Bodie bass across North Carolina
Where Bodie bass live in North Carolina, with limits.
- 4 a daydaily creel
- 17 lbs, 7 ozrecord
Photo of the species, not of a North Carolina water: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain
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Bodie bass across the state
North Carolina anglers find Bodie bass (Morone saxatilis x Morone chrysops) in freshwater habitat. Creel and size (NCWRC, impounded inland waters and their tributaries except listed waters): 4 a day, 20 in minimum.
The record book shows 17 lbs, 7 oz from Lake Chatuge, 1996. It appears on 15 lake pages and 7 stream pages. The 2026 warmwater list plans 561,200 of them.
What NCWRC writes about Bodie bass
“The Bodie Bass (striped bass hybrid) is a cross between a male White Bass and a female Striped Bass. Its color is gray to steel blue above, with white-to pale-green sides. Its appearance is very similar to the striped bass, but the Bodie bass has a deeper body and broken stripes or lines on the sides. The Striped Bass has stripes that are more distinct and solid. Striped bass hybrids grow very fast and rarely reproduce. They are reared in hatcheries owned by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission and stocked in several lakes for recreational fishing. Bodie Bass are very similar to Striped Bass and White Bass in their habitat preferences and feeding habits. They are found primarily in open waters, where they search for forage fish such as shad. Although these fish may not get as big as Striped Bass, individuals larger than 10 pounds are common.”
- Fishing tipsLive shad, minnows or lures that imitate minnows often work well. Bank fishing with chicken livers is also a popular angling method.
- Where to fishStriped bass hybrids are currently stocked in Moss Reservoir, Oak Hollow Lake, Lake Townsend, Salem Lake and W. Kerr Scott Reservoir.
- AbundanceStocked in several Piedmont reservoirs.
Quoted from the NCWRC species profile, checked October 2026.
North Carolina limits on Bodie bass
| Agency | Where | Daily creel | Size | Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NCWRC | Impounded inland waters and their tributaries except listed waters | 4 a day | 20 in minimum | No closed season |
| NCWRC | Roanoke River Striped Bass Management Area (Roanoke, Cashie, Eastmost and Middle rivers from Roanoke Rapids Da | 1 a day | 18 to 22 in | By proclamation only |
| NCWRC | Central-Southern Management Area inland and joint waters: Cape Fear River and tributaries (Buckhorn Dam to U.S | none may be kept | no size limit | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| NCWRC | Central-Southern Management Area inland and joint waters: Tar-Pamlico River above Gum Point-Fork Point line an | 1 a day | 22-27 in protected (no fish possessed between 22 and 27 inches) | April 1-30, 2026 |
| NCWRC | Lake Mattamuskeet; Pee Dee River and tributaries below Blewett Falls Dam | 3 a day | 18 in minimum | No closed season |
NCWRC 2026-27 digest and NCDMF proclamations. All North Carolina limits.
Record Bodie bass from North Carolina
| Category | Weight | Where | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| hook and line by weight | 17 lbs, 7 oz | Lake Chatuge | 1996 |
NCWRC and NCDMF state records. Angler names left out.
Reservoirs and creeks for Bodie bass
Lake pages naming Bodie bass
- John H. Kerr Reservoir48,900 acres
- Lake Norman32,510 acres
- Lake Gaston20,300 acres
- High Rock Lake15,180 acres
- Jordan Lake13,940 acres
- Chatuge Lake6,700 acres
- Roanoke Rapids Lake4,600 acres
- Hyco Lake4,015 acres
- Lake Townsend1,635 acres
- W. Kerr Scott Reservoir1,475 acres
- Moss Lake1,329 acres
- Oak Hollow Lake690 acres
- Farmer Lake390 acres
- Salem Lake297.5 acres
- Lake MattamuskeetHyde
River pages naming Bodie bass
- Neuse RiverJohnston
- Roanoke RiverBertie
- Cape Fear RiverBladen
- Dan RiverStokes
- Pee Dee RiverAnson
- Pungo RiverBeaufort
- Pamlico RiverBeaufort
NCWRC stocking lists, regulation tables, species profiles and records; largest waters first.
Species beside Bodie bass on the list
- Largemouth bassfresh
- Smallmouth bassfresh
- Spotted bassfresh
- Alabama bassfresh
- Bartram's bassfresh
- Black crappiefresh
- White crappiefresh
- Bluegillfresh
- Redear sunfishfresh
- Redbreast sunfishfresh
- Pumpkinseedfresh
- Green sunfishfresh
- Warmouthfresh
- Flierfresh
What is near Bodie bass, in pictures
Photo: Jon Platek, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Indy beetle, CC0 1.0
Photo: Gerry D, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Ceh2624, CC BY-SA 3.0
Questions people send about Bodie bass
How many Bodie bass can I keep in North Carolina?
4 a day (Impounded inland waters and their tributaries except listed waters), size 20 in minimum.
How heavy is the North Carolina record Bodie bass?
17 lbs, 7 oz from Lake Chatuge (1996).
Which waters are best for Bodie bass?
22 waters on this site, including John H. Kerr Reservoir, Lake Norman and Lake Gaston.
Do NCWRC hatcheries raise Bodie bass?
561,200 on the 2026 warmwater list.
What other names does Bodie bass go by?
Scientific name Morone saxatilis x Morone chrysops.
When are Bodie bass in season?
No closed season
Which license works on Bodie bass?
Inland waters take an NCWRC inland fishing license from age 16 ($32 resident, $56 nonresident).
Which guides target Bodie bass?
No guide lists it.
Find Bodie bass close to home
Pick any lake or stream listed above.