Kokanee salmon across North Carolina
Finding and keeping kokanee salmon, by North Carolina rules.
- 4 a daydaily creel
- 4 lbs, 1 ouncerecord
Photo of the species, not of a North Carolina water: Timothy Knepp of the Fish and Wildlife Service., Public domain
Where kokanee salmon fit in North Carolina
Kokanee salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) lives in North Carolina’s freshwater habitat. NCWRC sets a creel of 4 a day with no size limit where all public fishing waters.
The state record is 4 lbs, 1 ounce, taken at Nantahala Lake in 2014. Look for it on 1 lake and 0 streams listed here.
Creel limits for kokanee salmon
| Agency | Where | Daily creel | Size | Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NCWRC | All public fishing waters | 4 a day | no size limit | No closed season |
NCWRC 2026-27 digest and NCDMF proclamations. All North Carolina limits.
North Carolina record kokanee salmon
| Category | Weight | Where | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| hook and line by weight | 4 lbs, 1 ounce | Nantahala Lake | 2014 |
NCWRC and NCDMF state records. Angler names left out.
Where NCWRC records place kokanee salmon
Reservoirs for kokanee salmon
- Nantahala Lake1,605 acres
NCWRC stocking lists, regulation tables, species profiles and records; largest waters first.
Species that pair with kokanee salmon
- 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
Places to fish near Kokanee salmon, pictured
Photo: Edward Orde, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: James Willamor, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Nyttend, Public domain
Photo: Indy beetle, CC0 1.0
Worth knowing about kokanee salmon
Which rules govern keeping kokanee salmon?
4 a day (All public fishing waters), size no size limit.
Which water gave up the record kokanee salmon?
4 lbs, 1 ounce from Nantahala Lake (2014).
Which waters produce kokanee salmon?
1 water on this site, including Nantahala Lake.
Does NCWRC stock kokanee salmon?
Not on this year’s list.
How do I tell kokanee salmon apart?
Scientific name Oncorhynchus nerka.
Can kokanee salmon be kept this month?
No closed season
What license do kokanee salmon anglers buy?
Inland waters take an NCWRC inland fishing license from age 16 ($32 resident, $56 nonresident).
Which captains list kokanee salmon?
None list it by name; see the guides page.
Seek out kokanee salmon
Pick a water from the lists on this page.