The following waters have been designated as primary nursery areas:

1. (1) North River:

   1. (a) Broad Creek ‑ Camden County ‑ Entire stream;
   2. (b) Deep Creek ‑ Currituck County ‑ Entire stream; and
   3. (c) Lutz Creek ‑ Currituck County ‑ Entire stream.

2. (2) Alligator River:

   1. (a) East Lake ‑ Dare County ‑ Inland waters portion; and
   2. (b) Little Alligator River ‑ Tyrrell County ‑ Entire stream.

3. (3) Currituck Sound:

   1. (a) Martin Point Creek ‑ Dare County ‑ Entire stream (Jean Guite Creek); and
   2. (b) Tull Creek and Bay ‑ Currituck County ‑ Tull Bay to mouth of Northwest River; Tull Creek from mouth upstream to SR 1222 bridge.

4. (4) Pamlico River:

   1. (a) Duck Creek ‑ Beaufort County ‑ Entire stream;
   2. (b) Bath Creek ‑ Beaufort County ‑ Entire stream;
   3. (c) Mixons Creek ‑ Beaufort County ‑ Entire stream;
   4. (d) Porter Creek ‑ Beaufort County ‑ Entire stream;
   5. (e) Tooleys Creek ‑ Beaufort County ‑ Entire stream;
   6. (f) Jacobs Creek ‑ Beaufort County ‑ Entire stream;
   7. (g) Jacks Creek ‑ Beaufort County ‑ Entire stream;
   8. (h) Bond Creek ‑ Beaufort County ‑ Entire stream;
   9. (i) Muddy Creek ‑ Beaufort County ‑ Entire stream;
   10. (j) Strawhorn Creek ‑ Beaufort County ‑ Entire stream;
   11. (k) South Prong Wright Creek ‑ Beaufort County ‑ Entire stream; and
   12. (l) Jordan Creek ‑ Beaufort County ‑ Entire stream.

5. (5) Neuse River:

   1. (a) Slocum Creek ‑ Craven County ‑ Entire stream; and
   2. (b) Hancock Creek ‑ Craven County ‑ Entire stream.

6. (6) New River:

   1. (a) French Creek ‑ Onslow County ‑ Entire stream; and
   2. (b) New River ‑ Onslow County ‑ US Highway 17 bridge to NC 24/US 258 bridge.
7. (7) Roanoke River: Halifax and Northampton counties - US 258 bridge to Roanoke Rapids dam.
8. (8) Tar-Pamlico River: Nash, Edgecombe, Pitt and Beaufort counties - N&S railroad at Washington upstream to Rocky Mount Mills Dam.
9. (9) Neuse River: Wake, Johnston, Wayne, Lenoir, Pitt and Craven counties - Pitchkettle Creek upstream to Milburnie Dam.
10. (10) Cape Fear River: Chatham, Lee, Harnett, Cumberland and Bladen counties - Lock and Dam No. 1 upstream to Buckhorn Dam.
11. (11) Albemarle Sound: Peter Mashoes Creek – Dare County – Entire Stream.
12. (12) Croatan Sound: Spencer Creek – Dare County – Entire Stream.
13. (13) White Oak River: Onslow and Jones counties – Grants Creek upstream to Gibson Bridge Road (SR 1118).
14. (14) Northeast Cape Fear River: Pender County – NC 210 bridge upstream to NC 53 bridge.

History Note: Authority G.S. 113‑132; 113‑134;
Eff. August 1, 1990;
Amended Eff. May 1, 2008; November 1, 2007; August 1, 2004; July 1, 2000; July 1, 1993;
Readopted Eff. October 1, 2021.