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Fishing in Highlands, NC

North Carolina, United States

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Want trophy-size catches? These Highlands spots deliver

Top fish species in Highlands

Largemouth bass
Largemouth bass
Rainbow trout
Rainbow trout
Spotted bass
Spotted bass
Brown trout
Brown trout
Bluegill
Bluegill

Latest Highlands fishing reports

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Largemouth bass

Mirror Lake

20 in · 5 lb 5 oz

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European perch

Lake Glenville

6 in · 2 oz

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River chub

West Fork Chattooga River

length · weight

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Redeye bass

East Fork Chattooga River

length · weight

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Hybrid striped bass

Tugaloo River

length · weight

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Hybrid striped bass

Tugaloo River

length · weight

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Hybrid striped bass

Tugaloo River

length · weight

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Hybrid striped bass

Tugaloo River

length · weight

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Largemouth bass

Tallulah River

12 in · 3 lb

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Largemouth bass

13 in · 2 lb

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About Highlands fishing

Check out the best fishing spots in and around Highlands, North Carolina. Anglers using Fishbrain have logged: 2,094 catches for Largemouth bass, 1,690 catches for Rainbow trout, and 1,066 catches for Spotted bass.

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Fishing regulations in Highlands

Disclaimer: Always check local fishing regulations, water access rights and land ownership before fishing, regardless of any catches logged in that area by the Fishbrain community. Fishbrain has mapped millions of acres of government-owned land across the USA to help you identify potential fishing access, but you are responsible for ensuring compliance with all legal requirements.

Fishing regulations in North Carolina can change throughout the year. Make sure to check this page before fishing for the most up to date rules and regulations for the current season. Local regulations govern when you can fish, the max size of the fish you can keep, how many fish you can keep, and more.

Below you will see fishing regulations for catching Largemouth bass as of April 16th, 2026. To view regulations for a different fish species, please click on your preferred species in the drop-down.

Largemouth bass

Seasons

Open

Bag limit

5

Min size

14"

Measurement

Total Length

14-inch minimum, except 2 may be less than 14 inches

For more information please see https://www.ncwildlife.org/licensing/regulations


Size and daily creel limit exceptions to state waters regulations:

Lake Santeetlah (Graham Co.)

No minimum size limit, and only 5 large- mouth bass and smallmouth bass in combination may be greater than 14 inches

No daily creel limit for large- mouth bass and smallmouth bass less than 14 inches, and only 5 largemouth bass and smallmouth bass in combination may be greater than 14 inches

Lake Cammack (Alamance Co.) and Lake Holt (Granville Co.)

No minimum size limit, and only 2 may be greater than 14 inches

10, including only 2 greater than 14 inches

New River (Alleghany Co. portion downstream of Fields Dam in Grayson Co., VA)

No minimum size, none between 14-22 inches may be possessed, and only 1 large- mouth bass, smallmouth bass, or spotted bass may be greater than 22 inches

5 largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and spotted bass in combination, including only 1 largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, or spotted bass greater than 22 inches

Lake Chatuge (Clay Co.)

12-inch minimum

10 largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, Alabama bass, and spotted bass in combination

In the following waters and their tributaries:

  • Albemarle, Croatan, Currituck, and Roanoke Sounds
  • Alligator River (including the Alligator/Pungo Canal (Intra- coastal Waterway) east of the U.S. 264/N.C. 45 bridge)
  • Big Flatty Creek (Pasquotank Co.)
  • Chowan River (including the Meherrin River)
  • Little River (Pasquotank and Perquimans counties)
  • North River (Camden and Currituck counties)
  • Northwest River (Currituck Co.)
  • Pasquotank River
  • Perquimans River
  • Roanoke River downstream of Roanoke Rapids Dam
  • Scuppernong River
  • Yeopim River
  • All other associated tributaries and canals to the waters listed above

14-inch minimum; limit 5

New Lake (Hyde Co.)

14-inch minimum; limit 5

Pungo Lake (Hyde and Washington counties)

14-inch minimum; limit 5

Lake Raleigh (Wake Co.)

14-inch minimum; limit 5

Sutton Lake (New Hanover Co.)

14-inch minimum; limit 5

Lake Hampton (Yadkin Co.) and Shearon Harris Reservoir (Chatham and Wake counties)

14-inch minimum, except 2 may be less than 14 inches and none between 16-20 inches may be possessed 5, including only 2 less than 14 inches

Lake Phelps

14-inch minimum and none between 16-20 inches may be possessed; limit 5

Buckhorn Reservoir (Nash and Wilson counties) and Cane Creek Lake (Union Co.)

16-inch minimum; limit 5

Lake Mattamuskeet and associated canals (Hyde Co.)

16-inch minimum, and only 1 may be greater than 20 inches; limit 5, including only 1 greater than 20 inches

Lake Thom-A-Lex (Davidson Co.)

18-inch minimum; limit 5

Jean Guite Creek and assoicated canals within the Town of Southern Shores (Dare Co.) and Ponds associated with Martin Marietta Park (Craven Co.)

No largemouth bass may be possessed

For more information please see https://www.ncwildlife.org/licensing/regulations

Micropterus nigricans

Regulations for

35°03′13.7″N 83°11′51.4″W
Regulations in the map
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FAQ about Highlands fishing

Anglers in Highlands, NC recommend these top fishing spots: Lake Jocassee, Lake Glenville, Chattooga River, Little Tennessee River, and Bear Creek Lake.
Most commonly caught species around Highlands, NC:
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Other cities near Highlands

Glenville

9.1 miles away

Franklin

13.5 miles away

Tamassee

15.7 miles away

Salem

17.0 miles away

Cullowhee

17.7 miles away

Longcreek

19.4 miles away

Walhalla

21.0 miles away

West Union

22.2 miles away

Rosman

22.3 miles away

Keowee Key

22.4 miles away

Westminster

27.5 miles away

Six Mile

27.5 miles away

Seneca

29.0 miles away

Bryson City

29.3 miles away

Brevard

29.7 miles away

Pickens

29.9 miles away

Cherokee

30.4 miles away

Norris

32.1 miles away

Caesars Head

33.0 miles away

Maggie Valley

33.4 miles away

Clemson

33.6 miles away

Hayesville

35.1 miles away

Lake Junaluska

35.2 miles away

South Union

35.5 miles away