Hyde County is one of the most-unique counties along North Carolina’s coast. The bulk of the county is on the mainland, with Ocracoke Island on the Outer Banks. The county’s total area of 1,424 square mile includes 811 square miles of water, and its total population is just short of 6,000.
Hyde County is home to Lake Mattamuskeet, the largest natural lake in North Carolina, which is part of a National Wildlife Refuge. In recent years, more focus has been on fishing the creeks, rivers and bays bordering Pamlico Sound. The lack of accommodations has been the biggest obstacle for a developed recreational fishery, but the waters are plenty productive to draw hook-and-line fishermen.
More and improved ramps between Rose Bay and Stumpy Point have helped with access to Hyde County waters, and as the fishing tales spread, more fishermen have been coming to see for themselves. Capt. Richard Andrews is one of only a few guides who fishes these waters; he said they hold fish year-round, and with so many creeks, rivers and bays, it could a year to explore them all.
Except for a few places, Hyde County waters are rarely crowded. The fish know the popular places and still visit them enough to uphold their reputations, but there are just as many, and often more fish, in places that require a little exploring to find.
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