The New River is home to many species of freshwater game fish including bass, trout, walleye, muskellunge, crappie, bluegill, carp, or flathead and channel catfish. It is considered, by many, as one of the finest smallmouth rivers in the country.
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What fish are biting in Jacksonville NC?
As are rainbow trout, walleye, crappie and muskie. You can also go after blue, channel and flathead catfish. Offshore, anglers chase tuna, swordfish, white marlin and mackerel. Inshore anglers can target spotted seatrout, redfish and flounder.
What are fish biting on New River NC?
It supports outstanding populations of just about every major freshwater game fish in the state: smallmouth bass, spotted bass, largemouth bass, rock bass, striped bass, white bass, hybrid striped bass, muskellunge, walleye, black crappie, channel catfish, flathead catfish, yellow perch, redbreast sunfish, and bluegill …
Is New River fresh or saltwater?
The New River and its tributaries eventually transition from brackish (a mix of seawater and fresh water) to freshwater, says captain Junior Sinclair of Fishbones Inshore Fishing Charters.
Is fishing good on the New River?
One of the reasons the New River is widely considered one of the best fishing locales in West Virginia is because it’s home to 11 common fish species: bass (smallmouth, largemouth, striped, and rock), walleye, muskie, crappie, bluegill, carp, and catfish (flathead, and channel).
Can you fish in the New River NC?
The New River is suited to both spin and fly-fishing, and almost anyplace is likely to produce a catch. All areas of the river are open to fishing but some spots are only reachable by trails. The North and South Forks are prime locations for smallmouth and redeye bass.
What is the most caught fish in North Carolina?
The southern flounder is the most popular because it is caught from all inshore waters. The summer flounder is the second most popular because it inhabits the nearshore ledges and reefs from the inlets out to about 10 miles offshore.
Where can I go fishing in Jacksonville NC?
- Seaview Ocean Fishing Pier.
- Willingham Park Fishing Dock.
- Jacksonville Boat Ramp Dock.
- North Topsail Beach Park Pier.
- Sturgeon City Park Fishing Pier.
- Wilson Bay Park Fishing Pier.
What is the best time to fish?
Fish generally prefer early morning and evening sun to the bright midday rays. In midday, the surface temperature of the water is also hotter, forcing the fish to move deeper.
Are there trout in the New River?
Trout are present in several tributaries of the New River. West Virginia’s Division of Natural Resources stocks these tributaries each spring with golden, rainbow, brook, and brown trout.
What kind of fish are in the South Fork New River?
“Anglers fishing this stretch of river can expect to catch smallmouth bass, redbreast sunfish, rock bass and wild brown trout,” said Kin Hodges, a district biologist with the Commission.
Does New River flow north?
It flows north from the Ashe-Alleghany County line into Virginia and West Virginia, entering the Kanawha River at Charleston, W.Va. The New River is unique among North Carolina rivers for several reasons. It is believed to be the only major river in the United States to flow north.
What species of fish are in New River?
The New River offers anglers the opportunity to catch bass (smallmouth, largemouth, striped, and rock), walleye, muskellunge, crappie, bluegill, carp, or flathead and channel catfish. Nightcrawlers and hellgrammites are common bait used for fishing.
How deep is the New River in NC?
Giles County boasts 37 miles of the majestic New River where it’s depth ranges from a very few inches to a maximum of one hundred feet at the at the base of the towering Palisade Cliffs in Eggleston.
How deep is the New River?
The New river splits several geographic regions in the Appalachians, and is considered a pathway for southern plant and animal species to migrate from south to north. The deepest point of the river in the gorge is about 55 feet deep near the abandoned mining town of Sewell.
Where is the best smallmouth fishing on the New River?
The New River below Claytor Lake Dam offers some of the best smallmouth action in the entire state. And spring is certainly prime time. Terry Pleskonko of Mount Sidney caught this citation smallmouth on the McCoy Falls to Eggleston float.
Are smallmouth bass native to the New River?
Smallmouth Bass are the most abundant bass species in the New River. During a 2014 New River angler survey, 84 percent of the anglers downstream from Claytor Lake fished for Smallmouth Bass and Smallmouth Bass were the top species of fish caught. The New River is one of the top Virginia rivers for Smallmouth Bass.
How do you fish with minnows in a river?

Where can I fish in Sneads Ferry NC?
- Hammocks Beach State Park. Swansboro, NC.
- Freeman Park. Carolina Beach, NC.
- Carolina Beach State Park. Carolina Beach, NC.
- Fort Macon State Park. Atlantic Beach, NC.
- Fort Fisher State Recreation Area. Kure Beach, NC.
- Cliffs of the Neuse State Park.
- Goose Creek State Park.
- Lake Waccamaw State Park.
What is the best eating fish in North Carolina?
- 1). Cobia (Rachycentron canadum)
- 2). Sheepshead (Archosargus probatocephalus)
- 3). Black drum (Pogonias cromis)
- 4). Gag (Mycteroperca microlepis)
- 5). Tripletail (Lobotes surinamensis)
What is the best time to fish in North Carolina?
The best time of year to fish in North Carolina is from April through September for largemouth bass, trout, redfish, mahi-mahi, flounder, tuna, and striped bass. The best time of day for fishing is early mornings & late afternoons.
Can you swim in New River in Jacksonville NC?
ONSLOW COUNTY —– Thanks to decades of cleanup efforts by city officials, scientists, and volunteers, the New River is safe for swimming and fishing again.
Can you fish on Camp Lejeune?
Camp Lejeune is home to more than 32 acres of inland freshwater ponds, giving fisherman a cast at bluegill, sunfish, bass and catfish. According to base conservation law enforcement, fishing with artificial bait or digestible bait requires a state fishing license.
What time of day do fish bite most?
- One hour before and one hour after high tides, and one hour before and one hour after low tides.
- During the “morning rise” (after sunup for a spell) and the “evening rise” (just before sundown and the hour or so after).
- During the rise and set of the Moon.
- When the barometer is steady or on the rise.
What time of day are fish most active?
Before we dig into the details, however, we can make one blanket statement: fish just about everywhere are almost always active at sunrise and sunset. These periods of changing light levels trigger feeding behavior in all kinds of predatory fish.