Bogue Sound is a 25-mile long saltwater lagoon and a primary feature of North Carolina's Crystal Coast, stretching from Bogue Inlet in the west to the Beaufort Inlet and Back Sound in the east. Protected from the Atlantic Ocean by the Bogue Banks barrier island, its waters are characteristically shallow and calm, with generally slow-moving currents and no rough waves. The sound is relatively narrow, measuring up to 3 miles wide at its broadest points. It serves as a popular segment of the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW), resulting in consistent maritime traffic. The southern border is the developed barrier island from Emerald Isle to Atlantic Beach, while the northern border is the mainland of Carteret County. This geography creates an extensive, protected inshore fishery with a mix of open sound waters, winding tidal creeks, marsh edges, and developed shorelines.