Fish camps are a North Carolina tradition that go way back, especially around the Gaston County area where the Catawba River runs through. These are casual, family-style restaurants known for piles of fried seafood, sweet tea, and baskets of golden hush puppies that keep showing up before you can finish them.
The best part is that most of these spots stay simple, affordable, and packed on weekends when families roll in hungry. If you love crispy catfish, flounder, and those little cornmeal bites of goodness, you are in the right place.
Here are eight fish camps across the state where the hush puppies alone are reason enough to grab a booth and settle in.
1. Love’s Fish Box, Kings Mountain
Kings Mountain locals have long counted Love’s Fish Box as one of the go-to spots for a heaping seafood plate. The restaurant has been a fixture in the area for decades, keeping its focus on fried favorites and quick, friendly service.
Fried flounder, shrimp, and catfish anchor the menu, and the sides lean into that classic fish camp style. Coleslaw, fries, and of course a basket of hush puppies come along for the ride.
The setting is casual and unfussy, which is exactly what regulars want. You order, you eat well, and you leave full.
I like this stop because it delivers the old-school fish camp experience without any frills. The hush puppies here are the kind you keep reaching for, slightly sweet and crisp on the outside.
2. Twin Tops Fish Camp, Gastonia
Few names come up more often in Gaston County conversations about fish camps than Twin Tops. It has built a reputation over the years as one of the busiest and most beloved fish camps in the region.
Calabash-style seafood is the specialty here, meaning lightly breaded and fried until crisp. Expect flounder, shrimp, oysters, and catfish served in generous portions.
The dining room fills up fast on weekends, so timing your visit smart pays off. Families make this a regular tradition, and the crowds prove it.
The hush puppies get plenty of praise, arriving warm and steady throughout the meal. Pair them with the seafood platter and you have a plate that lives up to the fish camp promise.
3. Captain’s Cap Seafood, Cramerton
Sitting near the water in Cramerton, Captain’s Cap Seafood keeps the fish camp tradition alive in a town that knows the drill. The location gives it that riverside fish camp feel that so many people in the area grew up with.
The menu covers the classics, from fried flounder and shrimp to catfish and combination platters. Sides stay true to form with slaw, fries, and hush puppies rounding out the meal.
What sets it apart is the neighborhood feel in a smaller town setting. It is the kind of place where regulars greet each other across the room.
Grab the hush puppies while they are hot, and you will understand why folks keep coming back. They pair perfectly with a big platter of fried seafood.
4. Fish House at Sunset Slush, Charlotte area
Charlotte’s outer neighborhoods carry the fish camp torch too, giving city folks an easy drive to a proper seafood spread. A fish house in this stretch keeps the fried classics front and center.
The menu sticks with the crowd-pleasers, including flounder, shrimp, and catfish. Combination plates let you sample a little of everything, which is how fish camps are meant to be enjoyed.
Casual seating and quick service make it a good stop when you want a big meal without the wait of a fancy sit-down place. It fits the fish camp mold nicely.
Hush puppies are the sidekick that steals the show here. Slightly sweet and fried to a golden finish, they disappear fast off the table.
5. Rodi Fish Camp, Mount Holly
Mount Holly rounds out the Gaston County fish camp lineup with its own dependable seafood spots. The town sits right in the middle of fish camp country, so expectations run high.
Diners come for the fried flounder, shrimp, and catfish that define the local style. The plates arrive loaded, and the sides keep the meal filling and familiar.
The vibe is relaxed and welcoming, the sort of place where families gather after church or before a weekend of errands. No pretense, just good fried seafood.
The hush puppies earn their keep, arriving warm and staying on the table long enough for second and third helpings. That basket is often the first thing to empty.
6. Catfish Cove, Salisbury
Salisbury pushes the fish camp tradition a little east of the Gaston County heartland, and Catfish Cove flies the flag proudly. The name tells you exactly what to expect from the menu.
Fried catfish is the star, served up in generous fillets alongside shrimp, flounder, and other seafood favorites. The all-you-can-eat style options are a big draw for hungry visitors.
The setting keeps things simple and comfortable, with a focus on filling plates rather than fancy presentation. It is a genuine sit-and-stay kind of meal.
Hush puppies round out the experience, arriving in baskets that seem to refill just when you need them. They are a fitting match for a plate piled high with catfish.
7. Fish Camp on the River, Lake Norman area
Head up toward the Lake Norman area and the fish camp spirit follows the water right along with you. Spots near the lake keep the fried seafood tradition going strong for both locals and visitors passing through.
The menu holds true to fish camp roots with flounder, shrimp, catfish, and combination platters. Sides like slaw, fries, and hush puppies complete the classic spread.
Being near the water gives these spots an extra draw, making them a natural stop after a day out on or around the lake. Families roll in ready to eat.
Save room for the hush puppies, because they arrive golden and keep coming. A basket of them alongside fried seafood is exactly the meal this list promises.
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