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Hatcheries and Stocking (Public Waters)
Fish hatcheries are an important component of freshwater fisheries management in North Carolina. The Wildlife Resources Commission uses hatchery-reared fish for a variety of purposes, including enhancing existing fisheries and establishing new populations. Each year, Commission staff stocks approximately 6 million fish in public lakes, ponds, streams and rivers throughout the state. The sections below provide more information on the agency’s six fish hatcheries and multiple stocking programs.
2025 Stocking Protocol
All the assessment information will be used by production staff to develop a 2025 Hatchery Supported and Delayed Harvest stocking plan. With the infrastructure damage to Armstrong State Fish Hatchery, there will be a reduced amount of trout available to stock in 2025. As a result, the normal stocking plan will be modified to account for this reduction, for logistical challenges, and to allow for last-minute changes to schedules as field conditions could change. Anglers may notice that the stocking frequency of locations may be reduced to monthly only, the numbers of stocked trout may be reduced, and species ratios will be altered. The stocking schedule will be posted on the agency website (link here). Any changes to that schedule will be posted as soon as possible. We encourage anglers to check this site frequently to ensure that they have the most accurate information.
Coldwater Stocking
- Trout Waters Assessment
- Coldwater Daily Stocking Update
- 2025 Delayed Harvest Trout Waters Stocking Schedule
- Hatchery Supported Weekly Stocking Schedule.
Warmwater Stocking
- 2024 Warmwater Stocking List by District (PDF)
- 2024 Warmwater Stocking Summary (PDF)
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