Top fish species at Moss Lake

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Moss Lake fishing reports

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Alabama bass

15 in · 1 lb

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Bluegill

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Spotted bass

length · weight

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Largemouth bass

length · weight

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Channel catfish

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Channel catfish

27 in · 7 lb

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General info

Moss Lake is a lake located in Cleveland County, North Carolina, United States. It is most popular for fishing Spotted bass, Largemouth bass, and Wiper.

Location

35°18′3.9″N 81°27′13.5″W
Directions

Amenities

When are Largemouth Bass biting on Moss Lake?

Learn what time of year and day to go fishing at Moss Lake. 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 Moss Lake, 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
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
Season open: year-round
Wiper

Wiper

Regulation boundaryNC North Carolina State Waters
Bag limit4

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 size20" (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.

Aggregate limit4

The maximum number of individual fish across an aggregate group of species legally harvested per harvester per day.

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
Impounded inland waters and their tributaries except those listed below:20-inch minimum; Daily limit 4 in combinationLake Chatuge (Clay Co.)No minimum size limit, and only 2 fish may be greater than 22 inches15 in combination, including only 2 greater than 22 inchesHyco Lake, Moss Lake, Mountain Island Reservoir, Oak Hol- low Lake, Lake Thom-A-Lex, Lake Townsend, and Salem Lake16-inch minimumDaily limit 4 in combinationLake Gaston20-inch minimum (Oct. 1 - May 31)Daily limit 4 in combinationRoanoke Rapids ReservoirNo minimum size limit (June 1 - Sept. 30)Dan River (Caswell Co.), downstream of Danville, VA20-inch minimum (Oct. 1 - May 31)Daily limit 2 in combination (Oct. 1 - May 31)John H. Kerr ReservoirNo minimum size limit (June 1 - Sept. 30)Daily limit 4 in combination (June 1 - Sept. 30)COASTAL RIVERS AND IMPOUNDMENTSLake Mattamuskeet18-inch minimumDaily Limit 3 in combinationPee Dee River and tributaries downstream of Blewett Falls DamRoanoke River Striped Bass Management Area (including Cashie, Eastmost, Middle, and Roanoke rivers from Roanoke Rapids Dam downstream to mouth of the river at Albemarle Sound and its tributaries)18-inch minimum, no fish may be greater than 22 inches (Season opened by proc- lamation only)Daily limit 1 in combination (Season by proclamation only)Albemarle Sound Striped Bass Management Area (including Albemarle, Croatan, Currituck, and Roanoke Sounds; as well as Alligator, Chowan, Little, North, Pasquotank, Perqui- mans, Scuppernong, and Yeopim rivers and their tributaries)Established by Division of Marine FisheriesCentral-Southern Striped Bass Management Area, inland waters including:Cape Fear River and tributaries from Buckhorn Dam downstream to Lock and Dam #1Neuse River and tributaries from Falls Lake Dam down- stream to Pitchkettle CreekPungo River upstream of the U.S. 264 bridge at LeechvilleTar-Pamlico River and tributaries from Rocky Mount Mill Dam downstream to N&S Railroad Bridge at WashingtonAll other unlisted inland waters of coastal rivers and tributariesNo striped bass may be possessed.Central-Southern Striped Bass Management Area, joint waters including:Cape Fear River from Lock and Dam #1 downstream to the U.S. 17-74-76 bridge at WilmingtonNeuse River and tributaries from Pitchkettle Cree down- stream to Southern Railroad Bridge at New BernPungo River downstream of the U.S. 264 bridge at Leech- ville to Smith CreekAll other unlisted joint waters of coastal rivers and tributariesNo striped bass may be possessed.Central-Southern Striped Bass Management Area, coastal waters including:Cape Fear River downstream of the U.S. 17-74-76 bridge at WilmingtonNeuse River downstream of Southern Railroad Bridge at New Bern, including Pamlico Sound and tributaries designated as coastal watersPungo River downstream of Smith CreekTar-Pamlico River downstream of the N & S Railroad Bridge at Washington, including Pamlico Sound and tribu- taries designated as coastal watersAll other unlisted coastal watersEstablished by Division of Marine FisheriesPonds associated with Martin Marietta Park (Craven Co.)No striped bass may be possessed.For more information please see https://www.ncwildlife.org/licensing/regulations
Edibility
Very good
Synonyms
Morone chrysops x M. saxatilis, Palmetto bass, White bass x Striped bass, Wiper
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Local laws and licenses

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Reviews of Moss Lake

4.2
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23 ratings

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1
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Cities nearby

Shelby

5.2 miles away

Cherryville

7.2 miles away

Kings Mountain

7.4 miles away

Grover

8.8 miles away

Fallston

9.2 miles away

Boiling Springs

12.3 miles away

Blacksburg

12.9 miles away

Belwood

12.9 miles away

Polkville

13.4 miles away

Mooresboro

13.8 miles away

Gastonia

15.6 miles away

Lincolnton

17.1 miles away

Casar

17.3 miles away

Smyrna

18.1 miles away

Clover

18.5 miles away

Spencer Mountain

19.4 miles away

Gaffney

19.4 miles away

Henrietta

19.8 miles away

Alexis

20.0 miles away

Forest City

23.6 miles away

Sharon

24.9 miles away

Chesnee

25.5 miles away

Mayo

27.0 miles away

Cowpens

27.8 miles away

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FAQ about Moss Lake fishing

📍 Where is Moss Lake located?
Moss Lake is a lake located in Cleveland County, North Carolina, United States. Its coordinates are:
35°18′3.9″N 81°27′13.5″W
.
🎣 Where on Moss Lake is it best to fish?
Find the best fishing spots on Moss Lake 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 Moss Lake?
The most common species in Moss Lake are:
  • Spotted bass - 86 members reported to have caught this fish
  • Largemouth bass - 74 members reported to have caught this fish
  • Wiper - 3 members reported to have caught this fish
📢 What are the latest Moss Lake fishing reports?
The latest Moss Lake fishing reports are:
🗓️ What species are in season at Moss Lake right now?
According to fishing regulations at Moss Lake, some of the species in season this November include: Spotted seatrout, Summer flounder, Southern flounder, 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 Moss Lake?

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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