North Carolina sounds and bays

Jarrett Bay Fishing

Carteret County, coastal fishing waters.

Get driving directions All Carteret County spots

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Photo of South River: Gerry Dincher, CC BY-SA 2.0

North Carolina coast

Jarrett Bay through an angler’s eyes

The bay called Jarrett Bay borders Carteret County. At its center point, the boundary rule reads coastal fishing waters. It lies in the Central Southern Management Area for striped bass.

Nearby you will find 12 coastal launches and 3 DCM access sites.

0piers within 12 mi

12launches within 10 mi

6reefs within 25 mi

Coastalfishing waters

Coastal and joint limits

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Map

Where to fish Jarrett Bay on a map

NCDMF reef guide, NC DCM access sites, NCWRC access areas and OpenStreetMap, checked October 2026.

From shore

Piers and beach access on Jarrett Bay

Beach and waterfront access near Jarrett Bay

Marshallberg, Marshallberg10 parking, estuarine
The Straits, Carteret County47 parking
Southern Gateway for Outer Banks National Scenic Byway, Carteret County6 parking, estuarine

The DCM layer counts 3 access points within 8 miles of Jarrett Bay.

NCDMF pier list and NC DCM Beach and Waterfront Access sites.

Launches

Access areas around Jarrett Bay

Unnamed slipway (Carteret County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 1 mile
Unnamed slipway (Carteret County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 1 mile
Unnamed slipway (Carteret County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 2 miles
Oyster Creek2 lanes, 13 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, 4 miles
Unnamed slipway (Carteret County)boat ramp, 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
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.

Reefs

Reef sites close to Jarrett Bay

Reef	Depth (ft)	Materials	Built	Distance
AR-275 Billy Smith Reef	55	Concrete (3), Vessel (2), Reef Ball (2)	1991 to 2007	12 miles
AR-285 George Summerlin Reef	65	Concrete (3), Vessel (1), Metal (1), Reef Ball (1)	1989 to 2007	17 miles
AR-315 Atlantic Beach Reef	49	Concrete (17), Vessel (5), Unknown (4), Metal (2), Aircraft (2), Reef Ball (2), Other (1)	1974 to 2008	17 miles
AR-380 Bogue Sound Reef	15	Reef Ball (2)	2018 to 2021	19 miles
AR-396 Oriental	15	Reef Ball (4), Natural Material (3), Tires (3), Concrete (2)	1973 to 2013	19 miles
AR-320 Clifton Moss Reef	50	Concrete (25), Metal (2), Vessel (2)	1986 to 2020	20 miles

NCDMF Artificial Reef Program. All North Carolina reefs.

Inlets

Inlets by Jarrett Bay

Unnamed breakwater (Davis)breakwater, 1 mile
Unnamed breakwater (Davis)breakwater, 2 miles
Unnamed breakwater (Davis)breakwater, 2 miles
Unnamed breakwater (Davis)breakwater, 2 miles
Unnamed breakwater (Carteret)breakwater, 3 miles
Unnamed breakwater (Carteret)breakwater, 3 miles

USGS GNIS, NC DCM inlet hazard areas and OpenStreetMap.

Limits

Regulations on Jarrett Bay

Coastal and joint limits; striped bass under 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.

Local help

Captains and shops by Jarrett Bay

Book a guide near Jarrett 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

Tackle counters around Jarrett Bay

Joann's Lil Shopcountry store with bait, Beaufort, 4 miles
Cape Pointe Marinamarina, Harkers Island, 8 miles
Cedar Creek Marinamarina, Carteret, 8 miles
Loggerhead The Boathouse Marinamarina, Beaufort, 10 miles
Boat House Weddingsmarina, Carteret, 10 miles
Safe Harbor Jarrett Baymarina, Beaufort, 11 miles

Nearby

Short drives from Jarrett Bay

Home bases near Jarrett Bay

Davis1 mile
Marshallberg5 miles
Harkers Island7 miles
Atlantic10 miles

Next sounds over from Jarrett Bay

Core Sound4 miles east
Nelson Bay7 miles northeast
Back Sound9 miles southwest
South River12 miles north

County pages tied to Jarrett Bay

Carteret County

Piscifun gear

Reels and a lip grip from Piscifun

Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.

Fish ID

Common catches near Jarrett Bay

Red drum, North Carolina — Red drum
Photo: Geeklikepi, CC BY-SA 3.0

Spotted seatrout, North Carolina — Spotted seatrout
Photo: Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, CC BY 2.0

Black drum, North Carolina — Black drum
Photo: Attackgirl (talk) (Uploads), Public domain

Cobia, North Carolina — Cobia
Photo: Jorge Alarcon or Dr. Daniel Benetti, Public domain

Answers

Quick facts on Jarrett Bay

Which counties touch Jarrett Bay?

It lies along Carteret County (coastal fishing waters).

Which license do I need on Jarrett Bay?

Coastal waters take a Coastal Recreational Fishing License from age 16 ($20 resident, $40 nonresident).

How many red drum can I keep on Jarrett Bay?

Red drum: 1 a day, 18-27 in; Year-round.

What is the flounder limit on Jarrett Bay?

Flounder: 1 a day, 15 in minimum; season Sept. 1-14, 2026.

What are the striper rules on Jarrett Bay?

Central Southern Management Area applies. Was open April 1-30, 2026; 1 fish, 18 in minimum, 22-27 in protected

Where do boats go in on Jarrett Bay?

Unnamed slipway (Carteret County) is closest of 12 coastal launches.

Do piers near Jarrett Bay cover my license?

None within 12 miles.

Can I book a charter close to Jarrett Bay?

There are 18 charters and guides in the county listings.

Is a tackle shop close to Jarrett Bay?

Joann's Lil Shop sits about 4 miles away.

Block out a day for Jarrett Bay

Read the coastal limits before the trip.

North Carolina coast North Carolina piers