Back Sound Fishing
Carteret County, coastal fishing waters.
Pick for striped bassPiscifun Viper X spinning reel50% OFFSale $39.99 Photo of Bogue Sound: DiscoA340, CC BY-SA 4.0
Back Sound, sized up
In Carteret County, Back Sound forms a sound of the coast. Census water polygons carrying the name total about 12 square miles. The state rule map puts its center in coastal fishing waters. The Central Southern Management Area sets striped bass seasons here.
State and OSM layers show 2 fishing piers, 12 coastal launches and 14 DCM access sites nearby.
For the striped bass herePiscifun AlumiX spinning reel46% OFFSale $64.99 Back Sound on an NCWRC-style map
NCDMF reef guide, NC DCM access sites, NCWRC access areas and OpenStreetMap, checked October 2026.
Bank and pier access on Back Sound
Piers a drive from Back Sound
- Newport River Accesssound/river access pier, 7 miles
- Oceanana Pierocean fishing pier, 9 miles
DCM access sites near Back Sound
- The Straits, Carteret County47 parking
- Marshallberg, Marshallberg10 parking, estuarine
- Carrot Island, Beaufortestuarine
- Taylor's Creek Boat Ramp aka Curtis Perry Public Park, Beaufort31 parking, restrooms, estuarine
- Fisherman's Park, Beaufortestuarine
- Harborside Park, Beaufortrestrooms, estuarine
- Orange Street, Beaufortestuarine
- West Beaufort, Beaufort100 parking, restrooms, estuarine
- Fort Macon, Atlantic Beach277 parking, restrooms, ocean
- Radio Island Beach Acces, Morehead City63 parking, restrooms, estuarine
- Newport River Access, Beaufort40 parking, restrooms, estuarine
- Bathhouse Access, Atlantic Beach317 parking, restrooms, ocean
DCM lists 14 public access points within 8 miles, without saying which allow fishing.
NCDMF pier list and NC DCM Beach and Waterfront Access sites.
Other ramps by Back Sound
- Unnamed slipway (Carteret County)boat ramp, coastal waters, under a mile
- Unnamed slipway (Carteret County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 2 miles
- Unnamed slipway (Carteret County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 2 miles
- Unnamed slipway (Carteret County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 2 miles
- Straits Landing2 lanes, 91 trailer spaces, 3 docks, coastal waters, 3 miles
- Unnamed slipway (Carteret County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 3 miles
- Unnamed slipway (Carteret County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 3 miles
- Unnamed slipway (Carteret County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 4 miles
- Beaufort4 lanes, 43 trailer spaces, restrooms, 3 docks, coastal waters, 4 miles
- Unnamed slipway (Carteret County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 5 miles
- Unnamed slipway (Carteret County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 5 miles
- Unnamed slipway (Carteret County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 5 miles
NCWRC Boating Access Areas and OpenStreetMap slipways.
Structure off Back Sound
| Reef | Depth (ft) | Materials | Built | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AR-315 Atlantic Beach Reef | 49 | Concrete (17), Vessel (5), Unknown (4), Metal (2), Aircraft (2), Reef Ball (2), Other (1) | 1974 to 2008 | 10 miles |
| AR-285 George Summerlin Reef | 65 | Concrete (3), Vessel (1), Metal (1), Reef Ball (1) | 1989 to 2007 | 12 miles |
| AR-380 Bogue Sound Reef | 15 | Reef Ball (2) | 2018 to 2021 | 13 miles |
| AR-320 Clifton Moss Reef | 50 | Concrete (25), Metal (2), Vessel (2) | 1986 to 2020 | 14 miles |
| AR-330 Howard Chapin Reef | 60 | Concrete (9), Vessel (7), Metal (2), Reef Ball (2), Fiberglass (1), Aircraft (1) | 1990 to 2023 | 18 miles |
| AR-275 Billy Smith Reef | 55 | Concrete (3), Vessel (2), Reef Ball (2) | 1991 to 2007 | 19 miles |
| AR-340 J. Paul Tyndall Reef | 58 | Concrete (21), Fiberglass (2), Reef Ball (1), Metal (1) | 1986 to 2020 | 24 miles |
| AR-396 Oriental | 15 | Reef Ball (4), Natural Material (3), Tires (3), Concrete (2) | 1973 to 2013 | 24 miles |
NCDMF Artificial Reef Program. All North Carolina reefs.
Ocean inlets near Back Sound
- Unnamed breakwater (Harkers Island)breakwater, 2 miles
- Unnamed breakwater (Harkers Island)breakwater, 2 miles
- Unnamed breakwater (Harkers Island)breakwater, 3 miles
- Unnamed breakwater (Harkers Island)breakwater, 3 miles
- Barden Inletinlet, 4 miles
- Rock Jettyjetty, 5 miles
USGS GNIS, NC DCM inlet hazard areas and OpenStreetMap.
