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North Carolina
90 species
North Carolina
90 species
🌊
Saltwater Fish
Red Drum (Channel Bass)
🐟
Freshwater Fish
Brook Trout
🦅
State Bird
Northern Cardinal
🌸
State Flower
Flowering Dogwood
🦌
State Mammal
Eastern Gray Squirrel
Largemouth Bass
Regulated✓ Harvestable
Peak: Mar, Apr, May, Jun
Secondary: Sep, Oct, Nov
Spawn peaks spring
Smallmouth Bass
Regulated✓ Harvestable
Peak: Apr, May, Jun
Secondary: Sep, Oct
Spotted Bass
Regulated✓ Harvestable
Peak: Apr, May, Jun
Secondary: Oct, Nov
Striped Bass
Regulated✓ Harvestable
Peak: Apr, May
Secondary: Oct
Anadromous
White Bass
Regulated✓ Harvestable
Peak: Apr, May, Jun
Hybrid Striped Bass
Regulated✓ Harvestable
Peak: Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
Black Crappie
Regulated✓ Harvestable
Peak: Mar, Apr
Secondary: Oct
Shallow spawn
White Crappie
Regulated✓ Harvestable
Peak: Mar, Apr
Secondary: Oct
Bluegill
Regulated✓ Harvestable
Peak: May, Jun, Jul, Aug
Bedding cycles
Redear Sunfish
Regulated✓ Harvestable
Peak: May, Jun, Jul, Aug
Redbreast Sunfish
Regulated✓ Harvestable
Peak: May, Jun, Jul, Aug
Popular in streams
Green Sunfish
Regulated✓ Harvestable
Peak: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
Hardy; tolerates poor water quality
Pumpkinseed
Regulated✓ Harvestable
Peak: May, Jun, Jul, Aug
Colorful; cooler water preference
Warmouth
Regulated✓ Harvestable
Peak: May, Jun, Jul, Aug
Heavy cover; vegetation
Channel Catfish
Regulated✓ Harvestable
Peak: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
Night & warm water
Blue Catfish
Regulated✓ Harvestable
Peak: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
Flathead Catfish
Regulated✓ Harvestable
Peak: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
Brook Trout
Regulated✓ Harvestable
Peak: Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May
Elevation-dependent
Brown Trout
Regulated✓ Harvestable
Peak: Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May
Rainbow Trout
Regulated✓ Harvestable
Peak: Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May
Chain Pickerel
Regulated✓ Harvestable
Peak: Jan, Feb, Mar, Nov, Dec
Red Drum
Regulated✓ Harvestable
Peak: Sep, Oct, Nov
Secondary: Apr, May, Jun
🌡️ Temp: 60-78°F
🏞️ Habitat: inshore, nearshore
Fall migration peak
Black Drum
Regulated✓ Harvestable
Peak: Apr, May, Jun
Secondary: Oct, Nov
Spotted Seatrout
Regulated✓ Harvestable
Peak: Oct, Nov, Dec
Secondary: Mar, Apr
Cold sensitivity
Weakfish
Regulated✓ Harvestable
Peak: May, Jun, Jul
Southern Flounder
Regulated✓ Harvestable
Peak: Sep, Oct
Secondary: Apr, May, Jun
Fall run critical
Summer Flounder
Regulated✓ Harvestable
Peak: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
Gulf Flounder
Regulated✓ Harvestable
Peak: Oct, Nov, Dec
Spanish Mackerel
Regulated✓ Harvestable
Peak: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
Temp-driven
King Mackerel
Regulated✓ Harvestable
Peak: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
Offshore shift
Bluefish
Regulated✓ Harvestable
Peak: Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
Atlantic Bonito
Regulated✓ Harvestable
Peak: May, Jun, Jul, Aug
Sheepshead
Regulated✓ Harvestable
Peak: Feb, Mar, Apr
Secondary: Nov, Dec
Black Sea Bass
Regulated✓ Harvestable
Peak: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
Tautog
Regulated✓ Harvestable
Peak: Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr
Atlantic Croaker
Regulated✓ Harvestable
Peak: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
Spot
Regulated✓ Harvestable
Peak: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
American Shad
Regulated✓ Harvestable
Peak: Mar, Apr, May
Hickory Shad
Regulated✓ Harvestable
Peak: Mar, Apr, May
Spring run; excellent fighter
Alewife
Non-GamePeak: Mar, Apr, May
Spring spawning run; baitfish
Blueback Herring
Non-GamePeak: Apr, May, Jun
Spring run; later than alewife
Bowfin
Non-GamePeak: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
American Eel
Non-GamePeak: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
White Sucker
Non-GamePeak: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
Spring spawn runs; bottom feeder
Northern Hogsucker
Non-GamePeak: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
Rivers and streams; rocky substrate
Roanoke Hogsucker
Non-GamePeak: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
Roanoke River drainage
Golden Shiner
Non-GamePeak: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
Common baitfish
Satinfin Shiner
Non-GamePeak: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
Native; streams and rivers
Spotfin Shiner
Non-GamePeak: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
Common in Piedmont streams
Sandbar Shiner
Non-GamePeak: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
Sandy-bottom streams
Highscale Shiner
Non-GamePeak: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
