Fishing in Chowan County, North Carolina
Seat: Edenton. NCWRC District 1.
- 0lakes
- 8launches
- 1piers
Angler pickPiscifun Viper X spinning reel50% OFFSale $39.99 Photo, nearby stand in for Chowan County: Susan C. Griffin, CC BY-SA 3.0
Groundwork on Chowan County
The Commission files Chowan County under District 1; the seat is Edenton. The Census puts 173 square miles of land and 61 of water inside Chowan County.
Launch records count 8 launches across the county (0 inland, 8 coastal or joint). Along the coast: 1 fishing pier, 9 DCM sites, 0 artificial reefs.
Fishing water in Chowan County on a map
NCWRC access areas, USACE, USFS, OpenStreetMap and NC DCM, checked October 2026.
Chowan County reservoirs and ponds
No listed lake lies in Chowan County; the nearest follow.
- Lake Phelps21 miles south of Edenton
- East Lake45 miles east of Edenton
- Lake Mattamuskeet46 miles southeast of Edenton
- Grimesland Ponds46 miles southwest of Edenton
- River Park North Ponds52 miles southwest of Edenton
River pages, Chowan County
- Chowan Riverriver, 6 launches
Where to put in, Chowan County
Tidal water put-ins, Chowan County (8)
- Cannons FerryChowan River, joint waters, 1 lane, 22 trailer spaces, 2 docks
- Edenhouse BridgeChowan River, joint waters, 2 lanes, 47 trailer spaces, 2 docks
- Midway DriveAlbermarle Sound, coastal waters, 2 lanes, 34 trailer spaces, 2 docks
- Unnamed slipway (Chowan County), coastal waters, boat ramp
- Unnamed slipway (Chowan County), joint waters, boat ramp
- Unnamed slipway (Chowan County), joint waters, boat ramp
- Unnamed slipway (Chowan County), joint waters, boat ramp
- Unnamed slipway (Chowan County), joint waters, boat ramp
NCWRC Boating Access Areas and Public Fishing Areas, USACE, USFS and OpenStreetMap slipways.
The Chowan County shoreline
Chowan County piers
- Edenhouse Bridge Public Fishing Areapublic fishing area pier, Edenton
NC DCM lists 9 public beach and waterfront access sites in Chowan County, 0 of them on the ocean.
Chowan 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 (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 |
NCDMF piers and reefs, NC DCM access sites and NCDMF limits.
Stocked lakes near Chowan County
| Lake | Distance from Edenton | 2026 stocking |
|---|---|---|
| Newbold Pond | 52 miles | 1,500 8-12 in channel catfish |
| Etheridge Pond | 54 miles | 1,500 8-12 in channel catfish |
| Indian Lake | 55 miles | 2,700 8-12 in channel catfish |
NCWRC 2026 stocking lists.
Gear and guides across Chowan County
Bait for sale in Chowan County
- Eye Catcher Luresbait and tackle shop, Edenton
Neighbors of Chowan County on the map
Chowan County communities
- Edentonpop. 4,460
Counties ringing Chowan County
- Perquimans County12 miles east
- Washington County20 miles south
- Bertie County21 miles west
- Pasquotank County21 miles northeast
A look around Chowan County
Photo: vastateparksstaff, CC BY 2.0
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Photo: Wendy, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Jed Record, CC BY 2.0
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Photo: Ymblanter, CC BY-SA 3.0
Before fishing in Chowan County
How much boating access does Chowan County have?
The county has 8 launches (0 inland, 8 coastal or joint).
Which lakes are in Chowan County?
None inside the county; Lake Phelps is nearest.
Which part of Chowan County reaches salt water?
1 fishing pier, plus 9 public access sites.
Which NCWRC district covers Chowan County?
NCWRC District 1; NCDMF also manages its coastal and joint waters.
Does Chowan County have a tackle counter?
1 shops, among them Eye Catcher Lures.
Which guides work Chowan County?
No listing for the county.
Which waters get fish in Chowan County?
NCWRC lists none here for 2026.
Which town is the Chowan County seat?
The county seat is Edenton.
Is a fishing license required in Chowan County?
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).
Explore Chowan County
Each lake, ramp and pier above has its own page.