Top fish species at Big Swamp

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Check which species have trophy potential in Big Swamp

Big Swamp fishing reports

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Ruddy bowfin

length · weight

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Ruddy bowfin

length · weight

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Flier

length · weight

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Bluegill

length · weight

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Ruddy bowfin

18 in · 3 lb

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River blackfish

9 in · 5 lb

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General info

Big Swamp is a stream located in Sampson County, North Carolina, United States. It is most popular for fishing Ruddy bowfin, Flier, and Bluegill.

Location

34°59′25.7″N 78°34′9.5″W
Directions

Fishing regulations at Big Swamp, 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
Flier

Flier

Regulation boundaryNC North Carolina State Waters
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
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 RiverDeep River downstream of Lockville DamHaw River downstream of Jordan Lake DamLumber River including Drowning CreekNeuse River downstream of Falls Lake DamRoanoke River downstream of Roanoke Rapids DamTar River downstream of Tar River Reservoir DamWaccamaw River downstream of Lake Waccamaw DamAll public waters east of I-95, except Tar River Reservoir (Nash Co.)
Synonyms
Banded Sunfish, Bluegill, Bluespotted Sunfish, Dollar Sunfish, Flier, Green Sunfish, Longear Sunfish, Mud Sunfish, Orangespotted Sunfish, Redbreast Sunfish, Redear Sunfish, Redspotted Sunfish, Rock Bass, Shadow Bass, Warmouth
Season open: year-round
Bluegill

Bluegill

Regulation boundaryNC North Carolina State Waters
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
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 RiverDeep River downstream of Lockville DamHaw River downstream of Jordan Lake DamLumber River including Drowning CreekNeuse River downstream of Falls Lake DamRoanoke River downstream of Roanoke Rapids DamTar River downstream of Tar River Reservoir DamWaccamaw River downstream of Lake Waccamaw DamAll public waters east of I-95, except Tar River Reservoir (Nash Co.)
Synonyms
Banded Sunfish, Bluegill, Bluespotted Sunfish, Dollar Sunfish, Flier, Green Sunfish, Longear Sunfish, Mud Sunfish, Orangespotted Sunfish, Redbreast Sunfish, Redear Sunfish, Redspotted Sunfish, Rock Bass, Shadow Bass, Warmouth
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Local laws and licenses

North Carolina fishing license

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Cities nearby

Salemburg

4.1 miles away

Stedman

7.5 miles away

Eastover

14.3 miles away

Falcon

14.8 miles away

Wade

15.3 miles away

Vann Crossroads

15.6 miles away

Keener

17.0 miles away

Garland

17.3 miles away

Linden

20.9 miles away

Tar Heel

21.7 miles away

Newton Grove

21.8 miles away

Turkey

21.8 miles away

Hope Mills

21.9 miles away

Dunn

22.3 miles away

Delway

23.5 miles away

Fayetteville

24.0 miles away

Dublin

24.7 miles away

Bunnlevel

24.9 miles away

Elizabethtown

25.6 miles away

Faison

26.0 miles away

Benson

27.4 miles away

Spring Lake

27.6 miles away

Buies Creek

30.4 miles away

Mount Olive

31.9 miles away

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FAQ about Big Swamp fishing

📍 Where is the Big Swamp located?
the Big Swamp is a stream located in Sampson County, North Carolina, United States. Its coordinates are:
34°59′25.7″N 78°34′9.5″W
.
🎣 Where on the Big Swamp is it best to fish?
Find the best fishing spots on the Big Swamp 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 Big Swamp?
The most common species in the Big Swamp are:
  • Ruddy bowfin - 3 members reported to have caught this fish
  • Flier - 1 members reported to have caught this fish
  • Bluegill - 1 members reported to have caught this fish
📢 What are the latest Big Swamp fishing reports?
The latest Big Swamp fishing reports are:
🗓️ What species are in season at the Big Swamp right now?
According to fishing regulations at the Big Swamp, 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 the Big Swamp?

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.

Get license
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