produce excellent red drum and striped bass fishing from the surf and by boat, while the mountains in the western part of the state hold wild and stocked trout streams in the Pisgah and Nantahala national forests. Piedmont reservoirs like Lake Norman and High Rock Lake add striped bass and largemouth bass fishing in between.
North Carolina holds 12,962 fishable waters on the books. NCWRC has logged 222 stockings in the last year, led by trout. The biggest water in the state is Lake Norman at 30,798 acres.
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Scheduled ahead
Oct 15, 2026 — Hanging Rock Park Lake · Trout
Oct 15, 2026 — Ararat River · Trout
Oct 15, 2026 — Big Horse Creek · Trout
Oct 15, 2026 — South Fork New River · Trout
Oct 15, 2026 — Helton Creek · Trout
Oct 15, 2026 — Mitchell River · Trout
Published schedule — agencies adjust for weather and water.
What you'll catch here
- Trout98 waters
Freshest stockings
Full report →- South Toe RiverTroutJun 15, 2026
- Armstrong CreekTroutJun 15, 2026
- Linville RiverTroutJun 15, 2026
- North Toe RiverTroutJun 15, 2026
- Linville RiverTroutJun 15, 2026
Most-stocked waters, last 12 months
- Linville River6× stocked
- Big Laurel Creek5× stocked
- Nantahala River5× stocked
- North Toe River4× stocked
- Green River4× stocked
- Big Horse Creek3× stocked
- Old Catawba River3× stocked
- Davidson River3× stocked
- Jeffers Lake3× stocked
- Big Pine Creek3× stocked
Biggest waters
- Lake Norman30,798 ac
- Lake Mattamuskeet26,110 ac
- Lake Gaston18,987 ac
- Phelps Lake15,941 ac
- B. Everett Jordan Lake13,119 ac
- Brinkley Lake11,984 ac
- Lake Wylie9,566 ac
- Fontana Lake9,478 ac
Major rivers
- Roanoke Riverorder 8 · ~10,916 cfs
- Cape Fear Riverorder 8 · ~10,339 cfs
- Neuse Riverorder 8 · ~6,277 cfs
- Chowan Riverorder 8 · ~5,304 cfs
- Brunswick Riverorder 8 · ~47 cfs
- Turkey Quarter Creekorder 8 · ~9 cfs
- Middle Riverorder 8 · ~4 cfs
- Pinetree Creekorder 8 · ~3 cfs
Waters by county
All counties →Swain (447) · Carteret (367) · Macon (361) · Brunswick (358) · Cherokee (330) · Transylvania (325) · Haywood (323) · Buncombe (297) · Madison (290) · Jackson (276) · Columbus (276) · Graham (275) · Bladen (270) · Beaufort (245) · Pamlico (236) · Wake (228) · Robeson (227) · McDowell (217) · Henderson (213) · Hyde (196) · Clay (187) · Yancey (183) · Pender (170) · Caldwell (168) · Wilkes (157) · Montgomery (157) · Forsyth (151) · Onslow (150) · Watauga (148) · Dare (146)
Seasons, limits, and rules are North Carolina's call — read the official regulations and buy your license from the state, not a middleman. We link the source; we never restate the rules.
Explore nearby states
North Carolina fishing — FAQ
Where does North Carolina stock fish?+
NCWRC logged 222 stockings across North Carolina in the last year, led by trout. Browse the map and most-stocked waters above for exact locations.
How often does North Carolina stock fish?+
North Carolina's agency publishes stocking updates that we check daily. Follow any water to track its stocking schedule.
Do I need a license to fish in North Carolina?+
Yes — North Carolina requires a fishing license for most anglers. Buy one from the state agency and check current seasons and limits before you go.
How many fishable waters are in North Carolina?+
North Carolina has 12,962 named fishable waters mapped on FishableWaters, from stocked reservoirs to wild streams.