Neuse River Fishing
Johnston County plus 6 other counties.
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The Neuse River, sized up
The river called the Neuse River flows across Johnston County plus 6 other counties. Its North Carolina length on the map is about 226 miles. About 5 miles separate it from Goldsboro. The lower 26% or so falls in coastal or joint waters.
6 active gauges report from the channel. Access records list 12 launches. For 2026 the Commission requested 100,000 5-8 in striped bass.
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| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Neuse River Near Falls, Nc | 60 cfs, 0.94 ft gage height | Nov 14 7:00 am |
| Neuse River Near Clayton, Nc | 217 cfs, 1.22 ft gage height | Nov 14 6:15 am |
| Neuse River At Smithfield, Nc | 298 cfs, 4.34 ft gage height | Sep 30 11:30 pm Not updated since Sep 30, 1991. |
| Neuse River Near Cox Mill, Nc | 269 cfs, 69.43 ft gage height | Nov 14 6:30 am |
| Neuse River Near Goldsboro, Nc | 282 cfs, 2.58 ft gage height | Nov 14 6:15 am |
| Neuse River At Kinston, Nc | 441 cfs, 3.17 ft gage height | Nov 14 6:15 am |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 14, 2026 7:33 am ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
Put-ins along the Neuse River
- Smithfield1 lane, 7 trailer spaces, 1 dock, Johnston County, inland waters
- Richardsons Bridge1 lane, 10 trailer spaces, Johnston County, inland waters
- Stevens Mill1 lane, 25 trailer spaces, Wayne County, inland waters
- Coxs Ferry1 lane, 10 trailer spaces, 1 dock, Wayne County, inland waters
- Goldsboro1 lane, 25 trailer spaces, 1 dock, Wayne County, inland waters
- Prices Landing1 lane, 20 trailer spaces, Wayne County, inland waters
- Maple Cypress2 lanes, 12 trailer spaces, 1 dock, Craven County, inland waters
- Kinston2 lanes, 33 trailer spaces, 1 dock, Lenoir County, inland waters
- Cow Pen Landing2 lanes, 14 trailer spaces, 1 dock, Craven County, joint waters
- Seven Springs1 lane, 15 trailer spaces, Wayne County, inland waters
- Spring Garden2 lanes, 30 trailer spaces, 1 dock, Craven County, joint waters
- Bridgeton1 lane, 20 trailer spaces, 1 dock, Craven County, joint waters
NCWRC Boating Access Areas, USACE, USFS and OpenStreetMap; midpoint from the NCWRC trout layer or USGS NHDPlus lines.
Stocked fish in the Neuse River
| Species | Size | Number | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Striped Bass | 5-8" | 100,000 | Kennel Beach, NC (Pamlico County) |
NCWRC live trout stocking report, 2026 Delayed Harvest weeks and the 2026 warmwater list. NCWRC notes that fall 2026 Delayed Harvest stockings wait until November.
Inland, joint and coastal on the Neuse River
Water classes along the Neuse River: inland 74%, joint 8%, coastal 18%. NCWRC tags its ramps as 9 inland and 3 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 |
|---|---|
| Carteret | All waters within this waterbody are designated as Coastal. |
| Craven | Inland Waters west and Joint Waters east of a line at Pitch Kettle Creek beginning at a point on the north shore 35° 16.9793' N – 77° 15.5529' W; running south to a point on the south shore 35° 16.9237' N – 77° 15.5461' W. Joint Waters northwest and Coastal Wa |
Coastal rows for the Neuse 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 (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 |
NCWRC CoastJointWatersNC polygons, 15A NCAC 03Q .0202 and NCDMF proclamations, checked October 2026.
Regulations on the Neuse River
On the Neuse River, these rules replace the statewide rows:
| Species | Size limit | Daily creel |
|---|---|---|
| Crappie (Black And White) | 8-inch minimum | 20 in combination |
| Sunfish (Except Crappie, Rock Bass, & Roanoke Bass) | None | 30 in combination, including no more than 12 redbreast sunfish |
| Striped Bass And Bodie Bass (Striped Bass Hybrid) | 18-inch minimum, no fish possessed may be between 22 and 27 inches | 1 in combination (April 1 – April 30) Unless Changed by Proclamation |
| Striped Bass And Bodie Bass (Striped Bass Hybrid) | Established by Division of Marine Fisheries | Established by Division of Marine Fisheries |
| 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.
Out from Neuse River
Lakes within a drive of Neuse River
- Buckhorn Lake23 miles
Pick up bait near Neuse River
- DICK'S Sporting Goods Goldsborosporting goods store, Goldsboro, 6 miles
- Coor's Bait and Tacklebait and tackle shop, Goldsboro, 8 miles
- Outdoor Accessories Unlimitedsporting goods store, Princeton, 8 miles
- Tyner's Bait & Tackle Shopbait and tackle shop, Princeton, 10 miles
- Neuse River Outdoorssporting goods store, Smithfield, 14 miles
Where to sleep near Neuse River
- Goldsboro5 miles
- Princeton9 miles
- Pikeville9 miles
- Walnut Creek11 miles
Other rivers by the Neuse River
- Contentnea Creek20 miles
- Trent River40 miles
- Tar River45 miles
- South River48 miles
Neuse River, county by county
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The Neuse River, the common questions
Which counties does the Neuse River flow through?
Its mapped course crosses Johnston County plus 6 other counties.
Is the Neuse River Public Mountain Trout Water?
It is outside the trout program.
Are trout stocked in the Neuse River?
The warmwater list shows 100,000 5-8 in striped bass.
Is the Neuse River up today?
6 USGS gauges post readings above.
Which access points reach the Neuse River?
12 launches; Coxs Ferry is one.
Does the Neuse River have special limits?
Crappie (Black And White): 8-inch minimum, 20 in combination; Sunfish (Except Crappie, Rock Bass, & Roanoke Bass): None, 30 in combination, including no more than 12 redbreast sunfish.
What paperwork does the Neuse River need?
Inland waters take an NCWRC inland fishing license from age 16 ($32 resident, $56 nonresident).
Which counter sits nearest the Neuse River?
Drive 6 miles to reach DICK'S Sporting Goods Goldsboro.
Which town makes a base for the Neuse River?
Goldsboro, some 5 miles off.
Wet a line in the Neuse River
Classes, limits and flow are on this page.