Coastal plain waters
Eastern Silvery Minnow
Non-GamePeak: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
Coastal plain streams
Carolina Darter
Non-GamePeak: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
Endemic to NC/SC; small benthic fish
Swannanoa Darter
Non-GamePeak: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
Mountain streams; western NC
Tessellated Darter
Non-GamePeak: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
Rocky streams
Piedmont Darter
Non-GamePeak: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
Piedmont region streams
Banded Killifish
Non-GamePeak: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
Coastal waters and streams
Mummichog
Non-GamePeak: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
Brackish water; coastal marshes
Mosquitofish
Non-GamePeak: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
Mosquito control; widespread
Chain Pickerel
Regulated✓ Harvestable
Peak: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
Year-round; coastal plain waters
Pirate Perch
Non-GamePeak: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
Unusual anus placement; swamps
Pinfish
Non-GamePeak: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
Pigfish
Non-GamePeak: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
Sea Robin
Non-GamePeak: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
Common catch; grunts
Lizardfish
Non-GamePeak: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
Bottom dweller; toothy
Northern Puffer
Non-GamePeak: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
Inflates when threatened
Filefish
Non-GamePeak: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
Reef associated
Cowfish
Non-GamePeak: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
Boxy appearance; toxic skin
Common Carp
⚠️ InvasivePeak: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
⚠️ Invasive; removal encouraged
Grass Carp
⚠️ InvasivePeak: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
⚠️ Invasive; stocked for vegetation control (sterile)
Silver Carp
⚠️ InvasivePeak: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
⚠️ Invasive; jumping hazard
Bighead Carp
⚠️ InvasivePeak: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
⚠️ Invasive; filter feeder
Goldfish
⚠️ InvasivePeak: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
⚠️ Invasive; released pets
White Perch
⚠️ InvasivePeak: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
⚠️ Invasive; competes with native species
Blacktip Shark
Awareness OnlyPeak: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
⚠️ Safety awareness; summer nearshore
Spinner Shark
Awareness OnlyPeak: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
⚠️ Safety awareness; spinning jumps
Bull Shark
Awareness OnlyPeak: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
⚠️ Caution; tolerates freshwater
Sandbar Shark
Awareness OnlyPeak: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
⚠️ Common nearshore; docile
Bonnethead
Awareness OnlyPeak: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
⚠️ Small shark; inshore waters
Southern Stingray
Awareness OnlyPeak: Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
Safety awareness; shuffle feet in shallow water
Cownose Ray
Awareness OnlyPeak: Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
⚠️ Migrates in large schools; wing-like fins
Atlantic Skate
Awareness OnlyPeak: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
Offshore; cooler waters
Minnows (group)
Peak: Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
🌡️ Temp: 50-75°F
🏞️ Habitat: streams, rivers, lakes
Essential forage base; group includes dozens of species
Shiners (group)
Peak: Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
🌡️ Temp: 50-75°F
🏞️ Habitat: streams, rivers, lakes, ponds
Popular live bait; group includes golden, satinfin, spotfin, and others
Darters (group)
Peak: Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
🌡️ Temp: 50-75°F
🏞️ Habitat: streams, rivers
Small benthic fish; high biodiversity in NC streams
Suckers (group)
Peak: Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
🌡️ Temp: 45-70°F
🏞️ Habitat: streams, rivers
Spring spawning runs; bottom feeders
Atlantic Menhaden (Bunker)
Peak: Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov
🌡️ Temp: 55-80°F
🏞️ Habitat: coastal, bays, estuaries
Critical forage species; supports commercial and recreational fisheries
Bay Anchovy
Peak: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
🌡️ Temp: 60-80°F
🏞️ Habitat: bays, estuaries
Abundant baitfish in estuaries
Silversides
Peak: Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
🌡️ Temp: 55-75°F
🏞️ Habitat: coastal, bays, surf
Small schooling fish; important prey for gamefish
River Herring (Alewife / Blueback)
Peak: Mar, Apr, May, Jun
🌡️ Temp: 45-65°F
🏞️ Habitat: rivers, estuaries
⚠️ Protected species; anadromous spawning runs
