Waxhaw, NC Fishing: Antique Collectors’ Heaven On Earth

Waxhaw is part of Union County in North Carolina, United States. Waxhaw is part of Union County in North Carolina, United States. Waxhaw is 20 minutes from Charlotte and three miles from the South Carolina state line. Waxhaw is one of the oldest towns in Union County, dating back to the 1700s, and its name originated from the Indigenous people who lived in the area, known as the Waxhaw people. The Waxhaw settlement area was initially called "Wisacky," a hunting ground for the Waxhaw Indians. The original occupants of the region were a Native American group known alternately as the Wysacky or the Waxhaws. The Spanish conquistador Juan Pardo was the first European to record contacting the group.

Waxhaw has developed into an antique and fine-dining center. Waxhaw's Small Town Main Street committee is working on an approach to developing and marketing the historic center of the area. Waxhaw is undergoing significant suburban development with new developments that include individual residential housing, apartments, townhouses, and retail complexes.

Waxhaw is also home to some of the best tourist areas in the state. Those visiting the place can go on historical walking tours around downtown. There are also numerous recreational parks that travelers and residents can visit to spend some time. Fishing is also a sport for local and visiting anglers in the Waxhaw area.

Waxhaw Fishing

Fishing is life in North Carolina. Professional guides offer many fishing locations and specific fishing trips, like a Mahi-Mahi guided trip or any trip an angler likes.

An angler can start fishing in Blythe Creek, a stream just 1.4 miles from Waxhaw. They can catch various species in the lake, like largemouth bass, bluegill, channel catfish, blue catfish, crappie, rock bass, and grass carp—there are areas where anglers can try bank fishing and baitcasting. The great Twelvemile Creek branches are the best for you if you are looking for more adventure because the East and West branches of the creek offer abundant fishing opportunities for every angler. The East Fork Twelvemile Creek is home to largemouth bass, bluegill, pumpkinseed, longnose gar, blue catfish, warmouth, green sunfish, and yellow bullhead. You can also go to the West Fork Twelvemile Creek if you want to go further and have more comprehensive options on what fish to catch. Bass fishing is abundant in this area, with many largemouth bass and spotted bass to hook. Channel catfish, warmouth, bluegill, black crappie, redear sunfish, and black bullhead are also found in the creek. West Fork Twelvemile Creek is perfect for bank anglers. The area is also peaceful and quiet, with trails that anglers can try. Anglers can also try their luck fishing in Little Twelvemile Creek. Largemouth bass, spotted bass, rock bass, and channel catfish are the best fish species anglers can catch in the area.

After a good fishing trip in East and West Twelvemile Creek, Machine Branch is another fishing location to visit. It's a stream in Union County, North Carolina, northeast of West Fork Twelvemile Creek. The area is family-friendly, making it a comfortable place to let kids try fishing. Anglers can catch fish in the branch, like largemouth bass, bluegill, Australian bass, rainbow trout, black crappie, blue catfish, and flathead catfish. There are areas where anglers try bank fishing and fly fishing. Hiking trails are also open for those who want to spend time and hike. Machine Branch observes put-and-take fishing where anglers are free to take or put fish from waters into which the fish have been stocked.

Lee Branch and McNeely Branch are fishing havens for bass anglers. Lee Branch is a stream in Union County along the Waxhaw Highway. The stream is home to many largemouth bass, rock bass, black bullhead, and bluegill. Meanwhile, McNeely Branch is perfect for those who like to target striped bass and largemouth bass. Bates Branch is another fishing spot anglers can visit. The area is wheelchair accessible, with parking and picnic areas for anglers and their families. There are also piers, docks, and boat ramps for anglers' use. Fly fishing and bank fishing are some techniques anglers use while fishing in the area. Largemouth bass, channel catfish, and black crappie are the fish anglers can catch in the area.

Fishing regulations in Waxhaw, North Carolina, can change throughout the year. It is vital to make sure and check the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission page before casting the line for the most up-to-date fishing laws and regulations for the current fishing season. Local regulations control when an angler can fish, the maximum size an angler can keep, or how many fish they can catch. Anyone interested in fishing in waters within the broader Waxhaw area should consult with local officials before heading out to fish. 

Top 10 Fish Species in Waxhaw, NC

The top 10 fish species found in Waxhaw, NC, are largemouth bass, bluegill, channel catfish, blue catfish, crappie, rock bass, grass carp, pumpkinseed, longnose gar, and warmouth.

Seasonal Fishing

The fishing season in North Carolina begins in late spring and until early fall. The majority of fish species are active when the water starts getting warmer. Largemouth bass are native species of North Carolina and are found statewide in lakes, ponds, streams, and rivers; meanwhile, rock bass are native to rivers in the western part of North Carolina that flow to the Mississippi River. In large numbers, anglers can fish for channel and blue catfish in the state. Catfish and bass are year-round favorites. Anglers can find them across bodies of water in the state. Anglers can catch crappie year-round, but the best daytime fishing for crappie is during the spring and fall seasons when large schools of fish move to shallow water. Carp fishing can be very good year-round, but it is vital to focus on specific times of day when grass carp are the most active feeding. The best time to catch pumpkinseed is in spring and early summer, when the fish start to move into the shallow water to begin their spawning season. The summer months are excellent for longnose gar fishing. Warmouth are popular fish for anglers fishing on blackwater rivers in southeastern North Carolina every late May. They spawn during late spring and summer.

Explore Fantastic Areas in Waxhaw

Waxhaw offers some of the best places tourists can visit. You can enjoy a day at one of Waxhaw's parks, visit a museum or even take a day off and fish.

1. Book A Fishing Charter

Fishing charters have all the essential equipment to make fishing tours successful. They will be happy to supply the required fishing license, fishing bait, boat, and appropriate gear depending on which waters an angler wants to fish. Saltwater and freshwater charters can set up different trips, like freshwater fishing trips or crappie fishing trips. Anglers can book fishing charters in North Carolina, like S and C Fishing Charters, Cap's Fishing Charters, Keep Castin' Charters, and Reel Knotty Fishing Charters.

2. A Museum Worth Visiting

The Museum of Waxhaws is a hidden treasure for the history buff and the best place to visit for those who want to learn more about Waxhaw history. The Museum of the Waxhaws documents events in the Waxhaw region with exhibits for visitors. The Museum of the Waxhaws presents history in a living, reenacted form or through realistic exhibits featuring authentic artifacts, architecture, and photographs. History buffs can experience life as it was for these Waxhaw settlers and the Native Americans who first dwelled on this land.

3. A Day At Waxhaw’s Nicest Parks

David G. Barnes Children's Park is a park in Waxhaw named in honor of the man who has devoted many years of his career as a public servant, a public school teacher, a Town Commissioner, and Mayor Pro Tem. The park is a one-acre neighborhood park with playgrounds for toddler and school-aged children, bathrooms, video surveillance, a small picnic shelter, a greenspace, benches, and foliage. Sports enthusiasts will be happy to visit Harvey Clay Nesbit Park to try and test its soccer and baseball fields. Meanwhile, Waxhaw Sk8 Park is open for skateboard enthusiasts.