Fishing in Beaufort County, North Carolina
Seat: Washington. NCWRC District 2.
- 0lakes
- 21launches
Pick for troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo of Lake Phelps: Ymblanter, CC BY-SA 3.0
Getting oriented in Beaufort County
With Washington as the seat, Beaufort County belongs to NCWRC District 2. Beaufort County covers 833 land square miles and 130.1 water square miles.
Access records show 21 launches in the county, 6 inland and 15 on coastal or joint water. The shoreline brings 0 fishing piers, 9 DCM access points and 1 reef site. In 2026, 1 county waters are set to get 500,000 fish.
Beaufort County plotted out
NCWRC access areas, USACE, USFS, OpenStreetMap and NC DCM, checked October 2026.
Ponds and lakes of Beaufort County
Closest lakes to Washington, since none sit inside Beaufort County:
- Grimesland Ponds7 miles west of Washington
- River Park North Ponds18 miles west of Washington
- Newbold Pond33 miles northwest of Washington
- Etheridge Pond34 miles northwest of Washington
- Lake Phelps36 miles northeast of Washington
Beaufort County moving water
- Pungo Riverriver, 1 launch
- Pamlico Riverriver, 1 launch
- Tranters Creekcreek, 1 launch
- South Creekcreek, 1 launch
- Blounts Creekcreek, 1 launch
- Pantego Creekcreek, 1 launch
- Smith Creekcreek, 1 launch
USGS sites in Beaufort County
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Pamlico River At Washington, Nc | 4,390 cfs, 0.84 ft gage height | Sep 30 11:45 pm Not updated since Sep 30, 2006. |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 11, 2026 12:32 am ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
Beaufort County ramps
Freshwater access in Beaufort County (6)
- AuroraSouth Creek, 1 lane, 21 trailer spaces, 1 dock
- BelhavenPantego Creek, 2 lanes, 30 trailer spaces, restrooms, 2 docks
- Blounts CreekBlounts Creek, 2 lanes, 25 trailer spaces, 1 dock
- Havens GardenPamlico River, 2 lanes, 15 trailer spaces, restrooms, 2 docks
- Masons LandingTranters Creek, 2 lanes, 34 trailer spaces, 3 docks
- Smiths CreekSmith Creek, 1 lane, 20 trailer spaces, 1 dock
Tidal-water ramps of Beaufort County (15)
- Wrights CreekPungo River, coastal waters, 2 lanes, 21 trailer spaces, 1 dock
- Unnamed slipway (Beaufort County), coastal waters, boat ramp
- Unnamed slipway (Beaufort County), coastal waters, boat ramp
- Unnamed slipway (Beaufort County), coastal waters, boat ramp
- Unnamed slipway (Beaufort County), coastal waters, boat ramp
- Unnamed slipway (Beaufort County), coastal waters, boat ramp
- Unnamed slipway (Beaufort County), coastal waters, boat ramp
- Unnamed slipway (Beaufort County), joint waters, boat ramp
- Unnamed slipway (Beaufort County), coastal waters, boat ramp
- Unnamed slipway (Beaufort County), coastal waters, boat ramp
- Unnamed slipway (Beaufort County), coastal waters, boat ramp
- Unnamed slipway (Beaufort County), coastal waters, boat ramp
- Unnamed slipway (Beaufort County), coastal waters, boat ramp
- Unnamed slipway (Beaufort County), coastal waters, boat ramp
- Unnamed slipway (Beaufort County), coastal waters, boat ramp
NCWRC Boating Access Areas and Public Fishing Areas, USACE, USFS and OpenStreetMap slipways.
Beaufort County sounds and piers
9 DCM beach and waterfront sites sit in Beaufort County, 0 facing the ocean.
Offshore and in the sounds of Beaufort County there are 1 artificial reefs.
Beaufort County coastal limits
| 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 |
NCDMF piers and reefs, NC DCM access sites and NCDMF limits.
For the trout herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 What NCWRC adds to Beaufort County waters
Beaufort County stocking list
| Water | Species | Number |
|---|---|---|
| Tranters Creek | Striped Bass | 500,000 |
NCWRC 2026 warmwater list, live trout report and freshwater state records.
Where to stock up in Beaufort County
Beaufort County tackle stores
- East Side Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Washington
- Belhaven Waterway Marinamarina, Belhaven
- Dowry Creek Marinamarina, Belhaven
- Inner Banks Marinamarina, Washington
- Inner Banks Outfitterssporting goods store,
- Pungo Creek Marina Incmarina, Belhaven
- River Forest Manor & Marinamarina, Belhaven
- TJ's Marina & Boatyardmarina, Belhaven
- Washington Waterfront Docksmarina,
- West Marinemarine supply store, Washington
Guide services, Beaufort County
- Captain Joe Sizemorecoastal charter (trip type not stated), Bath, (252) 944-9812
Out from Beaufort County
Where people live in Beaufort County
- Washingtonpop. 9,875
- Belhavenpop. 1,410
- Chocowinitypop. 722
- Aurorapop. 455
- Washington Parkpop. 392
- Bathpop. 245
- Pantegopop. 164
Neighbors of Beaufort County
- Pamlico County25 miles southeast
- Craven County29 miles southwest
- Washington County29 miles northeast
- Martin County30 miles northwest
Species to expect near Beaufort County
Photo: Steve Hillebrand, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain
Photo: Mick Johnson, CC BY 3.0
Photo: Attackgirl (talk) (Uploads), Public domain
Photo: fishesoftexas, CC BY-SA 4.0
Beaufort County fishing, the common questions
Which ramps serve boaters across Beaufort County?
There are 21 launches: 6 inland and 15 coastal or joint.
Which lake leads fishing in Beaufort County?
None inside the county; Grimesland Ponds is nearest.
Does Beaufort County touch salt water?
Coastal: 0 fishing piers, 9 access sites.
Which fisheries district handles Beaufort County?
NCWRC District 2; NCDMF also manages its coastal and joint waters.
Which counters sell fishing gear in Beaufort County?
10 shops; East Side Bait & Tackle is one.
Do any fishing guides list Beaufort County?
The guide list carries 1 guide or charter here.
Does NCWRC stock Beaufort County?
1 county waters, 500,000 warmwater fish, 0 trout waters.
Which town is the county seat of Beaufort County?
County government sits in Washington.
Which license fits Beaufort County waters?
Inland waters take an NCWRC inland fishing license from age 16 ($32 resident, $56 nonresident). Coastal waters take a Coastal Recreational Fishing License from age 16 ($20 resident, $40 nonresident).
Find water in Beaufort County
Open a spot above for its limits.