Fishing Areas and Species

North Carolina has thousands of miles of streams and shoreline where anglers can catch a variety fish species. The Common Freshwater Fish Species List below provides identification tips, fishing techniques, habitats and habits and other information on the most common freshwater fish species found in North Carolina. The Fishing Areas section provides information on more than 500 places to fish throughout the state.

Definitions of Game and Nongame Fish Species

North Carolina Inland Game Fish (PDF)

North Carolina Nongame Fish (PDF)

Common Sport Fish Species

A class of vertebrate animals that breathe with gills and swim with fins. Fish can survive only in the water. Many fish are covered in scales.
ImageSpeciesSorted By Species In Ascending OrderScientific NameClassification     Additional Information
ImageAmerican ShadAlosa sapidissimaGame FishAmerican Shad Information
Imageblack crappie
Pomoxis nigromaculatusGame FishBlack Crappie Information
Imageblue catfishIctalurus furcatusNongame FishBlue Catfish Information
ImagebluegillLepomis macrochirusGame FishBluegill Information
ImageBodie bass (hybrid striped bass)Morone saxatillis x Morone chrysopsGame FishBodie Bass Information
ImagebowfinAmia calvaNongame FishBowfin Information
Imagebrook troutSalvelinus fontinalisGame FishBrook Trout Information
Imagebrown troutSalmo truttaGame FishBrown Trout Information
Imagebullhead catfishAmeiurus speciesNongame FishBullhead Catfish Information
Imagechain pickerelEsox nigerGame SpeciesChain Pickerel Information
Imagechannel catfishIctalurus punctatusNongame FishChannel Catfish Information
Imagecommon carpCyprinus carpioNongame FishCommon Carp Information
Imageflathead catfishPylodictis olivarisNongame FishFlathead Catfish Information
Imagegreen sunfishLepomis cyanellusGame FishGreen Sunfish Information
Imagehickory shadAlosa mediocrisGame FishHickory Shad Information
Imagelargemouth bassMicropterus salmoidesGame FishLargemouth Bass Information
ImagemuskellungeEsox masquinongyGame FishMuskellunge Information
ImagepumpkinseedLepomis gibbosusGame FishPumpkinseed Information
Imagerainbow troutOncorhyncus mykissGame FishRainbow Trout Information
Imageredbreast sunfishLepomis auritusGame FishRedbreast Sunfish Information
Imageredear sunfishLepomis microlophusGame FishRedear Sunfish Information
ImageRoanoke bassAmbloplites cavifronsGame FishRoanoke Bass Information
Imagerock bassAmbloplites rupestrisGame FishRock Bass Information
Imagesmallmouth bassMicropterus dolomieuGame FishSmallmouth Bass Information
Imagespotted bassMicropterus punctulatusGame FishSpotted Bass Information
Imagestriped bassMorone saxatilisGame FishStriped Bass Information
ImagewalleyeSander vitreusGame FishWalleye Information
ImagewarmouthLepomis gulosusGame FishWarmouth Information
Imagewhite bassMorone chrysopsGame FishWhite Bass Information
Imagewhite catfishAmeiurus catusNongame FishWhite Catfish Information
Imagewhite crappiePomoxis annularisGame FishWhite Crappie Information
Imagewhite perchMorone americanaGame FishWhite Perch Information
Imageyellow perchPerca flavescensGame FishYellow Perch Information

Fishing Areas

Interactive Boating Access Area Locator
 Disabled Access Identified