Croatan Sound Fishing
Dare County, coastal fishing waters.
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Croatan Sound through an angler’s eyes
The sound called Croatan Sound borders Dare County. Named Census water pieces add up to roughly 66.3 square miles. At its center point, the boundary rule reads coastal fishing waters. It lies in the Albemarle Sound Management Area for striped bass.
Nearby you will find 6 fishing piers, 12 coastal launches and 43 DCM access sites.
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NCDMF reef guide, NC DCM access sites, NCWRC access areas and OpenStreetMap, checked October 2026.
Piers and beach access on Croatan Sound
Piers closest to Croatan Sound
- Manteo Public Fishing Areapublic fishing area pier, 5 miles
- Bebop's Multi Use Fishing Piersound/river fishing pier (OSM), 5 miles
- Little Bridge Accesssound/river access pier, 6 miles
- Outer Banks Fishing Pierocean fishing pier, 7 miles, blanket license
- Jennette's Pierocean fishing pier, 7 miles, blanket license
- Nags Head Fishing Pierocean fishing pier, 9 miles
Beach and waterfront access near Croatan Sound
- Roanoke Island Visitor Information Center and Rest Area, Dare County70 parking, restrooms, estuarine
- Old Swimming Hole, Dare County12 parking, restrooms, estuarine
- Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse, Manteo17 parking
- Waterfront Boardwalk, Manteoestuarine
- Manteo Waterfront Public Boat Ramp, Manteorestrooms, estuarine
- Roanoke Island Festival Park, Manteo170 parking, restrooms, estuarine
- Washington Baum Bridge Boat Access, Dare County25 parking, restrooms, estuarine
- Weir Point Access, Dare County23 parking, restrooms, estuarine
- Freedmens Colony Road Access, Dare County20 parking, estuarine
- Bebops Public Multi-Use Pier, Dare County5 parking, estuarine
- Manns Harbor WRC Boat Launch, NCWRC6 parking, estuarine
- Little Bridge Access, Nags Head35 parking, restrooms, estuarine
The DCM layer counts 43 access points within 8 miles of Croatan Sound.
NCDMF pier list and NC DCM Beach and Waterfront Access sites.
Access areas around Croatan Sound
- Bowsertown Road2 lanes, 26 trailer spaces, restrooms, 3 docks, coastal waters, 3 miles
- Unnamed slipway (Dare County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 4 miles
- Unnamed slipway (Dare County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 4 miles
- Washington Baum Bridge5 lanes, 55 trailer spaces, restrooms, 4 docks, coastal waters, 5 miles
- Unnamed slipway (Dare County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 5 miles
- Manns Harbor3 lanes, 78 trailer spaces, 3 docks, coastal waters, 5 miles
- Kayak Launch, Dare County, northwest ramppaddle access, coastal waters, 7 miles
- Unnamed slipway (Dare County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 9 miles
- Unnamed slipway (Dare County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 9 miles
- U.S. Coast Guard – Station Oregon Inletboat ramp, coastal waters, 10 miles
- Unnamed slipway (Dare County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 10 miles
- Kayak Launch, Dare County, southeast ramppaddle access, coastal waters, 10 miles
NCWRC Boating Access Areas and OpenStreetMap slipways.
Reef sites close to Croatan Sound
| Reef | Depth (ft) | Materials | Built | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AR-197 Roanoke Island | 15 | Natural Material (34), Tires (1) | 2019 to 2021 | 7 miles |
| AR-140 | 57 | Concrete (51), Metal (1), Vessel (1) | 1986 to 2021 | 12 miles |
| AR-130 | 60 | Reef Ball (88), Concrete (47), Metal (3) | 1986 to 2020 | 14 miles |
| AR-160 Oregon Inlet Reef | 70 | Concrete (78), Reef Ball (2), Vessel (2) | 1974 to 2021 | 17 miles |
| AR-145 | 65 | Concrete (56), Vessel (3), Aircraft (2) | 1944 to 2021 | 18 miles |
| AR-165 | 70 | Concrete (85), Vessel (3), Metal (2), Reef Ball (1) | 2020 to 2022 | 19 miles |
NCDMF Artificial Reef Program. All North Carolina reefs.
Inlets by Croatan Sound
- Unnamed breakwater (Manns Harbor)breakwater, 3 miles
- Unnamed breakwater (Wanchese)breakwater, 5 miles
- Unnamed breakwater (Wanchese)breakwater, 6 miles
- Unnamed breakwater (Wanchese)breakwater, 6 miles
- Oregon Inletinlet, 11 miles
- Unnamed breakwater (Dare)breakwater, 12 miles
USGS GNIS, NC DCM inlet hazard areas and OpenStreetMap.
Regulations on Croatan Sound
Coastal and joint limits; striped bass under the Albemarle Sound 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 (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.
Captains and shops by Croatan Sound
Book a guide near Croatan Sound
- 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
Tackle counters around Croatan Sound
- Bowsertown Road Boating Access Areamarina, Dare, 3 miles
- Mateo Waterfront Marinamarina, Manteo, 3 miles
- Commercial Fishing Suppliesbait and tackle shop, Manteo, 3 miles
- Sea & Sound Tackle, Incbait and tackle shop, Wanchese, 4 miles
- Shallowbag Bay Marinamarina, Manteo, 4 miles
- Ship's Storebait and tackle shop, Manteo, 4 miles
Short drives from Croatan Sound
Home bases near Croatan Sound
- Wanchese4 miles
- Manteo4 miles
- Manns Harbor5 miles
- Nags Head8 miles
Next sounds over from Croatan Sound
- Roanoke Sound6 miles northeast
- Buzzard Bay10 miles north
- Stumpy Point Bay12 miles south
- Kitty Hawk Bay13 miles north
County pages tied to Croatan Sound
Spinning, baitcasting and a weigh grip
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Common catches near Croatan Sound
Photo: Mick Johnson, CC BY 3.0
Photo: Jorge Alarcon or Dr. Daniel Benetti, 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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Quick facts on Croatan Sound
Which counties touch Croatan Sound?
It lies along Dare County (coastal fishing waters).
Which license do I need on Croatan Sound?
Coastal waters take a Coastal Recreational Fishing License from age 16 ($20 resident, $40 nonresident).
How many red drum can I keep on Croatan Sound?
Red drum: 1 a day, 18-27 in; Year-round.
What is the flounder limit on Croatan Sound?
Flounder: 1 a day, 15 in minimum; season Sept. 1-14, 2026.
What are the striper rules on Croatan Sound?
Albemarle Sound Management Area applies. Season closed; no harvest allowed
Where do boats go in on Croatan Sound?
Bowsertown Road is closest of 12 coastal launches.
Do piers near Croatan Sound cover my license?
Manteo Public Fishing Area leads 6 piers.
Can I book a charter close to Croatan Sound?
There are 78 charters and guides in the county listings.
Is a tackle shop close to Croatan Sound?
Bowsertown Road Boating Access Area sits about 3 miles away.
Block out a day for Croatan Sound
Read the coastal limits before the trip.