Buzzard Bay Fishing
Dare County, joint fishing waters.
Pick for striped bassPiscifun Viper X spinning reel50% OFFSale $39.99 Photo of Kitty Hawk Bay: Michael Baxter, CC BY-SA 2.0
Groundwork on Buzzard Bay
On the map, Buzzard Bay is a bay along Dare County. TIGER hydrography measures it near 0.5 square miles. Its center falls in joint fishing waters on the joint boundary map. Striped bass limits come from the Albemarle Sound Management Area.
Within a short drive are 8 fishing piers, 12 coastal launches and 95 DCM access sites.
For the striped bass herePiscifun AlumiX spinning reel46% OFFSale $64.99 Access around Buzzard Bay
NCDMF reef guide, NC DCM access sites, NCWRC access areas and OpenStreetMap, checked October 2026.
Bank and pier fishing on Buzzard Bay
Pier fishing by Buzzard Bay
- Nags Head Fishing Pierocean fishing pier, 3 miles
- Avalon Fishing Pierocean fishing pier, 4 miles, blanket license
- Bebop's Multi Use Fishing Piersound/river fishing pier (OSM), 7 miles
- Manteo Public Fishing Areapublic fishing area pier, 7 miles
- Kitty Hawk Pierocean fishing pier, 8 miles, blanket license
- Jennette's Pierocean fishing pier, 8 miles, blanket license
- Little Bridge Accesssound/river access pier, 8 miles
- Outer Banks Fishing Pierocean fishing pier, 9 miles, blanket license
Walk-on access points by Buzzard Bay
- Nags Head Woods Visitor Center, Kill Devil Hills16 parking, restrooms, estuarine
- Clark Street Ocean Access, Kill Devil Hills18 parking, ocean
- Martin Street Ocean Access, Kill Devil Hills23 parking, ocean
- Calvin Street Ocean Access, Kill Devil Hills2 parking, ocean
- Atlantic Street Ocean Access, Kill Devil Hills15 parking, ocean
- Oregon Avenue Ocean Access, Kill Devil Hills10 parking, ocean
- Ocean Bay Boulevard Ocean Access, Kill Devil Hills35 parking, restrooms, ocean
- Carlton Avenue Ocean Access, Kill Devil Hills7 parking, ocean
- Lake Drive Ocean Access, Kill Devil Hillsocean
- Pinehurst Avenue Ocean Access, Kill Devil Hills10 parking, ocean
- Sutton Avenue Ocean Access, Kill Devil Hills44 parking, ocean
- Carlow Avenue Ocean Access, Kill Devil Hills26 parking, ocean
95 public access sites from DCM sit inside 8 miles.
NCDMF pier list and NC DCM Beach and Waterfront Access sites.
Boating access near Buzzard Bay
- Avalon Beach2 lanes, 22 trailer spaces, 3 docks, joint waters, 3 miles
- Unnamed slipway (Dare County)boat ramp, joint waters, 5 miles
- Unnamed slipway (Dare County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 6 miles
- Bowsertown Road2 lanes, 26 trailer spaces, restrooms, 3 docks, coastal waters, 7 miles
- Unnamed slipway (Dare County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 7 miles
- Washington Baum Bridge5 lanes, 55 trailer spaces, restrooms, 4 docks, coastal waters, 7 miles
- Manns Harbor3 lanes, 78 trailer spaces, 3 docks, coastal waters, 8 miles
- Kayak Launch, Dare County, northwest ramppaddle access, coastal waters, 8 miles
- Unnamed slipway (Dare County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 9 miles
- Unnamed slipway (Currituck County)boat ramp, joint waters, 9 miles
- Unnamed slipway (Dare County)boat ramp, joint waters, 10 miles
- Unnamed slipway (Currituck County)boat ramp, joint waters, 10 miles
NCWRC Boating Access Areas and OpenStreetMap slipways.
