Edenton National Fish Hatchery

05/07/2026

Grab your rods, tackle boxes, and lucky bait because our upcoming Fishing Derby is almost here! Join us for a fun-filled day on the water!

Time: 7AM-1PM
We Provide: Poles, tackle, and bait

04/18/2026

We are happy to share that the Hatchery aquarium and grounds are now open to the public on weekends!

Hours of operation remain the same: 7:00 AM–3:30 PM. We look forward to welcoming you!

03/23/2026

The hatchery fossil pit has officially been refreshed and restored! We’ve added brand-new materials, including shark teeth of all sizes perfect for fossil hunters of every age and experience level. Come check it out and see what you can discover!

02/19/2026

We are seeking a motivated and dependable Hatchery Intern to assist hatchery staff during the upcoming summer and fall seasons. This hands-on opportunity is ideal for students or recent graduates interested in fisheries, aquaculture, or natural resource management. Please view the announcement and reach out if interested!

12/15/2025

We're proud to share an exciting milestone from our hatchery! In close partnership with our state collaborators at the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries (NCDMF), our team has successfully tagged over 3,000 Atlantic striped bass as part of an ongoing effort to adaptive support fisheries management.

These tiny tags carry a big impact helping biologists track movement, survival, and habitat use of striped bass throughout North Carolina waters and beyond. This collaborative work strengthens conservation efforts, informs management decisions, and ensures healthier fisheries for generations to come.

A huge thank-you to our dedicated hatchery staff and our partners at NCDMF for making this achievement possible.

Take a behind the scenes look from the Edenton National Fish Hatchery as 3000 Striped Bass are tagged and released into the river.

12/05/2025

Hatchery staff have recently completed the final harvest of Atlantic striped bass, which means visitor access to the hatchery grounds and public aquarium will be limited through this spring. Beginning tomorrow, December 6, 2025, we will be closed on weekends and federal holidays. Weekday hours will remain 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM.

09/09/2025

We’re proud to share that our striped bass restoration efforts across North Carolina's river systems were recently featured on PBS!

From the Roanoke to the Cape Fear, we’re continuing to work hard to restore this iconic species.

Catch the full story to see how science, community, and conservation are coming together to restore balance to our waterways.

Wildlife officials stock Atlantic striped bass in North Carolina to support and restore populations in coastal rivers. But where do the fish come from? Hatch...

08/10/2025

08/09/2025

Check out this story highlighting several of our partners and their rare species release in North Carolina waters!

07/07/2025

SPLASH ALERT!!!

Our hatchery team just wrapped up Phase-I Atlantic striped bass pond harvest, and it's been a fin-tastic success! Nearly 200,000 1.5 to 2 inch striped bass were harvested over the last several weeks.

From pond preparation and fertilization to filling, feeding, and of course daily monitoring, our crew worked tirelessly until the final pond harvest to ensure these young bass are healthy, strong, and ready for the next phase of their journey!!

Photo Credit: Jimmie Garth/USFWS