Pumpkinseed across North Carolina
North Carolina rules, records and waters for pumpkinseed.
- no creel limitdaily creel
- 1 lb, 6 ozrecord
Photo of the species, not of a North Carolina water: Tommy Andriollo, CC BY 4.0
North Carolina pumpkinseed at a glance
In North Carolina, Pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus) counts as a freshwater sport fish. The NCWRC row for all public fishing waters except listed waters allows no creel limit, no size limit.
In 2003, Trent River produced the record of 1 lb, 6 oz.
The NCWRC profile of pumpkinseed
“One of the smaller sunfish, the pumpkinseed is a very colorful, chunky fish with a small mouth. Its cheek area has four to eight wavy lines that are often bright blue. The breast and belly are orange to yellow, with lighter-colored sides in a variety of bright colors. The ear flap is black but has an orange-red spot on the outer margin that is often bordered in white.”
“A native of eastern and central North America, pumpkinseed sunfish have been widely introduced in other states. In North Carolina, pumpkinseed are found in shallow areas of lakes and slow-moving rivers and prefer areas with submerged vegetation and brushy cover. They can tolerate a wide range of environmental conditions, including acidic swamp habitats and brackish estuarine waters. Pumpkinseeds eat aquatic insects, snails, small clams and other invertebrates.”
- AbundanceReservoirs throughout NC, as well as many coastal rivers. One of the smaller sunfish, the pumpkinseed is a very colorful, chunky fish with a small mouth. Its cheek area has four to eight wavy lines that are often bright blue. The breast and belly are orange to yellow, with lighter-colored sides in a
Quoted from the NCWRC species profile, checked October 2026.
pumpkinseed creel and size rules
| Agency | Where | Daily creel | Size | Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NCWRC | All public fishing waters except listed waters | no creel limit | no size limit | No closed season |
| NCWRC | All public waters east of I-95 (except Tar River Reservoir) and listed eastern rivers | 30 a day | no size limit | No closed season |
NCWRC 2026-27 digest and NCDMF proclamations. All North Carolina limits.
Heaviest pumpkinseed the state has recorded
| Category | Weight | Where | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| hook and line by weight | 1 lb, 6 oz | Trent River | 2003 |
NCWRC and NCDMF state records. Angler names left out.
Species listed with pumpkinseed
- Largemouth bassfresh
- Smallmouth bassfresh
- Spotted bassfresh
- Alabama bassfresh
- Bartram's bassfresh
- Black crappiefresh
- White crappiefresh
- Bluegillfresh
- Redear sunfishfresh
- Redbreast sunfishfresh
- Green sunfishfresh
- Warmouthfresh
- Flierfresh
- Rock bassfresh
Shore and water close to Pumpkinseed
Photo: Indy beetle, CC0 1.0
Photo: Indy beetle, CC0 1.0
Photo: Nyttend, Public domain
Photo: Dincher, CC BY-SA 3.0
North Carolina pumpkinseed, answered
May North Carolina anglers keep pumpkinseed?
no creel limit (All public fishing waters except listed waters), size no size limit.
What is the North Carolina record pumpkinseed?
1 lb, 6 oz from Trent River (2003).
Which North Carolina waters hold pumpkinseed?
Check the profile on this page.
Where does NCWRC stock pumpkinseed?
NCWRC lists none for 2026.
What scientific name do agencies use for pumpkinseed?
Scientific name Lepomis gibbosus.
Does North Carolina close the season on pumpkinseed?
No closed season
What license fee applies at pumpkinseed?
Inland waters take an NCWRC inland fishing license from age 16 ($32 resident, $56 nonresident).
Are there guides for pumpkinseed?
See the guides page.