Stones Bay Fishing
Onslow County, coastal fishing waters.
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Getting oriented on Stones Bay
Stones Bay is a bay in Onslow County. About 4.1 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 2 fishing piers, 12 coastal launches and 22 DCM access sites close to it.
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NCDMF reef guide, NC DCM access sites, NCWRC access areas and OpenStreetMap, checked October 2026.
Stones Bay without a boat
Pier access by Stones Bay
- Seaview Fishing Pierocean fishing pier, 7 miles
- Morris Landingsound/river access pier, 10 miles
Public shore access by Stones Bay
- Beach Access #1, North Topsail Beach30 parking, restrooms, ocean
- Beach Access #44, North Topsail Beachocean
- Beach Access #43, North Topsail Beach12 parking, ocean
- Beach Access #3, North Topsail Beach30 parking, ocean
- Beach Access #42, North Topsail Beach12 parking, ocean
- Ocean Bay Village (NTB BA-40), North Topsail Beachocean
- Dolphin Shores (NTB BA-45), North Topsail Beachocean
- Beach Access #41, North Topsail Beach20 parking, ocean
- Beach Access #40, North Topsail Beachocean
- Beach Access #39, North Topsail Beachocean
- Emerald Dunes, North Topsail Beachocean
- NTB BA-35, North Topsail Beachocean
Within 8 miles, 22 DCM access sites reach the water.
NCDMF pier list and NC DCM Beach and Waterfront Access sites.
Nearest put-ins to Stones Bay
- Unnamed slipway (Onslow County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 2 miles
- Unnamed slipway (Onslow County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 2 miles
- Unnamed slipway (Onslow County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 2 miles
- Unnamed slipway (Onslow County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 3 miles
- Unnamed slipway (Onslow County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 3 miles
- Unnamed slipway (Onslow County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 3 miles
- Sneads Ferry2 lanes, 35 trailer spaces, 4 docks, coastal waters, 3 miles
- Unnamed slipway (Onslow County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 4 miles
- Unnamed slipway (Onslow County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 5 miles
- Unnamed slipway (Onslow County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 5 miles
- Unnamed slipway (Onslow County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 5 miles
- Unnamed slipway (Onslow County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 5 miles
NCWRC Boating Access Areas and OpenStreetMap slipways.
Built reefs around Stones Bay
| Reef | Depth (ft) | Materials | Built | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AR-398 New River | 15 | Concrete (9) | 2010 to 2010 | 5 miles |
| AR-355 New River Reef | 50 | Concrete (7), Metal (1) | 1986 to 1993 | 18 miles |
| AR-381 | 18 miles | |||
| AR-360 Topsail Reef | 44 | Concrete (2), Reef Ball (1) | 1992 to 2023 | 20 miles |
| AR-342 Onslow Bay Sport Fishing Club Reef | 49 | Concrete (10), Metal (1), Tires (1) | 1983 to 2007 | 22 miles |
| AR-362 Tom Boyette Reef | 54 | Concrete (2), Metal (1) | 1986 to 2002 | 24 miles |
NCDMF Artificial Reef Program. All North Carolina reefs.
Where Stones Bay opens to the Atlantic
- New River Inletinlet, 7 miles
- Browns Inletinlet, 11 miles
- Bear Inletinlet, 14 miles
USGS GNIS, NC DCM inlet hazard areas and OpenStreetMap.
Harvest rules for Stones 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 Stones Bay
Guides on Stones Bay
- Atlantic Blue Charterscoastal charter (trip type not stated), Sneads Ferry, (252) 508-5576
- Charter Gladys Mcoastal charter (trip type not stated), Sneads Ferry, (910) 327-3865
- Dock Shocker Fishing Charterscoastal charter (trip type not stated), Sneads Ferry, (910) 507-9679
- Friendly City Fishingcoastal charter (trip type not stated), Swansboro, (910) 330-4764
- Hot Pursuit Fishing Charterscoastal charter (trip type not stated), Sneads Ferry, (910) 606-4661
- Joyful Noise Fishing Chartercoastal charter (trip type not stated), Jacksonville, (910) 358-9723
- Lotta Luck Fishingcoastal charter (trip type not stated), Swansboro, (252) 413-7674
- Nancy Lee Fishing Charterscoastal charter (trip type not stated), Swansboro, (252) 354-3474
Where to buy bait by Stones Bay
- Old Ferry Marinamarina, Sneads Ferry, 2 miles
- Courthouse Bay Marinamarina, Onslow, 3 miles
- Sneads Ferry Marinamarina, Onslow, 3 miles
- Yopp Brothers Mariune, Tackle, & Gift Shopbait and tackle shop, Sneads Ferry, 3 miles
- New River Marina, 129 Sail Waymarina, Sneads Ferry, 5 miles
- Bayshore Marinamarina, Onslow, 5 miles
In reach of Stones Bay
Towns nearest Stones Bay
- Sneads Ferry4 miles
- North Topsail Beach8 miles
- Jacksonville9 miles
- Holly Ridge11 miles
Tidal water by Stones Bay
- Courthouse Bay3 miles east
- Chadwick Bay6 miles southeast
- Everett Bay9 miles south
- Stump Sound9 miles southwest
Stones Bay county links
Piscifun reels for this water
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Worth knowing about Stones Bay
What is the exact spot of Stones Bay?
Onslow County, in coastal fishing waters.
Which fishing license fits Stones Bay?
Coastal waters take a Coastal Recreational Fishing License from age 16 ($20 resident, $40 nonresident).
How many red drum may I keep on Stones Bay?
Red drum: 1 a day, 18-27 in; Year-round.
Can I keep flounder from Stones Bay?
Flounder: 1 a day, 15 in minimum; season Sept. 1-14, 2026.
What striped bass area is Stones 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 Stones Bay?
12 coastal launches, closest Unnamed slipway (Onslow County).
Which pier sits closest to Stones Bay?
2 piers; Seaview Fishing Pier is closest.
Which captains run Stones Bay?
12 charters and guides are based in its counties.
Which counter sells bait nearest Stones Bay?
The nearest listing is Old Ferry Marina, 2 miles off.
Spend time on Stones Bay
Check the striped bass area before you keep one.