Fishing in North Carolina
Guide to great fishing in the Tar Heel State
Choose a lake and one or more species, to enjoy the fishing waters in North Carolina.
North Carolina offers anglers a fantastic fishing experience with its variety of fish species and diverse fishing environments. From warm water lakes to cold water rivers, ponds, and lakes, the state provides ample opportunities for all types of fishing enthusiasts. The purpose of this page is to share basic information about the best fishing lakes in the state, plus the species found in each lake.
In the warm water lakes of North Carolina, anglers can target popular species such as largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie, catfish, and sunfish. Lakes like Jordan Lake, Lake Norman, and High Rock Lake are known for their abundant populations of these warm water species. These lakes provide excellent fishing conditions with their vegetation, structure, and favorable water temperatures.
For those seeking the thrill of cold water fishing, North Carolina's rivers and mountain streams offer opportunities to catch trout, including species like rainbow trout, brown trout, and brook trout. The scenic mountain rivers like the Watauga River, Tuckasegee River, and Davidson River are popular destinations for trout fishing enthusiasts. Additionally, cold water lakes such as Fontana Lake and Lake Glenville provide opportunities for anglers to target trout and smallmouth bass.
North Carolina is also home to numerous ponds and smaller lakes that offer a wide range of fishing experiences. These smaller bodies of water are often stocked with a variety of fish species, including bass, trout, and panfish. They provide a more intimate fishing experience and are ideal for anglers looking to escape the crowds and enjoy peaceful surroundings.
In addition to the variety of fish species and fishing environments, North Carolina provides excellent boating and camping opportunities. Many of the state's fishing locations offer boat ramps, marinas, and rental services for anglers to explore the waters by boat. Camping facilities are also available near many fishing spots, allowing anglers to extend their fishing trips and immerse themselves in nature.
Whether you prefer the excitement of warm water bass fishing, the tranquility of fly fishing in a mountain stream, or the relaxation of fishing in a quiet pond, North Carolina's fishing scene has something for everyone. With its diverse fish species, picturesque landscapes, and abundant fishing opportunities, North Carolina is a haven for anglers of all skill levels and interests.
The state of North Carolina offers a wide variety of fishing opportunities. Here, you can fish for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, redeye bass, channel catfish, flathead catfish, blue catfish, white catfish, black crappie, white crappie, walleye, rainbow trout, brook trout, brown trout, bluegill, flier sunfish, green sunfish, pumpkinseed sunfish, redbreast sunfish, redear sunfish, warmouth, white bass, white perch, yellow perch, kokanee salmon, stripers, steelhead, bowfin, chain pickerel, longnose gar, muskie, northern pike, sauger and tiger muskie in local lakes, rivers, ponds and/or streams. Visit each NC lake page for details on species within that lake. Many of these lakes offer fishing boats for rent.
Major North Carolina Lakes & Species
Lake & Fish Chart
This chart shows the major angling destinations, cross referencing these waters with the major species to be found in each of the lakes or impoundments.
For a detailed list of primary fish species in NC, plus state fish records, see the list below.
Fishing lake sizes and locations in the state.
Apalachia Lake is an 1,100-acre lake in the south-west corner of the state, 5 miles west of Murphy.
Badin Lake is a 5,000-acre lake in the central part of the state, at New London, NC.
Belews Lake is a 3,860-acre lake, located in the northwest part of the state, at Pine Hall, NC.
Blewett Falls Lake is a 2,560-acre lake in the south-central part of the state, at Rockingham, NC.
Buckhorn Reservoir is a 2,000-acre lake in the east-central part of the state, 10 miles north of Kenly.
Chatuge Lake is a 7,480-acre lake in the southwest corner of the state, at Hayesville, NC.
Cheoah Lake is a 640-acre lake on the western border of the state, at Tapaco.
Falls Lake is a 12,400-acre lake in the northeast part of the state, on the northeast outskirts of Durham, NC.
Graham-Mebane Lake is a 650-acre lake in the north-central part of the state, 10 miles east of Burlington.
