West Bay Fishing
Carteret County, coastal fishing waters.
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Getting oriented on West Bay
West Bay is a bay in Carteret County. About 29.1 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 11 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 West Bay
- Cedar Island2 lanes, 16 trailer spaces, 3 docks, 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, 6 miles
- Unnamed slipway (Carteret County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 6 miles
- Unnamed slipway (Carteret County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 6 miles
- Unnamed slipway (Carteret County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 6 miles
- Unnamed slipway (Carteret County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 6 miles
- Unnamed slipway (Carteret County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 8 miles
- Unnamed slipway (Carteret County)boat ramp, coastal waters, 9 miles
- Salters Creek1 lane, 15 trailer spaces, 1 dock, coastal waters, 10 miles
NCWRC Boating Access Areas and OpenStreetMap slipways.
Built reefs around West Bay
| Reef | Depth (ft) | Materials | Built | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AR-396 Oriental | 15 | Reef Ball (4), Natural Material (3), Tires (3), Concrete (2) | 1973 to 2013 | 14 miles |
| AR-275 Billy Smith Reef | 55 | Concrete (3), Vessel (2), Reef Ball (2) | 1991 to 2007 | 15 miles |
| AR-293 | 15 | Reef Ball (1) | 2023 to 2023 | 19 miles |
NCDMF Artificial Reef Program. All North Carolina reefs.
Where West Bay opens to the Atlantic
- Unnamed breakwater (Carteret)breakwater, 5 miles
- Unnamed breakwater (Atlantic)breakwater, 11 miles
- Old Drum Inletinlet, 12 miles
- New Drum Inletinlet, 13 miles
- Ophelia Inletinlet, 14 miles
USGS GNIS, NC DCM inlet hazard areas and OpenStreetMap.
Harvest rules for West 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 West Bay
Guides on West 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 West Bay
- Cedar Creek Marinamarina, Carteret, 11 miles
- The Harbor Club at River Dunesmarina, Oriental, 12 miles
- Paradise Cove Marinamarina, Merritt, 12 miles
- Marine Craftmarina, Merritt, 13 miles
- Point Marinamarina, Merritt, 13 miles
- Ensign Harbor Incmarina, Merritt, 14 miles
In reach of West Bay
Towns nearest West Bay
- Atlantic11 miles
- Oriental16 miles
- Davis17 miles
- Mesic18 miles
Tidal water by West Bay
- Cedar Island Bay5 miles east
- Turnagain Bay6 miles southwest
- Long Bay6 miles south
- South River11 miles southwest
West Bay county links
Piscifun reels for this water
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Worth knowing about West Bay
What is the exact spot of West Bay?
Carteret County, in coastal fishing waters.
Which fishing license fits West Bay?
Coastal waters take a Coastal Recreational Fishing License from age 16 ($20 resident, $40 nonresident).
How many red drum may I keep on West Bay?
Red drum: 1 a day, 18-27 in; Year-round.
Can I keep flounder from West Bay?
Flounder: 1 a day, 15 in minimum; season Sept. 1-14, 2026.
What striped bass area is West 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 West Bay?
11 coastal launches, closest Cedar Island.
Which pier sits closest to West Bay?
No listed pier within 12 miles.
Which captains run West Bay?
18 charters and guides are based in its counties.
Which counter sells bait nearest West Bay?
The nearest listing is Cedar Creek Marina, 11 miles off.
Spend time on West Bay
Check the striped bass area before you keep one.