Creel limits, Back Sound
NCDMF rows, striped bass set by the Central Southern Management Area.
| Species | Daily creel | Size | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red drum | 1 a day | 18-27 in | Year-round |
| Flounder (all species) | 1 a day | 15 in minimum | Sept. 1-14, 2026 |
| Spotted seatrout | 3 a day | 14-20 in, plus 1 over 26 in | Open (reopened July 1, 2026) |
| Weakfish | 1 a day | 12 in minimum | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| Black drum | 10 a day | 14-25 in, plus 1 over 25 in | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| Sheepshead | 5 a day | 14 in minimum | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| Striped bass (Central Southern Management Area) | none may be kept | no size limit | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| Bluefish | 5 a day | no size limit | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| Spanish mackerel | 15 a day | 12 in minimum | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| Cobia | 1 a day | 36 in minimum | May 1 – Dec. 31, 2026 |
| Spot | 3 a day | 14-20 in, plus 1 over 26 in | Open (reopened July 1, 2026) |
| Atlantic croaker | 50 a day | no size limit | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| Blue crab (recreational) | 50 a day | no size limit | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
NCDMF recreational size and bag limits and 2026 proclamations, checked October 2026. Coastal and joint limits.
For-hire boats and bait at Back Sound
Guides working near Back Sound
- A1a Fishingcoastal charter (trip type not stated), Morehead City, (252) 241-0210
- BreakDay Charterscoastal charter (trip type not stated), Atlantic Beach, (252) 732-0990
- Cape Lookout Charterscoastal charter (trip type not stated), emerald isle, (252) 241-0210
- Captain Stacycoastal charter (trip type not stated), Atlantic Beach, (252) 648-6155
- Crystal Coast Charterscoastal charter (trip type not stated), Beaufort, (202) 369-1063
- Crystal Coast Charterscoastal charter (trip type not stated), Morehead City, (252) 808-7067
- Down East Guide Servicecoastal charter (trip type not stated), Morehead City, (252) 671-3474
- Reel Faith Fishing Charterscoastal charter (trip type not stated), Morehead City, (919) 369-6403
Bait stores near Back Sound
- Cape Pointe Marinamarina, Harkers Island, 2 miles
- Boat House Weddingsmarina, Carteret, 4 miles
- Loggerhead The Boathouse Marinamarina, Beaufort, 4 miles
- Airport Marinamarina, Beaufort, 5 miles
- Joann's Lil Shopcountry store with bait, Beaufort, 6 miles
- Beaufort Yacht Basinmarina, Beaufort, 6 miles
Neighbors of Back Sound on the map
Places to stay by Back Sound
- Harkers Island2 miles
- Marshallberg4 miles
- Beaufort6 miles
- Davis9 miles
Other bays by Back Sound
- Lookout Bight5 miles south
- Jarrett Bay9 miles northeast
- Core Sound11 miles northeast
- Nelson Bay16 miles northeast
Which counties Back Sound crosses
Reels and a lip grip from Piscifun
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Species to expect near Back Sound
Photo: Steve Hillebrand, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain
Photo: Jorge Alarcon or Dr. Daniel Benetti, Public domain
Photo: NOAA's Fisheries Collection; Collection of Brandi Noble, Public domain
.jpg){kind=link}
Photo: Carvalho-Souza, Gómez & González-Ortegón (2024), CC BY 4.0
_Figure_1.jpg){kind=link}
Back Sound in a few answers
What route leads to Back Sound?
Carteret County, which the rule map calls coastal fishing waters.
Which license works on Back Sound?
Coastal waters take a Coastal Recreational Fishing License from age 16 ($20 resident, $40 nonresident).
Is red drum open on Back Sound?
Red drum: 1 a day, 18-27 in; Year-round.
When is flounder season on Back Sound?
Flounder: 1 a day, 15 in minimum; season Sept. 1-14, 2026.
Is striped bass open on Back Sound?
Central Southern Management Area applies. Was open April 1-30, 2026; 1 fish, 18 in minimum, 22-27 in protected
Which ramp is nearest Back Sound?
Start at Unnamed slipway (Carteret County); there are 12 coastal launches.
Is there pier fishing at Back Sound?
2 piers, the closest Newport River Access.
Which captains take paid trips on Back Sound?
18 charters and guides list a county on it.
Which tackle counter is nearest Back Sound?
Try Cape Pointe Marina (2 miles).
Load the boat for Back Sound
Coastal and joint waters each have their license rules; read them first.