| White Oak River Area |
|
|
| Map of White Oak River Area Area (96kb) | click photo to enlarge | |
| White Oak River Area |
|
|
| Map of White Oak River Area Area (96kb) | click photo to enlarge | |
The White Oak River area is located in
Carteret, Jones, and Onslow Counties, and offers some of the finest blackwater
boating and fishing in North Carolina. This
area is close to Maysville, Morehead City, New Bern, and Swansboro, and is
easily accessible by car. However,
most anglers and river-users prefer traveling these waters by boat, using
Haywood Landing as their starting point. Haywood
Landing is a developed (Forest Service) boat launch site with ample parking and
restroom facilities. There is no
fee to launch a boat at Haywood Landing.
Canoe and kayak access to the White Oak River
also exists at the Cedar Point Recreation Area. This portion
of the river consists of shallow grass beds where canoes may be most suitable.
There is also no fee to launch a canoe or kayak at Cedar Point.
Access:
From New Bern, follow Highway 17 South to Pollocksville where Highway 58
joins Highway 17. Follow Highway 58
South through Maysville to Forest Road 120.
Turn right onto Forest Road 120, then right onto Forest Road 157.
At the t-intersection, turn right onto Forest Road 146 and follow to
Haywood Landing.
From Morehead City, follow Highway 24
west to Town of Cape Carteret and Highway 58.
From Swansboro, follow Highway 24 East across the mouth of the White Oak
River to Cape Carteret and Highway 58. Follow
Highway 58 North to Forest Road 120. Turn
left onto Forest Road 120, then right onto Forest Road 157.
At the t-intersection, turn right onto Forest Road 146 and follow to
Haywood Landing.
Camping:
The Cedar Point Recreation Area offers overnight camping for trailers and
tents. Restroom facilities,
drinking water, tent pads, and grills are available.
Sites are available on a first-come, first-serve basis, and there is a fee
required to camp here.
Primitive camping is allowed on Forest
Service lands throughout the White Oak River area, except where signed “no
camping”. Exceptions to this rule
may occur along major Forest Service roads, where primitive campsites have been
designated and signed to protect water quality and other natural resources.
Comments:
This area is popular among local anglers because of the diversity of
fishing opportunities available. Freshwater species are common
both above and below Haywood Landing, whereas brackish
and saltwater species become more common several miles downstream from Haywood
Landing. This area is also a great place to watch wildlife and look
for interesting plants. Ospreys and
egrets are common, as are other shore birds.
It also provides opportunities to see several reptiles in the wild such
as large turtles, snakes, and alligators. Please
remember to treat these animals with respect.
For more information: Contact the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission at http://www.ncwildlife.org/fs_index_03_fishing.htm for more information on local fishing regulations and license requirements. Trail and local topographic maps are available from:
Croatan National Forest
141 East Fisher Street
New Bern, North Carolina 28560
(252) 638-5628
The White Oak River offers some of the
finest blackwater bass fishing in North Carolina.
It also serves as the gateway to exciting saltwater fishing hotspots such
as the lower White Oak River, Bogue Sound, and nearby Atlantic Ocean, where it is
common to catch bluefish, trout, flounder and Spanish mackerel. In
addition, the entire North Carolina coast is famous worldwide for
its excellent year round offshore fishing opportunities.
Species Present:
largemouth bass, pickerel, gar (difficult to catch), catfish, numerous
sunfish, and when the tides are right, flounder, spot, croaker, and other
saltwater species. A few striped bass
can also sometimes be found in the White Oak River system.
Seasons: The White Oak River is open to fishing year-round.
Holston Creek is the first large creek on the right as you travel up the White Oak River by boat from Haywood Landing. Lower portions of this creek are accessible by boat, but it narrows very quickly. On foot, portions of this creek can be accessed along Forest Road 203, off Highway 58.
Species Present:
largemouth bass, pickerel, gar (difficult to catch), catfish, and
numerous sunfish.
Seasons: Holston Creek is open to fishing year-round.
Hunter Creek is the first large creek on the left as you travel by boat downstream from Haywood Landing on the White Oak River. At this point, the River is quite large and bordered by a mix of maritime forest and grass beds, which makes identifying landmarks difficult. Channel signing is present, but can be unreliable. Lower portions of this “creek” are accessible by boat, but it narrows quickly after about 0.5 mile. On foot, portions of this creek can be accessed along Forest Roads 126 and 144, off Highway 58.
Species Present: largemouth bass, pickerel, gar (difficult to catch), catfish, and numerous sunfish.
Seasons:
Hunter Creek is open to fishing year-round.
