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Pending Rules
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.
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.
Image
Species
Scientific Name
Classification
Additional Information
American Shad
Alosa sapidissima
Game Fish
American Shad Information
black crappie
Pomoxis nigromaculatus
Game Fish
Black Crappie Information
blue catfish
Ictalurus furcatus
Nongame Fish
Blue Catfish Information
bluegill
Lepomis macrochirus
Game Fish
Bluegill Information
Bodie bass (hybrid striped bass)
Morone saxatillis x Morone chrysops
Game Fish
Bodie Bass Information
bowfin
Amia calva
Nongame Fish
Bowfin Information
brook trout
Salvelinus fontinalis
Game Fish
Brook Trout Information
brown trout
Salmo trutta
Game Fish
Brown Trout Information
bullhead catfish
Ameiurus species
Nongame Fish
Bullhead Catfish Information
chain pickerel
Esox
niger
Game Species
Chain Pickerel Information
channel catfish
Ictalurus punctatus
Nongame Fish
Channel Catfish Information
common carp
Cyprinus carpio
Nongame Fish
Common Carp Information
flathead catfish
Pylodictis olivaris
Nongame Fish
Flathead Catfish Information
green sunfish
Lepomis cyanellus
Game Fish
Green Sunfish Information
hickory shad
Alosa mediocris
Game Fish
Hickory Shad Information
largemouth bass
Micropterus salmoides
Game Fish
Largemouth Bass Information
muskellunge
Esox masquinongy
Game Fish
Muskellunge Information
pumpkinseed
Lepomis gibbosus
Game Fish
Pumpkinseed Information
rainbow trout
Oncorhyncus mykiss
Game Fish
Rainbow Trout Information
redbreast sunfish
Lepomis auritus
Game Fish
Redbreast Sunfish Information
redear sunfish
Lepomis microlophus
Game Fish
Redear Sunfish Information
Roanoke bass
Ambloplites cavifrons
Game Fish
Roanoke Bass Information
rock bass
Ambloplites rupestris
Game Fish
Rock Bass Information
smallmouth bass
Micropterus dolomieu
Game Fish
Smallmouth Bass Information
spotted bass
Micropterus punctulatus
Game Fish
Spotted Bass Information
striped bass
Morone saxatilis
Game Fish
Striped Bass Information
walleye
Sander vitreus
Game Fish
Walleye Information
warmouth
Lepomis gulosus
Game Fish
Warmouth Information
white bass
Morone chrysops
Game Fish
White Bass Information
white catfish
Ameiurus catus
Nongame Fish
White Catfish Information
white crappie
Pomoxis annularis
Game Fish
White Crappie Information
white perch
Morone
americana
Game Fish
White Perch Information
yellow perch
Perca flavescens
Game Fish
Yellow Perch Information
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