Top fish species at Smith Creek

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Smith Creek fishing reports

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Red drum

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Striped bass

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Largemouth bass

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Red drum

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General info

Smith Creek is a stream located in Beaufort County, North Carolina, United States. It is most popular for fishing Red drum, Striped bass, and Largemouth bass.

Location

35°30′19.4″N 76°40′33.3″W
Directions

When are Striped Bass biting on Smith Creek?

Learn what time of year and day to go fishing at Smith Creek. Download Fishbrain today to look for new fishing spots, scout new fishing access, or prep for your next trip.

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Fishing regulations at Smith Creek, NC

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.

Regulations for top species

Season open: year-round
Red drum

Red drum

Regulation boundaryNC North Carolina State Waters
Bag limit1

The maximum number of individual fish legally harvested per harvester per day. Bag limits are only for properly licensed anglers actively harvesting the species. People who are not actively harvesting or are not properly licensed (if a license is required) may NOT be counted for the purpose of bag limits.

Min size18" (Total Length)

No person shall harvest any individual fish less than the minimum size limit.

Total length means the straight line distance from the most forward point of the head with the mouth closed, to the farthest tip of the tail with the tail compressed or squeezed, while the fish is lying on its side.

Max size27" (Total Length)

No person shall harvest any individual fish greater than the maximum size except as permitted.

Total length means the straight line distance from the most forward point of the head with the mouth closed, to the farthest tip of the tail with the tail compressed or squeezed, while the fish is lying on its side.

Restrictions & requirements

Gigging

Harvest by gigging prohibited.

Spears

Harvest of this species by "spearing" is prohibited. Spearing includes the catching or taking of a fish by bow hunting, gigging, spearfishing, or by any device used to capture a fish by piercing the body.

Required licenses
Eligible for NC Saltwater Fishing Tournament managed by Division of Marine Fisheries.
Additional information
Harvest in federal waters prohibited. Unlawful to gig, spear, or gaff. Unlawful to posess redfish greater than 27 inches total length. Mandatory Harvest Reporting Requirement: All red drum that are kept must be reported to the Division of Marine Fisheries through an online form or iPhone App. Learn more.
Edibility
Very Good
Synonyms
Channel Bass, Redfish, Sciaenops ocellatus, Spottail Bass
Season open: June 2 - May 16
Striped bass

Striped bass

Regulation boundaryNC North Carolina Coastal, Joint, & Inland Fishing Waters
Additional information
The striped bass season is closed in all North Carolina internal, coastal, and joint waters. Mandatory Harvest Reporting Requirement: All striped bass that are kept must be reported to the Division of Marine Fisheries through an online form or iPhone App. Learn more.
Synonyms
Morone saxatilis
Season open: year-round
Largemouth bass

Largemouth bass

Regulation boundaryNC North Carolina State Waters
Bag limit5

The maximum number of individual fish legally harvested per harvester per day. Bag limits are only for properly licensed anglers actively harvesting the species. People who are not actively harvesting or are not properly licensed (if a license is required) may NOT be counted for the purpose of bag limits.

Min size14" (Total Length)

No person shall harvest any individual fish less than the minimum size limit.

Total length means the straight line distance from the most forward point of the head with the mouth closed, to the farthest tip of the tail with the tail compressed or squeezed, while the fish is lying on its side.

Restrictions & requirements

NC Snagging

It is unlawful to snag fish by pulling or jerking a device equipped with one or more hooks through the water for the purpose of impaling fish. Applies to game and nongame fish.

NC Unlawful Possession

It is unlawful to possess:more than the daily creel limit while fishing, boating or afield; at any place more than three days' creel limit; fish whose size, creel or season restrictions are not in compliance with the regulations on the waters being fished.

NC Altering Fish

It is unlawful, while fishing, to change the appearance of fish subject to size limits or daily creel limits or remove the head and/ or tail from fish that are regulated by a size limit so that they may not be measured and/ or identified.

NC Purchase and Sale of Gamefish

The purchase and sale of inland game fish are unlawful, except from and by licensed commercial trout ponds and fish propagators.

NC Trotlines Set-hooks and Jug-hooks

Trotlines, set-hooks and jug-hooks may be fished under any license that authorizes fishing privileges. It is unlawful to use live bait with trotlines, set-hooks or jug-hooks. Trotlines must be set parallel to the nearest shore in all public waters, where their use is authorized. Each trotline, set-hook and jug-hook shall have attached the user's name and address or the user's NCWRC customer number legibly inscribed. Each trotline shall be conspicuously marked at each end, and each set-hook shall be conspicuously marked at one end with a prominent flag or floating object. Metal cans and glass containers cannot be used as markers. The number of jug-hooks that may be fished is limited to 70 per boat. Trotlines, set-hooks and jug-hooks must be fished daily, and all fish must be removed daily. Exceptions:·      No trotlines, set-hooks or jug-hooks may be used in the impounded waters of Sandhills Game Land. ·      No trotlines, set-hooks or jug-hooks may be used in Public Mountain Trout Waters, except impounded waters of power reservoirs and municipal water supply reservoirs open to the public for fishing. ·      In Lake Waccamaw, it is unlawful to use trotlines, set-hooks or jug-hooks from May 1–Sept. 30. ·      No trotlines, jug hooks, and set hooks in the inland fishing waters of the Roanoke River from April 1 to June 30. 

