Fishing in North Carolina

A cobia is boated off the North Carolina coast.

Although many states claim to have diverse sportfishing opportunities, North Carolina is one of the few that really do. Tourism interests call the Tar Heel State a “Variety Vacationland,” and anglers with eclectic tastes can find that holds true in saltwater, where inshore or offshore this is one of the best places to fish on the Atlantic Seaboard, as well as in freshwater, where mountain stream fishing is complemented by swampland wading.

Inland, the opportunities range from coldwater trout fishing in over a thousand miles of mountain streams to largemouth bass fishing that is virtually within a stone’s throw of the fabled surf fishing at Cape Hatteras. Deep mountain lakes are contrasted by shallow, vegetation-filled marsh lakes. Swift-flowing streams and large impoundments are augmented by slow-moving rivers amid swampy floodplains. Popular freshwater sportfish include brown, rainbow, and brook trout; largemouth, spotted, and smallmouth bass; striped bass and their hybrid cousins; crappies, bluegills, and assorted panfish; walleyes; muskellunge; and spawning-run shad in coastal rivers.

In the marine environment there’s tidewater fishing, surf fishing, inshore fishing, and offshore fishing, each with highly notable components, whether that be big bluefin tuna in the winter off Hatteras, red drum in the surf on the barrier beaches, or striped bass in the rivers.

About 175 miles of barrier beaches known as the Outer Banks encircle the great Currituck, Albemarle, Pamlico, and Core Sounds, where a variety of popular species also include bluefish, spotted seatrout, cobia, flounder, and croaker, plus the occasional tarpon. Oregon, Hatteras, and Ocracoke Inlets are gateways to marlin, tuna, dolphin, king mackerel, albacore, and many other species.

The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Com-mission maintains many excellent launch ramps across the state where there are no fees to launch a boat, and there are many privately maintained ramps throughout the state that provide access for a launching fee.