Fontana Lake is a 11,700-acre reservoir located in the western part of the state, at Almond, NC.
Harris Lake is a 4,100-acre reservoir in the northeast part of the state, 5 miles east of Moncure, NC.
High Rock Lake is a 15,180-acre lake in the north-central part of the state, 5 miles south of Lexington , NC.
Hiwassee Lake is a 6,200-acre reservoir in the southwest corner of the state, at Murphy, NC.
Hyco Lake is a 3,750-acre lake in the north-central part of the state, at Semora, NC.
Jordan Lake is a 14,000-acre reservoir in the north-central part of the state, 5 miles west of Cary, NC.
Kernersville Lake is a 60-acre lake in the north-central part of the state, 2 miles north of Kernersville.
Kerr Lake is a 50,000-acre reservoir located on the northern border of the state, at Middleburg, NC.
Kerr Scott Reservoir is a 1,475-acre lake located in the north-central part of the state, at Wilkesboro, NC.
Kings Mountain Reservoir is a 1,500-acre lake in the south-west part of the state, at Shelby.
Lake Benson is a 650-acre lake in the central NC, 8 miles south of Raleigh.
Lake Cammack is a 800 acres-acre lake in the north-central part of the state, 6 miles east of Altamahaw.
Lake Crabtree is a 520-acre lake in the central part of the state, 1 mile northeast of Morrisville.
Lake Gaston is a 20,000-acre reservoir on the northern border of the state, 2 miles north of Littleton, NC.
Lake Glenville is a 1,470-acre lake in the southwest part of the state, 5 miles southwest of Creswell, NC.
Lake Hickory is a 4,200-acre lake located in the north-central part of the state, at Hickory, NC.
Lake Higgins is a 220-acre lake in the north-central part of the state, 3 miles south of Summerfield.
Lake James is a 6,800-acre reservoir in the north-central part of the state, at Nebo, NC.
Lake Mackintosh is a 1,150-acre lake in the north-central part of the state, 2 miles south of Whitsett.
Lake Mattamuskeet is a 40,000-acre reservoir near the eastern edge of the state, at Fairfield, NC.
Lake Nantahala is a 1,600-acre lake in the south eastern section of the state, in the Nantahala National Forest, nearby Aquone, NC.
Lake Norman is a 32,000-acre reservoir in the north-central part of the state, at Mooresville, NC.
Lake Rhodhiss is a 3,000-acre lake in the north-central part of the state, at Rhodhiss, NC.
Lake Sutton is a 1,100-acre lake in the southeast corner of the state, at Wilmington.
Lake Tillery is a 5,200-acre lake located in the central part of the state, at Norwood, NC.
Lake Townsend is a 1,542-acre lake in the north-central part of the state, 10 miles north of Greensboro.
Lake Waccamaw is a 8,900-acre lake in the South-east part of the state, at Lake Waccamaw, NC.
Lake Wheeler is a 650-acre lake in central NC, 3 miles west of Garner.
Lake Wylie is a 13,400-acre reservoir on the southern border of the state, at Belmont, NC.
Mayo Reservoir is a 2,800-acre lake in the north-central part of the state, 5 miles north of Roxboro, NC.
Mountain Island Lake is a 3,200-acre reservoir in the southwest part of the state, 3 miles west of Huntersville, NC.
Moss Lake is a 1,500-acre lake in the southwest part of the state, at Shelby, NC.
Phelps Lake is a 16,600-acre lake in the northeast part of the state, 2 miles south of Creswell, NC.
Randleman Lake is a 3,000-acre reservoir located in the central part of the state, 10 miles south of Greensboro.
Roanoke Rapids Lake is a 4,600-acre lake located in the northeast part of the state, at Roanoke Rapids, NC.
Salem Lake is a 365-acre lake in the north-central part of the state, at Winston-Salem.
Santeetlah Lake is a 2,880-acre lake in the western part of the state, at Santeetlah, NC.
