Chowan River Fishing
Gates County plus 3 other counties.
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Getting oriented on the Chowan River
Anglers find the Chowan River, a river, in Gates County plus 3 other counties. Roughly 50 miles of channel are on the map. The nearest incorporated town is Colerain, about 2 miles from its midpoint. About 70% of the river is mapped as coastal or joint water.
Put-ins on file: 6 launches.
Ramps, Chowan River
- Gatlington Landing1 lane, 22 trailer spaces, 1 dock, Gates County, joint waters
- Shoups Landing2 lanes, 52 trailer spaces, 3 docks, Gates County, joint waters
- Tunis2 lanes, 30 trailer spaces, 1 dock, Hertford County, joint waters
- Gatesville2 lanes, 10 trailer spaces, 1 dock, Gates County, joint waters
- Cannons Ferry1 lane, 22 trailer spaces, 2 docks, Chowan County, joint waters
- Edenhouse Bridge2 lanes, 47 trailer spaces, 2 docks, Chowan County, joint waters
NCWRC Boating Access Areas, USACE, USFS and OpenStreetMap; midpoint from the NCWRC trout layer or USGS NHDPlus lines.
For the trout herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 Fishing water classes, Chowan River
Mapped shares for the Chowan River: 30% inland, 67% joint, 3% coastal. Ramps along it carry these designations: 6 joint.
The Wildlife Resources Commission has jurisdiction in inland waters, and the Division of Marine Fisheries has jurisdiction (except that pertaining to inland game fishes) in coastal waters. Both agencies have licensing and regulatory authority in joint waters.
| County | Boundary in 15A NCAC 03Q .0202 |
|---|---|
| Bertie | Joint Waters northwest and Coastal Waters southeast of a line beginning at a point on the west shore 36° 02.3162' N – 76° 42.4896' W; running northeasterly to a point on the east shore 36° 03.1013' N – 76° 40.8732' W. |
| Chowan | Joint Waters northwest and Coastal Waters southeast of a line beginning at a point on the west shore 36° 02.3162' N – 76° 42.4896' W; running northeasterly to a point on the east shore 36° 03.1013' N – 76° 40.8732' W. |
| Gates | All waters within this waterbody are designated as Joint. |
| Hertford | All waters within this waterbody are designated as Joint. |
Coastal and joint limits on the lower Chowan River
| 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 |
NCWRC CoastJointWatersNC polygons, 15A NCAC 03Q .0202 and NCDMF proclamations, checked October 2026.
NCWRC limits on the Chowan River
The Chowan River appears by name in these NCWRC limits:
| Species | Size limit | Daily creel |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | 14-inch minimum | 5 |
| 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 | 30 a day | no size limit | No closed season |
| White bass | 10 a day | no size limit | No closed season |
| Walleye | 8 a day | no size limit | No closed season |
| Rock and Roanoke bass | no creel limit | 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. All North Carolina limits.
Just around Chowan River
Bait counters nearest Chowan River
- Woods & Water Outdoor Cobait and tackle shop, Colerain, 2 miles
- Eye Catcher Luresbait and tackle shop, Edenton, 14 miles
- Timmy's Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Hertford, 15 miles
- Mackey's Marinamarina, Roper, 18 miles
- Albemarle Plantation Marinamarina, Hertford, 20 miles
Towns encircling Chowan River
- Colerain2 miles
- Harrellsville9 miles
- Powellsville11 miles
- Edenton11 miles
Creeks close to the Chowan River
- Wiccacon River10 miles
- Perquimans River15 miles
- Conaby Creek18 miles
- Cashie River18 miles
Counties that share Chowan River
- Gates County
- Hertford County
- Chowan County
- Bertie County
Reels and a lip grip from Piscifun
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Species around Chowan River, pictured
Photo: Steve Hillebrand, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain
Photo: Chaotic42 (talk), CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: SEFSC Pascagoula Laboratory; Collection of Brandi Noble, NOAA/NMFS/SEFSC., Public domain
Photo: Donna Fernstrom, CC BY 4.0
Questions people send about the Chowan River
Through which towns does the Chowan River pass?
NCWRC maps it in Gates County, Hertford County, Chowan County and Bertie County.
Can I keep trout from the Chowan River?
No; it carries no trout class.
Is the Chowan River on the stocking schedule?
Not on the 2026 stocking lists.
What does the Chowan River gauge read?
No live USGS gauge is tied to it.
Is the Chowan River open to boat launching?
6 launches, such as Cannons Ferry.
Are the statewide NCWRC limits in force on the Chowan River?
Largemouth Bass: 14-inch minimum, 5.
Which North Carolina license do I need for the Chowan River?
Joint waters accept either the inland license ($32 resident) or the Coastal Recreational Fishing License ($20 resident) from age 16.
Which tackle counter is nearest the Chowan River?
Woods & Water Outdoor Co, roughly 2 miles from the midpoint.
How far is the Chowan River from town?
Colerain, about 2 miles from the midpoint.
Put the Chowan River on this year’s list
Buy the license from Go Outdoors North Carolina before the trip.