Tar River Fishing
Edgecombe County plus 5 other counties.
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The basics of the Tar River
The Tar River is a river in Edgecombe County plus 5 other counties. GIS lines trace roughly 192 miles of it in North Carolina. Supplies are nearest in Rocky Mount, about 4 miles off.
There are 6 active gauges along it. The access list holds 8 launches.
Gauges on the Tar River
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Tar River Near Tar River, Nc | 2 cfs, 1.19 ft gage height | Nov 14 7:30 am |
| Tar R At Us 401 At Louisburg, Nc | 13 cfs, 3.25 ft gage height | Nov 14 7:45 am |
| Tar River At Nc-581 Near Spring Hope, Nc | 27 cfs, 1.93 ft gage height | Nov 14 8:15 am |
| Tar River Below Dam Near Langley Crossroads, Nc | 80 cfs, 0.80 ft gage height | Nov 14 8:15 am |
| Tar River At Nc 97 At Rocky Mount, Nc | 56 cfs, 3.00 ft gage height | Nov 14 7:45 am |
| Tar River At Tarboro, Nc | 78 cfs, 1.29 ft gage height | Nov 14 7:15 am |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 14, 2026 8:33 am ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
Access on the Tar River
- Wilton Slopespaddle access, 20 trailer spaces, Granville County, inland waters
- Battle Park1 lane, 10 trailer spaces, Nash County, inland waters
- Sunset Park1 lane, 10 trailer spaces, Nash County, inland waters
- Dunbar Bridge1 lane, 9 trailer spaces, Edgecombe County, inland waters
- Bells Bridge1 lane, 15 trailer spaces, 1 dock, Edgecombe County, inland waters
- Old Sparta1 lane, 14 trailer spaces, 2 docks, Edgecombe County, inland waters
- Falkland1 lane, 15 trailer spaces, 1 dock, Pitt County, inland waters
- Greenville3 lanes, 30 trailer spaces, 3 docks, Pitt County, inland waters
NCWRC Boating Access Areas, USACE, USFS and OpenStreetMap; midpoint from the NCWRC trout layer or USGS NHDPlus lines.
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Rules the Commission writes for the Tar River:
| 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 |
| 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.
In reach of Tar River
Next reservoirs over from Tar River
- Indian Lake10 miles
- Tar River Reservoir11 miles
- Etheridge Pond14 miles
- Newbold Pond15 miles
Where to buy bait by Tar River
- Nash Rod & Reelbait and tackle shop, Rocky Mount, 5 miles
- B & R Bait and Tackle Shopbait and tackle shop, Rocky Mount, 8 miles
- Wggins Mill Bait Shopbait and tackle shop, Wilson, 23 miles
- Uncle Toms Tackle Shopbait and tackle shop, Wilson, 24 miles
Towns nearest Tar River
- Rocky Mount4 miles
- Dortches7 miles
- Sharpsburg9 miles
- Leggett9 miles
Nearby streams to the Tar River
- Contentnea Creek26 miles
- Roanoke River36 miles
- Tranters Creek43 miles
- Neuse River45 miles
Tar River county links
- Edgecombe County
- Nash County
- Franklin County
- Pitt County
- Granville County
- Person County
Four Piscifun picks
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Species to expect near Tar River
Photo: Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife, CC BY-SA 2.0
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Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain
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Photo: Virginia State Parks staff, CC BY 2.0
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Photo: Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, CC BY 2.0
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The Tar River in a few answers
How do I reach the Tar River?
Through Edgecombe County plus 5 other counties.
How does NCWRC classify the Tar River?
No trout class applies to it.
When is the Tar River stocked?
NCWRC lists none for 2026.
What is the Tar River doing today?
The 6 USGS gauges reading sits above.
Are there ramps on the Tar River?
Try Greenville, one of 8 launches.
Does the Tar River have a catch-and-release reach?
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.
Do I need a trout privilege on the Tar River?
Inland waters take an NCWRC inland fishing license from age 16 ($32 resident, $56 nonresident).
Where do I stock up for the Tar River?
Try Nash Rod & Reel (5 miles).
Which town is closest to the Tar River?
Try Rocky Mount, roughly 4 miles away.
Cast on the Tar River
Trout classes change by reach; read the rules first.