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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

Black Rock Lake

length · weight

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Largemouth bass

Black Rock Lake

length · weight

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Channel catfish

Lake Keowee

15 in · 2 lb

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Spotted bass

Lake Keowee

15 in · 1 lb 6 oz

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Rainbow trout

length · weight

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Rainbow trout

length · weight

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Walleye

Tuckasegee River

22 in · 3 lb

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Largemouth bass

length · weight

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Rainbow trout

Tuckasegee River

15 in · 2 lb

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Lake Keowee

length · weight

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About Highlands fishing

Check out the best fishing spots in and around Highlands, North Carolina. Anglers using Fishbrain have logged: 2,101 catches for Largemouth bass, 1,707 catches for Rainbow trout, and 1,075 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 May 6th, 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:
The latest Highlands, NC fishing reports are:
Download the and see today's Fishing and Weather Forecast for Highlands, NC. We give you weather trends and help you find the perfect window to catch your next personal best. With Fishbrain Pro, you will get the following capabilities:
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  • Fish at peak times: Use BiteTime™ predictions to maximize catches.
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The biggest Rainbow trout (by length) reported in Highlands, NC was a 4 ft caught by Fishbrain user @cml34756 at Nantahala River on December 30, 2015.
The biggest Spotted bass (by length) reported in Highlands, NC was a 3 ft / 24.6 lbs caught by Fishbrain user @bobross5363 at Tuckasegee River on June 7, 2020.

Other cities near Highlands

Sky Valley

9.0 miles away

Glenville

9.1 miles away

Franklin

13.5 miles away

Tamassee

15.7 miles away

Clayton

16.8 miles away

Salem

17.0 miles away

Cullowhee

17.7 miles away

Longcreek

19.4 miles away

Tiger

19.6 miles away

Tate City

20.8 miles away

Walhalla

21.0 miles away

West Union

22.2 miles away

Rosman

22.3 miles away

Keowee Key

22.4 miles away

Tallulah Falls

24.9 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

Hiawassee

32.2 miles away