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Fishing at Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in North Carolina. Published by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS).
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U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
The minimum length limit for blue crabs is 5-inches
carapace width (point-to-point).
Mattamuskeet
Crabs caught on Mattamuskeet NWR are for personal use
only and may not be sold.
National Wildlife
Refuge Sport Fishing
Regulations
Prohibited Activities
n Airboats, sailboats, jet skis, and windboards
n Camping
n Commercial Use
n Fires
n Fireworks
n Herring dipping
n Leaving boats on the Refuge overnight
n Littering - this includes not removing crab lines
n Off road driving/ATV’s, UTV’s, FourWheelers, etc.
n Swimming
n Taking, removing, disturbing or possessing wildlife and
plants
n Taking/possessing reptiles and amphibians
n
Use of trot lines, set lines, limb lines, or jug lines
Motorized and nonmotorized fishing boats, canoes and
kayaks are only permitted on the Refuge from March 1
through October 31. The Refuge is closed to all boating the
rest of the year.
The Refuge is open during daylight hours.
Please stay at least 50 yards away from osprey nests.
This is especially critical during the active nesting season
(generally between March 1 and August 1). Osprey nesting
success is susceptible to human disturbance. Please report
any disturbance or harassment, or other violations you see
to Refuge personnel.
General fishing regulations and special regulations are
codified in Title 50, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 32. If
you have any questions regarding activities on the Refuge
please contact the refuge manager at 252/926 4021.
Please be courteous to other refuge visitors.
March 2020
The Refuge speed limit is 25 m.p.h. unless otherwise posted.
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
1 800/344 WILD
Fishermen and crabbers using the Refuge are subject to
inspections of licenses, equipment, creel limits, vehicles
and contents during compliance checks by refuge and state
officers.
Mattamuskeet
National Wildlife Refuge
85 Mattamuskeet Road
Swan Quarter, NC 27885
252/926 4021
https://www.fws.gov/refuge/mattamuskeet
Other
Do not feed the wildlife.
To Columbia
NORTH CAROLINA
Mattamuskeet
94
Fairfield
Lake Rd.
s Rd
.
North
Jarvis
Canal
National Wildlife Refuge
Piney Wood
ppin
upo
a
W
al
Can
264
LAKE MATTAMUSKEET
No. 1 East Canal
GREAT
ISLAND
Rose
Bay
Canal
Turnpike Rd.
tM
ain
Ca
Wildlife Drive
Swindell Fork
ain
M
ast
na
l
Miles
0
2
C
E
N
ter 264
New Holland
l
tfa
Levee
Canal
Refuge boundary
2
al
an
Legend
Kilos
lC
0
Lake
Landing
Canal
l
a
an
Ou
Sw
To
an
ar
Qu
Central
Canal
We
s
To Engelhard
Regulations
Fishing will be in accordance with all applicable state
regulations subject to the following conditions:
Water
Sport fishing, bow fishing and crabbing are permitted from
Boat ramp
March 1 through October 31 from 1/2 hour before legal sunrise
Refuge headquarters to 1/2 hour after legal sunset, with the following exceptions:
Bank fishing and crabbing are permitted year-round in these
areas:
n from Highway 94 (only area where fishing and crabbing are
permitted 24 hours per day)
n from and south of the northern most bridge at Lake Landing
Canal
from the Outfall Canal water control structure
n from the Central Canal bridge
n along West Main and East Main Canals between the
Entrance Road Bridge and Number 1 East Canal as posted
n from the Rose Bay Canal boat ramp dock
Bank fishing and crabbing are prohibited along the
Entrance Road from Highway 94 to the Entrance Road
bridge and along the Wildlife Drive from Entrance Road to
Highway 94.
Reminder
State fishing license requirements apply. Inland game fish
may be taken only with a hook and line. State size and creel
limits apply. All fishing and crabbing lines must be attended.
Fish caught on Mattamuskeet NWR are for personal use
only and may not be sold.
n
Crabbing
The appropriate state inland (freshwater) fishing license is
required to crab on Mattamuskeet NWR.
Only five hand lines and/or hand-activated traps per
person are permitted. Crab pots are prohibited. The take/
possession limit is 12 blue crabs per person per day.