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Fishing regulations at Old Catawba River, 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
Striped bass
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.
No person shall harvest any individual fish less than the minimum size limit.
The maximum number of individual fish across an aggregate group of species legally harvested per harvester per day.
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.
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.
The striped bass season is closed in all internal coastal and joint waters.
In NC Atlantic Ocean waters, striped bass are open year round with a 2-fish bag limit, and a harvest slot limit of 28-inches to 31-inches total length.
Impounded inland waters and their tributaries except those listed below:
20-inch minimum; Daily limit 4 in combination
Lake Chatuge (Clay Co.)
- No minimum size limit, and only 2 fish may be greater than 22 inches
- 15 in combination, including only 2 greater than 22 inches
Hyco Lake, Moss Lake, Mountain Island Reservoir, Oak Hollow Lake, Lake Thom-A-Lex, Lake Townsend, and Salem Lake
- 16-inch minimum
- Daily limit 4 in combination
Lake Gaston
- 20-inch minimum (Oct. 1 - May 31)
- Daily limit 4 in combination
Roanoke Rapids Reservoir
- No minimum size limit (June 1 - Sept. 30)
Dan River (Caswell Co.), downstream of Danville, VA
- 20-inch minimum (Oct. 1 - May 31)
- Daily limit 2 in combination (Oct. 1 - May 31)
John H. Kerr Reservoir
- No minimum size limit (June 1 - Sept. 30)
- Daily limit 4 in combination (June 1 - Sept. 30)
COASTAL RIVERS AND IMPOUNDMENTS
Lake Mattamuskeet
- 18-inch minimum
- Daily Limit 3 in combination
Pee Dee River and tributaries downstream of Blewett Falls Dam
Roanoke River Striped Bass Management Area (includ- ing 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 Fisheries
Central-Southern Striped Bass Management Area, inland waters including Cape Fear River and tributaries from Buckhorn Dam downstream to Lock and Dam #1, Neuse River and tributaries from Falls Lake Dam down- stream to Pitchkettle Creek, Pungo River upstream of the U.S. 264 bridge at Leechville, Tar-Pamlico River and tributaries from Rocky Mount Mill Dam downstream to N&S Railroad Bridge at Washington, and All other unlisted inland waters of coastal rivers and tributaries
- No 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 Wilmington, Neuse River and tributaries from Pitchkettle Cree down- stream to Southern Railroad Bridge at New Bern, Pungo River downstream of the U.S. 264 bridge at Leech- ville to Smith Creek, and All other unlisted joint waters of coastal rivers and tributaries:
- No 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 Wilmington, Neuse River downstream of Southern Railroad Bridge at New Bern, including Pamlico Sound and tributaries designated as coastal waters, Pungo River downstream of Smith Creek, Tar-Pamlico River downstream of the N & S Railroad Bridge at Washington, including Pamlico Sound and tribu- taries designated as coastal waters, and all other unlisted coastal waters:
- Established by Division of Marine Fisheries
Ponds associated with Martin Marietta Park (Craven Co.)
- No striped bass may be possessed.
For more information please see https://www.ncwildlife.org/licensing/regulations
Redbreast sunfish
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.
Applies to all Sunfish (EXCEPT CRAPPIE, ROCK BASS, & ROANOKE BASS)
All public fishing waters except those listed below:
No daily creel limit.
No size limit.
In the following waters and their tributaries no size limit, 30 in combination, including no more than 12 redbreast sunfish:
- Cape Fear River
- Deep River downstream of Lockville Dam
- Haw River downstream of Jordan Lake Dam
- Lumber River including Drowning Creek
- Neuse River downstream of Falls Lake Dam
- Roanoke River downstream of Roanoke Rapids Dam
- Tar River downstream of Tar River Reservoir Dam
- Waccamaw River downstream of Lake Waccamaw Dam
- All public waters east of I-95, except Tar River Reservoir (Nash Co.)
White perch
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.
All inland fishing waters except those listed below:
No size limit, no daily creel limit
All public fishing waters in and west of Buncombe, Haywood, and Rutherford counties
No live white perch may be possessed, transported or released.
FAQ about Old Catawba River fishing
- Striped bass - 2 members reported to have caught this fish
- Redbreast sunfish - 1 members reported to have caught this fish
- White perch - 1 members reported to have caught this fish
- @christineunintentional reported a nice Smallmouth bass.
- @tyleratkins2685 reported a nice Redbreast sunfish.
- @tyleratkins2685 reported a nice Redbreast sunfish.
- @Itz.Kegs reported a nice Striped bass.
- @tyreserhone reported a nice Yellow perch.
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