NC Single Barbless Hook

In the inland waters of the Roanoke River upstream of the U.S. 258 bridge, only a single barbless circle hook when fishing with live or natural bait or other tackle with a single barbless hook may be used from April 1 to June 30. "Barbless" means that the hook either does not have a barb or that the barb is bent down. Tandem rigs are prohibited.

NC Game Fish Hook and Line only

Inland game fish may be taken only with a hook and line and landing nets may be used to land fishes caught on a hook and line. 

Additional information
14-inch minimum, except 2 may be less than 14 inchesFor 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 inchesNo 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 inchesLake Cammack (Alamance Co.) and Lake Holt (Granville Co.)No minimum size limit, and only 2 may be greater than 14 inches10, including only 2 greater than 14 inchesNew 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 inches5 largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and spotted bass in combination, including only 1 largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, or spotted bass greater than 22 inchesLake Chatuge (Clay Co.)12-inch minimum10 largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, Alabama bass, and spotted bass in combinationIn the following waters and their tributaries:Albemarle, Croatan, Currituck, and Roanoke SoundsAlligator 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 RiverPerquimans RiverRoanoke River downstream of Roanoke Rapids DamScuppernong RiverYeopim RiverAll other associated tributaries and canals to the waters listed above14-inch minimum; limit 5New Lake (Hyde Co.)14-inch minimum; limit 5Pungo Lake (Hyde and Washington counties)14-inch minimum; limit 5Lake Raleigh (Wake Co.)14-inch minimum; limit 5Sutton Lake (New Hanover Co.)14-inch minimum; limit 5Lake 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 inchesLake Phelps14-inch minimum and none between 16-20 inches may be possessed; limit 5Buckhorn Reservoir (Nash and Wilson counties) and Cane Creek Lake (Union Co.)16-inch minimum; limit 5Lake 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 inchesLake Thom-A-Lex (Davidson Co.)18-inch minimum; limit 5Jean 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 possessedFor more information please see https://www.ncwildlife.org/licensing/regulations
Edibility
Very good Catch, Clean, Cook Largemouth Bass by BlueGabe
Synonyms
Micropterus nigricans
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Local laws and licenses

North Carolina fishing license

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Cities nearby

Belhaven

3.9 miles away

Pantego

5.7 miles away

Bayview

7.9 miles away

Bath

8.0 miles away

Pinetown

12.5 miles away

Aurora

15.4 miles away

Swan Quarter

20.8 miles away

Mesic

20.9 miles away

Washington

21.6 miles away

Vandemere

21.9 miles away

Jamesville

24.7 miles away

Plymouth

24.8 miles away

Fairfield

25.5 miles away

Roper

26.0 miles away

Grantsboro

26.7 miles away

Creswell

29.7 miles away

Grimesland

29.9 miles away

Vanceboro

30.5 miles away

Bear Grass

31.2 miles away

Oriental

32.4 miles away

Windsor

36.8 miles away

Engelhard

37.5 miles away

Columbia

37.6 miles away

Edenton

38.4 miles away

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FAQ about Smith Creek fishing

📍 Where is the Smith Creek located?
the Smith Creek is a stream located in Beaufort County, North Carolina, United States. Its coordinates are:
35°30′19.4″N 76°40′33.3″W
.
🎣 Where on the Smith Creek is it best to fish?
Find the best fishing spots on the Smith Creek by looking at where other anglers have caught fish. This can easily be done in the where it is also possible to see big fish potential and how good fishing is right now along with Garmin® depth maps.
🐟 What species are in the Smith Creek?
The most common species in the Smith Creek are:
📢 What are the latest Smith Creek fishing reports?
The latest Smith Creek fishing reports are:
🗓️ What species are in season at the Smith Creek right now?
According to fishing regulations at the Smith Creek, some of the species in season this November include: Striped bass, Spotted seatrout, Black sea bass, Cobia, and Red grouper. For full details on other species — including bag limits, minimum and maximum size limits, and seasonal closures — download the .
🪪 Do I need a fishing license to fish at the Smith Creek?

Fishing in North Carolina requires a valid state fishing license for anglers. Licenses include resident and non-resident, annual, short-term, and combination options, purchasable online or at vendors.

In North Carolina, no fishing license is required for anglers under 16. Residents 70 and older qualify for a discounted lifetime license. A few other exceptions worth knowing:

  • Free fishing days — most states designate 1–2 weekends a year where anyone can fish without a license

  • Tribal waters — tribal members fishing on tribal land operate under separate tribal regulations

  • Private ponds — landowners fishing their own water typically don't need a license

Non-residents usually pay more for a license than residents. Some species also require an extra stamp or endorsement on top of your base license.

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