A Year-Round Guide to Franklin and Nantahala

The county has played host to numerous fish camps and seafood restaurants over the years. So what separates a makes a fish camp from a regular seafood restaurant? A camp

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The county has played host to numerous fish camps and seafood restaurants over the years. So what separates a makes a fish camp from a regular seafood restaurant? A camp

Gaston County Fish Camps

The county has played host to numerous fish camps and seafood restaurants over the years. So what separates a makes a fish camp from a regular seafood restaurant?

A camp is usually family-owned, often more modest in appearance, and almost always serves up larger dishes than a seafood restaurant, explains Walter Israel, director of Gaston County Travel & Tourism.

But there is one test that a restaurant has to pass above all others: “A fish camp’s old standby has been fried, fried, and fried,” he says.

For fresh fried fish and hushpuppies, checkout these Gaston County fish camps:

AmberJack Seafood & Steaks
4235 S. New Hope Road
Gastonia, NC 28056
(704) 824-5502
amberjackseafood.com
Hours: Monday, closed; Tuesday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Friday 11 a.m.- 10 p.m.; Saturday, 3-10 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.

Black’s Bluewater Seafood & Grill
1118 S. Main Street
Mount Holly, NC 28120
(704) 827-1230
Hours: Monday-Tuesday, closed; Wednesday-Thursday and Saturday, 7 a.m.-11 a.m., 4-9 p.m.; Friday, 7 a.m.-2 p.m., 4-9 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

The Captain’s Cap (3 locations)
670 Park St
Belmont, NC 28012
(704) 825-4103
thecaptainscap.com
Opened in 1994
Hours: Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Friday, 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m.; Saturday, 3:30-9:30 p.m.; Sunday, Closed

1218 N. Highway 16
Denver, NC 28037
(704) 483-2121
thecaptainscap.com
Opened in 2001
Hours: Sunday-Monday, closed; Tuesday-Thursday, 3:30-9 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 3:30-9:30 p.m.

3140 Linwood Rd
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 865-7433
thecaptainscap.com
Opened in 1981
Hours: Monday, Closed; Tuesday-Thursday and Sunday, 4-9 p.m.; Friday, 4-9:30 p.m.; Saturday, 3:30-9:30 p.m.

Catfish Cove
1401 Armstrong Ford Road
Belmont, NC 28012
(704) 825-3332
catfishcove.net
Opened in 1989
Hours: Monday-Thursday, 4-9 p.m.; Friday, 4-10 p.m.; Saturday 3-10 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Firehouse Fish-N-Fixins
1206 Linwood Rd
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 854-3474
firehousefishnfixins.com
Hours: Monday-Saturday 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m.; Sunday, Closed

Lineberger’s Fish Camp
1101 Union Road
Gastonia, NC 28056
(704) 396-6274
Open 1948-1998, re-opened in 2012
Hours: Monday-Tuesday, 4-9 p.m.; Wednesday, Closed; Thursday-Friday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Saturday, 4-9 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Long Creek Fish Fry
1425 Lower Dallas Highway
Dallas, NC 28034
(704) 922-3998
Opened in 1948
Hours: Monday-Tuesday, Closed; Wednesday, 1:30-9 p.m.; Thursday, noon-9 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m.-9 p.m.

North Star Seafood
3150 Dallas High Shoals Rd.
Dallas, NC 28034
(704) 922-7715
northstarseafoodrestaurant.com
Opened in 1985
Hours: Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m.; Sunday, Closed

Sharkey’s Place
141 W. Main Avenue
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 867-7427
sharkeysplace.com
Opened in 2012
Hours (including music after 10 p.m. and bar): Sunday-Monday, 10 p.m.-2 a.m.; Tuesday-Friday, 4 p.m.-2 a.m.; Saturday, 3 p.m.-2 a.m.; Opens early for lunch: Tuesday-Friday, 11 a.m.; Saturday 12 p.m.

Surf & Turf Lodge
808 N. 14th St.
Bessemer City, NC 28016
(704) 629-0561
surfandturflodge.com
Opened 2006
Hours: Monday-Tuesday, Closed; Wednesday-Thursday, 4 p.m.-9 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 3 p.m.-9:30 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

Twin Top Fish Camp
4574 South New Hope Road
Gastonia, NC 28056
(704) 825-2490
twintopsfishcamp.com
Opened in 1968
Hours: Sunday-Monday, Closed; Tuesday-Wednesday, 4-9 p.m.; Thursday, 4-9:30 p.m.; Friday 4-10 p.m.; Saturday, 3-10 p.m.

Hours are subject to change. It’s always a good idea to call ahead to confirm a restaurant is open.


This list was compiled by Jonathan Black, and editorial intern at Our State during the summer of 2013.

This story was published on Aug 12, 2013

Our State Staff

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