Tar River Reservoir is a 1,800-acre lake in the northeast part of the state, 3 miles northwest of Sharpsburg.
W Kerr Scott Reservoir is a 1,475-acre lake located in the north-central part of the state, at Wilkesboro.
Find locations of boat launch ramps on popular fishing lakes in the state.
Fish Species & State Records in North Carolina
Bass
Largemouth bass
World record: 22 lbs 4 oz
State Record: 15 lbs 14 oz
Smallmouth bass
World record: 11 lbs 15 oz
State Record: 10 lbs 0 oz
Spotted bass
World record: 9 lbs 8 oz
State Record: 6 lbs 5 oz
Redeye bass
World record: 8 lbs 12 oz
State Record: 1 lbs 14 oz
Catfish
Channel catfish
World record: 58 lbs 0 oz
State Record: 40 lbs 8 oz
Flathead catfish
World record: 123 lbs 9 oz
State Record: 78 lbs 14 oz
Blue catfish
World record: 143 lbs 0 oz
State Record: 121 lbs 9 oz
White catfish
World record: 22 lbs 0 oz
State Record: 13 lbs 0 oz
Crappie
Black crappie
World record: 6 lbs 0 oz
State Record: 4 lbs 15 oz
White crappie
World record: 5 lbs 3 oz
State Record: 3 lbs 15 oz
Walleye
Walleye
World record: 25 lbs 0 oz
State Record: 13 lbs 8 oz
Sauger
World record: 17 lbs 7 oz
State Record: 5 lbs 15 oz
Panfish
Bluegill
World record: 4 lbs 12 oz
State Record: 4 lbs 5 oz
Flier sunfish
World record: 1 lbs 4 oz
State Record: 1 lbs 5 oz
Green sunfish
World record: 2.2 lbs
State Record: 1 lbs 14 oz
Pumpkinseed sunfish
World record: 2 lbs 4 oz
State Record: 1 lbs 6 oz
Redbreast sunfish
World record: 2 lbs 0 oz
State Record: 1 lbs 12 oz
Redear sunfish
World record: 5.4 lbs
State Record: 4 lbs 15 oz
Warmouth
World record: 2.4 lbs
State Record: 1 lbs 13 oz
White Bass
World record: 6.8 lbs
State Record: 5 lbs 14 oz
White perch
World record: 4.6 lbs
State Record: 2 lbs 15 oz
Yellow perch
World record: 4 lbs 3 oz
State Record: 2 lbs 9 oz
Trout
Rainbow trout
World record: 42 lbs 2 oz
State Record: 20 lbs 3 oz
Brook trout
World record: 14 lbs 8 oz
State Record: 7 lbs 7 oz
Brown trout
World record: 40 lbs 4 oz
State Record: 24 lbs 10 oz
Salmon
Kokanee salmon
World record: 9 lbs 10 oz
State Record: 4 lbs 1 oz
Striped bass
Stripers
Inland world record: 64 lbs 8 oz
State Record: 66 lbs 0 oz
Hybrid Striper (Wiper)
World record: 27 lbs 5 oz
State Record: 17 lbs 7 oz
Other species
Bowfin
World record: 21 lbs 8 oz
State Record: 17 lbs 15 oz
Chain pickerel
World record: 9 lbs 6 oz
State Record: 8 lbs 0 oz
Longnose gar
World record: 50 lbs 5 oz
State Record: 25 lbs 0 oz
Muskie (Muskellunge)
World record: 69 lbs 9 oz
State Record: 41 lbs 8 oz
Northern pike
World record: 55 lbs 1 oz
State Record: 11 lbs 13 oz
Tiger muskie
World record: 51 lbs 2 oz
State Record: 33 lbs 8 oz
Click the images and links above for species details.
Check out the top marinas on fishing lakes in NC.
Apply for a North Carolina fishing license.
State of NC Fishing Information
Visit the NC Wildlife Resources Commission website for additional information about fishing in North Carolina.
Fishing in all states
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