Long Bay Fishing
Carteret County, coastal fishing waters.
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Getting oriented on Long Bay
Long Bay is a bay in Carteret County. About 5 square miles of Census water bear the name. NCDMF and NCWRC class the water at its center as coastal fishing waters. Striped bass fall under the Central Southern Management Area at this point.
Anglers can pick from 12 coastal launches close to it.
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NCDMF reef guide, NC DCM access sites, NCWRC access areas and OpenStreetMap, checked October 2026.
Nearest put-ins to Long Bay
- Unnamed slipway (Carteret County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 5 miles
- Salters Creek1 lane, 15 trailer spaces, 1 dock, coastal waters, 5 miles
- Unnamed slipway (Carteret County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 7 miles
- Unnamed slipway (Carteret County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 7 miles
- Unnamed slipway (Carteret County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 7 miles
- Unnamed slipway (Carteret County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 7 miles
- Unnamed slipway (Carteret County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 7 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, 8 miles
- Unnamed slipway (Carteret County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 8 miles
- Unnamed slipway (Carteret County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 8 miles
NCWRC Boating Access Areas and OpenStreetMap slipways.
Built reefs around Long 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-396 Oriental | 15 | Reef Ball (4), Natural Material (3), Tires (3), Concrete (2) | 1973 to 2013 | 14 miles |
| AR-293 | 15 | Reef Ball (1) | 2023 to 2023 | 24 miles |
NCDMF Artificial Reef Program. All North Carolina reefs.
Where Long Bay opens to the Atlantic
- Unnamed breakwater (Atlantic)breakwater, 8 miles
- Unnamed breakwater (Carteret)breakwater, 8 miles
- New Drum Inletinlet, 10 miles
- Ophelia Inletinlet, 10 miles
- Old Drum Inletinlet, 10 miles
- Unnamed breakwater (Davis)breakwater, 11 miles
USGS GNIS, NC DCM inlet hazard areas and OpenStreetMap.
Harvest rules for Long Bay
NCDMF rows for coastal and joint waters, striped bass 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.
Captains and shops for Long Bay
Guides on Long 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
Where to buy bait by Long Bay
- Cedar Creek Marinamarina, Carteret, 7 miles
- Town Creek Marina, 114 Town Creek Drmarina, Beaufort, 12 miles
- The Harbor Club at River Dunesmarina, Oriental, 13 miles
- Paradise Cove Marinamarina, Merritt, 14 miles
- Marine Craftmarina, Merritt, 15 miles
- Point Marinamarina, Merritt, 15 miles
In reach of Long Bay
Towns nearest Long Bay
- Atlantic7 miles
- Davis11 miles
- Oriental15 miles
- Marshallberg16 miles
Tidal water by Long Bay
- Turnagain Bay4 miles northwest
- West Bay6 miles north
- Nelson Bay6 miles south
- South River7 miles west
Long Bay county links
Piscifun reels for this water
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Worth knowing about Long Bay
What is the exact spot of Long Bay?
Carteret County, in coastal fishing waters.
Which fishing license fits Long Bay?
Coastal waters take a Coastal Recreational Fishing License from age 16 ($20 resident, $40 nonresident).
How many red drum may I keep on Long Bay?
Red drum: 1 a day, 18-27 in; Year-round.
Can I keep flounder from Long Bay?
Flounder: 1 a day, 15 in minimum; season Sept. 1-14, 2026.
What striped bass area is Long Bay in?
Central Southern Management Area applies. Was open April 1-30, 2026; 1 fish, 18 in minimum, 22-27 in protected
Which ramps reach Long Bay?
12 coastal launches, closest Unnamed slipway (Carteret County).
Which pier sits closest to Long Bay?
No listed pier within 12 miles.
Which captains run Long Bay?
18 charters and guides are based in its counties.
Which counter sells bait nearest Long Bay?
The nearest listing is Cedar Creek Marina, 7 miles off.
Spend time on Long Bay
Check the striped bass area before you keep one.