NCDMF reefs near Buzzard Bay
| Reef | Depth (ft) | Materials | Built | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AR-197 Roanoke Island | 15 | Natural Material (34), Tires (1) | 2019 to 2021 | 3 miles |
| AR-130 | 60 | Reef Ball (88), Concrete (47), Metal (3) | 1986 to 2020 | 9 miles |
| AR-140 | 57 | Concrete (51), Metal (1), Vessel (1) | 1986 to 2021 | 9 miles |
| AR-145 | 65 | Concrete (56), Vessel (3), Aircraft (2) | 1944 to 2021 | 17 miles |
| AR-160 Oregon Inlet Reef | 70 | Concrete (78), Reef Ball (2), Vessel (2) | 1974 to 2021 | 23 miles |
| AR-165 | 70 | Concrete (85), Vessel (3), Metal (2), Reef Ball (1) | 2020 to 2022 | 25 miles |
NCDMF Artificial Reef Program. All North Carolina reefs.
Jetties and inlets by Buzzard Bay
- Unnamed breakwater (Manns Harbor)breakwater, 9 miles
- Unnamed breakwater (Wanchese)breakwater, 11 miles
- Unnamed breakwater (Wanchese)breakwater, 11 miles
- Unnamed breakwater (Wanchese)breakwater, 12 miles
USGS GNIS, NC DCM inlet hazard areas and OpenStreetMap.
Coastal limits on Buzzard Bay
NCDMF limits with the Albemarle Sound Management Area striped bass row.
| 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 (Albemarle Sound 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.
Charters and bait around Buzzard Bay
Captains and guides by Buzzard Bay
- Bak Bar Charterscoastal charter (trip type not stated), Hatteras Landing / Teach's Lair marinas, (252) 216-8576
- Beach Bum Fishingcoastal charter (trip type not stated), Kill Devil Hills, (252) 449-0232
- Capt Johnny Inccoastal charter (trip type not stated), Manteo, (252) 473-9414
- Carolina Girl Charterscoastal charter (trip type not stated), Hatteras Landing / Teach's Lair marinas, (252) 256-1672
- Country Girl Charterscoastal charter (trip type not stated), Manteo, (252) 473-5881
- Drum Roll Charterscoastal charter (trip type not stated), Hatteras Landing / Teach's Lair marinas, (252) 305-3012
- Elizabeth Grace Charterscoastal charter (trip type not stated), Hatteras Landing / Teach's Lair marinas, (252) 216-5733
- Fintasia Charterscoastal charter (trip type not stated), Manteo, (252) 473-6211
Counters a drive from Buzzard Bay
- TW's Bait and Tacklebait and tackle shop, Nags Head, 2 miles
- T W's Bait & Tackle, 2330 S Croatan Hwybait and tackle shop, Nags Head, 2 miles
- T W's Bait & Tackle, 3864 N Croatan Hwybait and tackle shop, Kitty Hawk, 5 miles
- Jawfly Charters–Fishing & Crabbingbait and tackle shop, Kitty Hawk, 5 miles
- Mateo Waterfront Marinamarina, Manteo, 6 miles
- Ship's Storebait and tackle shop, Manteo, 7 miles
The area around Buzzard Bay
Towns within a drive of Buzzard Bay
- Kill Devil Hills2 miles
- Nags Head5 miles
- Kitty Hawk6 miles
- Manteo7 miles
Nearby bays to Buzzard Bay
- Kitty Hawk Bay4 miles northwest
- Roanoke Sound4 miles southeast
- Croatan Sound10 miles south
- Stumpy Point Bay21 miles south
Counties that hold Buzzard Bay
Piscifun reels for this water
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Buzzard Bay, the common questions
Where in North Carolina is Buzzard Bay?
Dare County; its center is joint fishing waters.
Is Buzzard Bay coastal or joint water?
Joint waters accept either the inland license ($32 resident) or the Coastal Recreational Fishing License ($20 resident) from age 16.
What size red drum can I keep on Buzzard Bay?
Red drum: 1 a day, 18-27 in; Year-round.
Is flounder open on Buzzard Bay?
Flounder: 1 a day, 15 in minimum; season Sept. 1-14, 2026.
Which striped bass rules cover Buzzard Bay?
Albemarle Sound Management Area applies. Season closed; no harvest allowed
Where does a trailer go into Buzzard Bay?
Try Avalon Beach, one of 12 coastal launches.
Are there fishing piers near Buzzard Bay?
Yes, 8 piers, starting with Nags Head Fishing Pier.
Who runs fishing trips on Buzzard Bay?
78 charters and guides work its counties.
Which counter sits nearest Buzzard Bay?
Drive 2 miles to reach TW's Bait and Tackle.
Make for Buzzard Bay
Each pier and ramp above links to its details.