Fishing in Gaston County, North Carolina
Seat: Gastonia. NCWRC District 8.
- 5lakes
- 9launches
- 1trout streams
Pick for troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo of Mount Holly: SunDawn, CC BY-SA 4.0
Gaston County fishing, sized up
NCWRC places Gaston County in District 8, and Gastonia is the county seat. By the Census, Gaston County has 356 square miles on land and 7.9 on water.
Lake anglers have 5 waters here, Lake Wylie first among them. Mapped launches number 9 launches: 9 inland and 0 coastal or joint. NCWRC designates 1 stream here as Public Mountain Trout Water. Stocking requests for 2026 total 3,800 fish across 2 waters.
For the trout herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 Lakes, ramps and piers in Gaston County
NCWRC access areas, USACE, USFS, OpenStreetMap and NC DCM, checked October 2026.
Lake pages, Gaston County
- Lake Wylielake, 12,177 acres, 7 launches
- Mountain Island Lakelake, 3,235 acres, 3 launches
- Gaston County Farm Lakelake, 2.5 acres
- Crowders Mountain Lakelake
- George Poston Park Lakelake
Rivers and creeks in Gaston County
- Catawba Riverriver, Delayed Harvest, Hatchery Supported, Special Regulation and Wild Trout
How Gaston County rivers are running
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| South Fork Catawba River At Lowell, Nc | 220 cfs, 1.99 ft gage height | Nov 14 8:15 am |
| Long Creek Near Bessemer City, Nc | 3 cfs, 0.92 ft gage height | Nov 14 8:30 am |
| Duharts Creek At Sr 2439 Near Cramerton, Nc | 2 cfs, 0.85 ft gage height | Nov 14 8:50 am |
| Catawba River Dnstrm Deck Mtn Is Dam Nr Mtn Is, Nc | 7.85 ft gage height | Nov 14 9:15 am |
| Duharts Creek At Cox Rd At Gastonia, Nc | 0.70 ft gage height | Nov 14 8:25 am |
| Catawba Creek At Boogertown, Nc | 2.33 ft gage height | Nov 14 8:25 am |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 14, 2026 9:33 am ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
Boating access in Gaston County
Reservoir and river ramps, Gaston County (9)
- LuciaMountain Island Lake, 1 lane
- RiverbendMountain Island Lake, 4 lanes, 97 trailer spaces, 2 docks
- South PointLake Wylie, 6 lanes, 137 trailer spaces, 4 docks
- Boat Ramp, Gaston CountyLake Wylie, boat ramp
- Boat launch, Lake WylieLake Wylie, boat ramp
- Boat launch, Lake WylieLake Wylie, boat ramp
- Boat launch, Robinwood Lake, boat ramp
- Duke Energy Kayak/ Canoe Access, 1 lane
- Mount Holly Access, 1 lane
NCWRC Boating Access Areas and Public Fishing Areas, USACE, USFS and OpenStreetMap slipways.
NCWRC stocking in Gaston County
NCWRC-stocked water in Gaston County
| Water | Species | Number |
|---|---|---|
| Gaston County Farm Lake | Channel Catfish | 2,300 |
| George Poston Park Pond | Channel Catfish | 1,500 |
NCWRC 2026 warmwater list, live trout report and freshwater state records.
Keeping fish in Gaston County
| Species | Daily creel | Size | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Largemouth and smallmouth bass | 5 a day | 14 in minimum | No closed season |
| Crappie | 20 a day | 8 in minimum | No closed season |
| Sunfish | no creel limit | no size limit | No closed season |
| Striped and Bodie bass | 4 a day | 20 in minimum | No closed season |
| White bass | 10 a day | no size limit | No closed season |
| Walleye | 8 a day | no size limit | No closed season |
| Blue, channel and flathead catfish | no creel limit | no size limit | No closed season |
| Trout (undesignated waters) | 7 a day | no size limit | No closed season |
NCWRC 2026-27 inland regulations; rows chosen by the county seat position against I-95 and I-77.
Bait and charters in Gaston County
Tackle counters in Gaston County
- Jim's Grocery Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Belmont
- Koyote Fish & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Gastonia
- Academy Sports + Outdoors Gastoniasporting goods store, Gastonia
- Catawba River Outfitterssporting goods store, Belmont
- DICK'S Sporting Goods Gastoniasporting goods store, Gastonia
- Harbortowne Marinamarina, Belmont
- Morningstar Marinas, 220 Commodore Ctmarina, Belmont
- Tailrace Marinamarina, Mount Holly
The area around Gaston County
Towns across Gaston County
- Gastoniapop. 80,411
- Mount Hollypop. 17,703
- Belmontpop. 15,010
- Cherryvillepop. 6,078
- Dallaspop. 5,927
- Bessemer Citypop. 5,428
- Cramertonpop. 5,296
- Ranlopop. 4,511
- Stanleypop. 3,963
- Lowellpop. 3,654
- McAdenvillepop. 890
- High Shoalspop. 595
- Dellviewpop. 6
- Spencer Mountainpop. 0
Counties bordering Gaston County
- Lincoln County14 miles north
- Mecklenburg County20 miles east
- Cleveland County22 miles west
- Catawba County26 miles north
Common catches near Gaston County
Photo: Thefishingnomad youtube, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Annie Spratt, CC0 1.0
Photo: Nick Loveland, CC0 1.0
Photo: Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife, CC BY-SA 2.0
.jpg){kind=link}
Quick facts for Gaston County
What launch count does Gaston County have?
9 launches, with 9 inland and 0 on tidal water.
Which lake in Gaston County spans the most acres?
Lake Wylie, 12,177 acres.
Does Gaston County have fishing piers?
It has no shoreline.
Which state agency runs fishing in Gaston County?
NCWRC District 8.
Where do I get supplies in Gaston County?
8 listings, including Jim's Grocery Bait & Tackle.
Are captains based in Gaston County?
No guide is listed here.
Does NCWRC stock fish in Gaston County?
Yes: 3,800 warmwater fish and trout for 0 waters, 2 waters in all.
Where are the Gaston County offices?
Gastonia is the seat.
Which fishing license does Gaston County call for?
Inland waters take an NCWRC inland fishing license from age 16 ($32 resident, $56 nonresident).
Map out a trip in Gaston County
Each listed spot has a directions link.