Inland Fishing Regulations AND INFORMATION
WARMWATER GAME FISH (CONT.) SPECIES
SIZE LIMIT
DAILY CREEL LIMIT*
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 10 largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, Alabama bass, and spotted bass in combination 5 largemouth bass or smallmouth bass in combination, including only 1 largemouth bass or smallmouth bass greater than 22 inches No daily creel limit for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass less than 14 inches, and only 5 large- mouth bass and smallmouth bass in combination may be greater than 14 inches
Lake Chatuge (Clay Co.)
No minimum size limit
No minimum size limit, none between 14–22 inches may be possessed, and only 1 largemouth bass or smallmouth bass may be greater than 22 inches No minimum size limit, and only 5 largemouth bass and smallmouth bass in combination may be greater than 14 inches
New River (Alleghany Co. portion downstream of Fields Dam in Grayson Co., VA)
Lake Santeetlah (Graham Co.)
ALABAMA BASS AND SPOTTED BASS All public waters except those listed below:
None
None
10 largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, Alabama bass, and spotted bass in combination
Lake Chatuge (Clay Co.)
No minimum size limit
BARTRAM’S BASS All public waters
14-inch minimum, except 2 may be less than 14 inches
5, including only 2 less than 14 inches
CRAPPIE (BLACK AND WHITE) All public fishing waters except those listed below: Buckhorn Reservoir (Nash and Wilson counties)
None None None
None
20 in combination 30 in combination
Lake Chatuge (Clay Co.)
In the following waters and their tributaries: • B. Everett Jordan Reservoir • Cane Creek Lake (Union Co.) • Cape Fear River • Deep River downstream of Lockville Dam • Lake Hampton (Yadkin Co.) • Haw River downstream of Jordan Lake Dam • Hyco Lake • Lumber River including Drowning Creek • Neuse River downstream of Falls Lake Dam • Lake Norman • Shearon Harris Reservoir • Tar River downstream of Tar River Reservoir Dam • Waccamaw River downstream of Lake Waccamaw Dam • All other public waters east of I-95, except Tar River Reservoir (Nash Co.), Sutton Lake (New Hanover Co.), and Roanoke River • All public waters west of I-77, except Lake Chatuge (Clay Co.)
8-inch minimum
20 in combination
John H. Kerr Reservoir
9-inch minimum
25 in combination
Cashie, Eastmost, Middle, and Roanoke River (downstream of Roanoke Rapids Dam), and their tributaries
10-inch minimum
20 in combination
Lake Mattamuskeet and associated canals (Hyde Co.) * Please note: “In combination” means the total number for all species combined.
2026–2027 29
North Carolina Inland Fishing, Hunting & Trapping Regulations
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