Cedar Island Bay Fishing
Carteret County, coastal fishing waters.
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Angling Cedar Island Bay
You will find Cedar Island Bay, a bay, in Carteret County. Roughly 4.4 square miles of water carry the name on Census maps. The coastal-joint-inland map marks its center as coastal fishing waters. Striped bass rules here follow the Central Southern Management Area.
Close by sit 12 coastal launches.
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NCDMF reef guide, NC DCM access sites, NCWRC access areas and OpenStreetMap, checked October 2026.
Ramps by Cedar Island Bay
- Cedar Island2 lanes, 16 trailer spaces, 3 docks, coastal waters, under a mile
- Unnamed slipway (Carteret County)boat ramp, coastal waters, under a mile
- Unnamed slipway (Carteret County)boat ramp, coastal waters, under a mile
- Unnamed slipway (Carteret County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 1 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
- Unnamed slipway (Carteret County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 2 miles
- Unnamed slipway (Carteret County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 5 miles
- Unnamed slipway (Carteret County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 7 miles
- Unnamed slipway (Carteret County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 8 miles
- Unnamed slipway (Carteret County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 9 miles
NCWRC Boating Access Areas and OpenStreetMap slipways.
NCDMF artificial reefs off Cedar Island Bay
| Reef | Depth (ft) | Materials | Built | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AR-275 Billy Smith Reef | 55 | Concrete (3), Vessel (2), Reef Ball (2) | 1991 to 2007 | 13 miles |
| AR-396 Oriental | 15 | Reef Ball (4), Natural Material (3), Tires (3), Concrete (2) | 1973 to 2013 | 19 miles |
| AR-255 | 84 | Concrete (2), Metal (1) | 1995 to 2022 | 21 miles |
| AR-298 Ocracoke | 15 | Natural Material (69), Concrete (18), Reef Ball (4), Vessel (3) | 1986 to 2024 | 21 miles |
| AR-293 | 15 | Reef Ball (1) | 2023 to 2023 | 21 miles |
| AR-250 | 83 | Concrete (3), Metal (1) | 1990 to 2021 | 23 miles |
NCDMF Artificial Reef Program. All North Carolina reefs.
Passes to the sea near Cedar Island Bay
- Unnamed breakwater (Carteret)breakwater, under a mile
- Unnamed breakwater (Atlantic)breakwater, 9 miles
- Old Drum Inletinlet, 9 miles
- New Drum Inletinlet, 11 miles
- Ophelia Inletinlet, 12 miles
USGS GNIS, NC DCM inlet hazard areas and OpenStreetMap.
What you may keep from Cedar Island Bay
Rows for coastal and joint waters and 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.
Hired help on Cedar Island Bay
Guided trips on Cedar Island Bay
- 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
Pick up bait near Cedar Island Bay
- Cedar Creek Marinamarina, Carteret, 11 miles
Out from Cedar Island Bay
Where to sleep near Cedar Island Bay
- Atlantic9 miles
- Davis18 miles
- Ocracoke18 miles
Sounds around Cedar Island Bay
- West Bay5 miles west
- Long Bay8 miles southwest
- Turnagain Bay10 miles west
- Nelson Bay11 miles southwest
Cedar Island Bay, county by county
Piscifun reels for this water
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Species around Cedar Island Bay, pictured
Photo: SEFSC Pascagoula Laboratory; Collection of Brandi Noble, NOAA/NMFS/SEFSC, Public domain
Photo: Stefanie Tellex. (talk) (Uploads), Public domain
Photo: NOAA's Fisheries Collection; Collection of Brandi Noble, Public domain
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Photo: Carvalho-Souza, Gómez & González-Ortegón (2024), CC BY 4.0
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Questions people send about Cedar Island Bay
Which county borders Cedar Island Bay?
In Carteret County, coastal fishing waters at its center.
Do I need a CRFL on Cedar Island Bay?
Coastal waters take a Coastal Recreational Fishing License from age 16 ($20 resident, $40 nonresident).
Can I keep a red drum from Cedar Island Bay?
Red drum: 1 a day, 18-27 in; Year-round.
How many flounder can I keep on Cedar Island Bay?
Flounder: 1 a day, 15 in minimum; season Sept. 1-14, 2026.
Is Cedar Island Bay in the Albemarle striped bass area?
Central Southern Management Area applies. Was open April 1-30, 2026; 1 fish, 18 in minimum, 22-27 in protected
Which ramp reaches Cedar Island Bay?
12 coastal launches; the nearest is Cedar Island.
Is there pier fishing close to Cedar Island Bay?
The nearest pier is over 12 miles off.
Can I book a guide for Cedar Island Bay?
County listings show 18 charters and guides.
Where do I stock up for Cedar Island Bay?
Cedar Creek Marina, roughly 11 miles from the water.
Add Cedar Island Bay to the plans
Limits change by proclamation; check before you go.