Speckled Trout, Redfish, Flounder, Tarpon, Striped Bass, Shad. Our home waters of the Pamlico and Pungo Rivers and their tributaries host a variety of species that offer excellent light tackle fishing. Those species include speckled trout, puppy or slot drum (redfish), flounder, and striped bass.
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What’s biting in the Pamlico River?
Stripers are plentiful and biting heavily everywhere from the Pamlico on up the Roanoke River.
How deep is the Pamlico River?
The Pamlico is a tidal river connecting the confluence of Tranter’s Creek and the Tar River near Washington, North Carolina with Pamlico Sound. The Pamlico is shallow, ranging from depths of 12-16 feet in the main channel to 1-2 feet in surrounding streams and wetlands.
How do you catch the fish in Pamlico Sound?

Are there catfish in Pamlico River?
Near Washington, anglers will catch freshwater species such as bass and catfish. As the river approaches the sound, more saltwater species appear. If you’re looking to catch largemouth bass on the Pamlico River, head northwest towards Washington and the Tar River.
Is Pamlico River saltwater?
Forty miles south of Washington, the river empties to the Pamlico Sound. The Pamlico Sound is an estuary, where the freshwater of the Tar-Pamlico River mixes with the saltwater coming in from the ocean through inlets between the islands of the Outer Banks. This mixture of fresh and salt water is called brackish water.
What is the flounder season in North Carolina for 2022?
The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries today announced that the 2022 recreational flounder season will open at 12:01 a.m. Sept. 1 and close at 11:59 p.m. Sept. 30.
Where are the speckled trout biting NC?
Speckled trout are abundant and readily available in the sounds, including those around Nags Head, Manteo, Manns Harbor, and Oregon Inlet. At times, you will also find plenty in the ocean.
How do you catch speckled trout in North Carolina?

Are there alligators in the Pamlico River?
American Alligators are a rare sight on the waters of the Pamlico River, but according to the North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission, Beaufort County is considered part of the species’ territory.
Are there sharks in the Pamlico Sound?
The catch data also showed that juvenile bull sharks are consistently found only in part of western Pamlico Sound from May to October every year since 2011. In other words, Pamlico Sound fit the definition of a bull shark nursery.
Can you swim in the Pamlico River?
While there is water access, swimming is not advised in the Pamlico River for anyone, particularly from this spot. Fishing is quite easily the most popular activity at this park, and ambitious fishermen can hope for smallmouth bass and baiting mullet, as well as crabs.
Are there tarpon in Pamlico Sound?
While a relatively small sect of anglers are well aware of the presence of Megalops atlanticus (Atlantic tarpon) in the Pamlico Sound, many North Carolina natives are unaware that the same fish that caused Islamorada, Fla., to be designated as the sport fishing capital of the world will venture as far north as …
Why is Pamlico a good place to fish?
It is the perfect trip for smaller kids and first-time anglers. We fish on the Pamlico Sound, not out in the Atlantic Ocean, which means you can almost always expect calm water and smooth sailing. This is great for folks who are worried about seasickness or uncomfortable with going a few miles out to sea.
Is Pamlico Sound saltwater?
Pamlico Sound Fed by the Oregon Inlet, Hatteras Inlet and Ocracoke Inlet, it connects to both the Atlantic Ocean and the northern sounds which keeps it at a moderate mix of fresh and saltwater.
What is the best bait to use at the Outer Banks?
Mullet is the preferred cut bait of choice and should be chunked in cubes/strips for hook placement. Bloodworms can bite so use caution. They are the most expensive bait on the Outer Banks but are VERY effective!
What animals live in the Pamlico Sound?
The sound also sports a variety of fish populations including red drum, speckled trout, flounder, striped bass (known as rockfish by local populations), croaker, spot, pompano, kingfish, and bluefish. In addition, shellfish populations including blue crab, shrimp, oysters, and clams are healthy.
What are they catching in the Outer Banks?
Offshore and Inshore Charter Fishing The Outer Banks is “The Billfish Capital of the World,” and for good reason. Hundreds of blue marlin, white marlin and sailfish are caught and released in our waters every year.
Is the Pamlico River fresh water?
The 180-mile river rises as a freshwater stream (the Tar) in the Piedmont near Roxboro and changes to brackish water (the Pamlico) as it travels from Washington to the Pamlico Sound.
How salty is the Pamlico River?
Salinity in the estuaries ranges from as low as 3 parts per thousand (ppt) in Currituck Sound to about 20 ppt in the portions of Pamlico Sound closest to inlets. By comparison, the salinity of seawater is 33 to 35 ppt.
Is the Pamlico River Tidal?
The Pamlico /หpรฆmlษชkoส/ River is a tidal river that flows into Pamlico Sound, in North Carolina in the United States. It is formed by the confluence of the Tar River and Tranters Creek.
What is the best bait for flounder fishing?
Using live bait is essential for many flounder (fluke) fishermen around the country, and can be extremely effective for picky flounder (fluke). Shrimp, crabs, smaller flounder, sardines, shad, mullet, and mud minnows can all be great options for live bait.
Where is the best flounder fishing in North Carolina?
In Southeastern North Carolina, the Cape Fear River, a rich and beautiful blackwater river recognized for its very large flounder population, flows 191 miles all the way to the Atlantic Ocean where it empties near Cape Fear.
How many flounder can you catch in NC?
30 in internal and ocean waters of North Carolina. The minimum size limit will remain at 15 inches total length, and the creel limit will be 1 fish per person per day during the open recreational season.
What time of year is best for speckled trout?
Commonly, the largest speckled trout of the season are caught in the spring โ if you want to try to catch a new record trout, this is usually the best time. Read Fishing for Monster Spring Speckled Trout, to learn more about early-season fishing for specks.