Roanoke Sound Fishing
Dare County, coastal fishing waters.
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Roanoke Sound through an angler’s eyes
The sound called Roanoke Sound borders Dare County. Named Census water pieces add up to roughly 45.1 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 8 fishing piers, 10 coastal launches and 88 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 Roanoke Sound
Piers closest to Roanoke Sound
- Nags Head Fishing Pierocean fishing pier, 3 miles
- Manteo Public Fishing Areapublic fishing area pier, 3 miles
- Little Bridge Accesssound/river access pier, 3 miles
- Jennette's Pierocean fishing pier, 4 miles, blanket license
- Outer Banks Fishing Pierocean fishing pier, 5 miles, blanket license
- Bebop's Multi Use Fishing Piersound/river fishing pier (OSM), 7 miles
- Avalon Fishing Pierocean fishing pier, 7 miles, blanket license
- Kitty Hawk Pierocean fishing pier, 12 miles, blanket license
Beach and waterfront access near Roanoke Sound
- W. Danube Street, Nags Head13 parking, estuarine
- Jockey's Ridge State Park, Nags Head23 parking, estuarine
- Roanoke Island Festival Park, Manteo170 parking, restrooms, estuarine
- Small Street, Nags Head14 parking, ocean
- Enterprise Street, Nags Head13 parking, ocean
- Manteo Waterfront Public Boat Ramp, Manteorestrooms, estuarine
- Loggerhead Beach Access, Nags Head23 parking, ocean
- Waterfront Boardwalk, Manteoestuarine
- Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse, Manteo17 parking
- Conch Street, Nags Head20 parking, ocean
- Town Hall Beach Access, Nags Head15 parking, ocean
- Hollowell Street, Nags Head16 parking, ocean
The DCM layer counts 88 access points within 8 miles of Roanoke Sound.
NCDMF pier list and NC DCM Beach and Waterfront Access sites.
Access areas around Roanoke Sound
- Unnamed slipway (Dare County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 2 miles
- Bowsertown Road2 lanes, 26 trailer spaces, restrooms, 3 docks, coastal waters, 3 miles
- Washington Baum Bridge5 lanes, 55 trailer spaces, restrooms, 4 docks, coastal waters, 3 miles
- Kayak Launch, Dare County, northwest ramppaddle access, coastal waters, 4 miles
- Unnamed slipway (Dare County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 7 miles
- Manns Harbor3 lanes, 78 trailer spaces, 3 docks, coastal waters, 7 miles
- Avalon Beach2 lanes, 22 trailer spaces, 3 docks, joint waters, 7 miles
- Unnamed slipway (Dare County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 7 miles
- Unnamed slipway (Dare County)boat ramp, joint waters, 10 miles
- Unnamed slipway (Dare County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 10 miles
NCWRC Boating Access Areas and OpenStreetMap slipways.
Reef sites close to Roanoke Sound
| Reef | Depth (ft) | Materials | Built | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AR-197 Roanoke Island | 15 | Natural Material (34), Tires (1) | 2019 to 2021 | 3 miles |
| AR-140 | 57 | Concrete (51), Metal (1), Vessel (1) | 1986 to 2021 | 7 miles |
| AR-130 | 60 | Reef Ball (88), Concrete (47), Metal (3) | 1986 to 2020 | 8 miles |
| AR-145 | 65 | Concrete (56), Vessel (3), Aircraft (2) | 1944 to 2021 | 14 miles |
| AR-160 Oregon Inlet Reef | 70 | Concrete (78), Reef Ball (2), Vessel (2) | 1974 to 2021 | 18 miles |
| AR-165 | 70 | Concrete (85), Vessel (3), Metal (2), Reef Ball (1) | 2020 to 2022 | 21 miles |
NCDMF Artificial Reef Program. All North Carolina reefs.
Inlets by Roanoke Sound
- Unnamed breakwater (Wanchese)breakwater, 7 miles
- Unnamed breakwater (Wanchese)breakwater, 7 miles
- Unnamed breakwater (Manns Harbor)breakwater, 7 miles
- Unnamed breakwater (Wanchese)breakwater, 7 miles
- Oregon Inletinlet, 13 miles
- Unnamed breakwater (Dare)breakwater, 13 miles
USGS GNIS, NC DCM inlet hazard areas and OpenStreetMap.
Regulations on Roanoke 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 Roanoke Sound
Book a guide near Roanoke 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 Roanoke Sound
- Ship's Storebait and tackle shop, Manteo, 3 miles
- Shallowbag Bay Marinamarina, Manteo, 3 miles
- Tunas in the Boxcountry store with bait, Manteo, 3 miles
- Mateo Waterfront Marinamarina, Manteo, 3 miles
- Pirates Cove Charter fishingmarina, Manteo, 3 miles
- Bowsertown Road Boating Access Areamarina, Dare, 3 miles
Short drives from Roanoke Sound
Home bases near Roanoke Sound
- Nags Head2 miles
- Manteo3 miles
- Kill Devil Hills6 miles
- Wanchese7 miles
Next sounds over from Roanoke Sound
- Buzzard Bay4 miles northwest
- Croatan Sound6 miles southwest
- Kitty Hawk Bay8 miles northwest
- Stumpy Point Bay18 miles south
County pages tied to Roanoke Sound
Piscifun reels and a scale grip
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Common catches near Roanoke Sound
Photo: SEFSC Pascagoula Laboratory; Collection of Brandi Noble, NOAA/NMFS/SEFSC, Public domain
Photo: Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, CC BY 2.0
Photo: タウナギ, CC0 1.0
Photo: NOAA's Fisheries Collection; Collection of Brandi Noble, Public domain
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Quick facts on Roanoke Sound
Which counties touch Roanoke Sound?
It lies along Dare County (coastal fishing waters).
Which license do I need on Roanoke Sound?
Coastal waters take a Coastal Recreational Fishing License from age 16 ($20 resident, $40 nonresident).
How many red drum can I keep on Roanoke Sound?
Red drum: 1 a day, 18-27 in; Year-round.
What is the flounder limit on Roanoke Sound?
Flounder: 1 a day, 15 in minimum; season Sept. 1-14, 2026.
What are the striper rules on Roanoke Sound?
Albemarle Sound Management Area applies. Season closed; no harvest allowed
Where do boats go in on Roanoke Sound?
Unnamed slipway (Dare County) is closest of 10 coastal launches.
Do piers near Roanoke Sound cover my license?
Nags Head Fishing Pier leads 8 piers.
Can I book a charter close to Roanoke Sound?
There are 78 charters and guides in the county listings.
Is a tackle shop close to Roanoke Sound?
Ship's Store sits about 3 miles away.
Block out a day for Roanoke Sound
Read the coastal limits before the trip.