Fishing

Fishing is a popular pastime at Lake Crabtree County Park. A fishing pier and platform provide handicap accessibility. The park offers a Tackle Loaner Program through the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission. Fishing is permitted in designated areas only.

Beginning January 1, 2007, any person 16 and older fishing in public waters MUST have a fishing license. Additionally, anglers fishing with natural bait (i.e., worms, crickets, etc.) will no longer be able to fish in public, inland water in their county of residence without a license.

PCB Information and Fishing Advisory
In mid-May 2004, Lake Crabtree County Park was notified of elevated levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the fish. Since this time, a North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NC DHHS) fish consumption advisory has been in effect. The following documents contain information on the state's advisory:
NC Fish Consumption Advisory Factsheet
NC Aviso Sobre el Consumo de Pescados

Wake County adopted a catch-and-release-only policy at Lake Crabtree and Crabtree Creek. The following documents contain information on Wake County's policy:
Wake County Catch and Release Policy
Advertencia del Gobierno del Condado de Wake

Catch-and-release fishing, boating and contact with the water pose no health risks and are not affected by these advisories. For more information on PCBs at Lake Crabtree, see our Lake Crabtree and PCBs: What You Should Know brochure. En español: ¡No Coman Pescados del Lago Crabtree!