Know what you can catch and keep

Spinnerbaits are great weapons for fishermen hunting bass in the tannic, stained waters of coastal rivers.

License requirements change at the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge, which carries US 17 Business/US 76/US 421 across the river in WIlmington. All waters upriver are classified as Inland Waters, and a freshwater fishing license is required. Blanket licenses that guides use to cover their parties are not valid in inland waters.

The daily creel limit on largemouth bass is five, with a 14-inch size minimum. Two fish per day may be shorter than 14 inches.

Other fish that may be caught incidental to bass include stripers (no possession allowed on the Cape Fear or any of its tributaries), crappie (20 fish per day with an 8-inch minimum size), catfish (no size or number limit), red drum (one fish in an 18- to 27-inch slow), speckled trout (four fish with a 14 inch minimum size) and flounder (six fish with a 15-inch minimum size).

About Jerry Dilsaver 1169 Articles
Jerry Dilsaver of Oak Island, N.C., a full-time freelance writer, is a columnist for Carolina Sportsman. He is a former SKA National Champion and USAA Angler of the Year.

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