Walleye

Scientific Name: Sander vitreus
Classification:  Game Fish
Abundance: Common in several reservoirs in the Piedmont and Mountain regions of NC.
Overview: Native to Canada and the northern United States, walleye have been stocked in most states except a few in the far west and south. In North Carolina, the Commission has stocked walleye in mountain and Piedmont reservoirs. Walleye prefer clear, cool water and usually stay in deep water during the day, moving to shallow waters at night.

Sport Fish Profile (pdf)    Species Profile (pdf)

      

The 2011- 12 North Carolina Inland Fishing, Hunting and Trapping Regulations

(Effective August 1, 2011 - July 31, 2012) 

Click the image above to view the entire 2011-2012 Regulations Digest

North Carolina offers some of the nation's best fishing with abundant species and trophy game fish. If you are a resident or visitor to the state, please review these links to ensure that you understand the rules, regulations and other guidelines governing North Carolina's inland, joint and coastal fishing waters. 

The following regulations are effective August 1, 2011 to July 31, 2012. For your convenience we have provided two ways to view the latest regulations. You can: 

  • See the right sidebar to view and/or print the Regulations Digest booklet in it's entirety. You can also request a copy to be mailed to you.

OR

  • view and/or print particular sections of interest below 

Note: Most of the following pdf links will open to a new window. You can simply close the window to return to this page.

 
The regulations below are effective August 1, 2011 to July 31, 2012.
 
 

Inland Fishing Regulations and Licensing Information

  
 

Inland Fishing Regulations (PDF)
Regulatory authority between the Wildlife Resources Commission and Division of Marine Fisheries. Inland game fish regulations include Manner of Taking, Seasons and Using Trotlines and Set-hooks.

  
 

           Warmwater Game Fish (PDF)
           Game fish size and creel limits. Also, Bass and Morone (striped bass) 
           Identification Charts.

 
 

           Mountain Trout (PDF)
           Mountain trout regulations include Hatchery Supported Trout Waters, Wild 
           Trout Waters and Special Regulated Trout Waters such as Delayed
           Harvest Trout Waters (pdf). Also, Blue Ridge Parkway and State Park
           regulations.           
                      - Trout Maps            
                      - Trout signs and regulations (PDF)

 
 

           Fishing on NC Gamelands, NC State Parks, and on Blue Ridge
           Parkway (PDF)

 
 

           Nongame Fish (PDF) Nongame fish regulations including Sale of
           Nongame Fish, Manner of Taking and Seasons and Waters listed by
           County.

 
 

Saltwater Fishing Regulations and Licensing information

  
 

Coastal Recreational Fish License (CRFL) General Information - NCDMF website

Coastal recreational fish regulations (PDF) include general CRFL information and license type descriptions.

Saltwater Fishing Regulations - NCDMF website

  
   Descriptive Boundaries for Coastal-Joint-Inland Waters –NCDMF Website  

Fishing Seasons and Limits

There are no closed seasons on inland game fishes with the some exceptions (PDF).

Warmwater Game Fish (PDF)

Mountain Trout (PDF)

Nongame Fish (PDF)

Largemouth Bass

03/08/12 Cape Fear River Black Bass Survey (PDF)

02/03/12 Lookout Shoals Lake Largemouth Bass Assessment (PDF)

12/09/11 Lake Lucas Largemouth Bass Assessment (PDF)

11/28/11 Hyco Lake Largemouth Bass Assessment (PDF)

11/28/11 Oak Hollow Lake Largemouth Bass Assessment (PDF)

09/06/11 Status of Largemouth Bass and Pumpkinseed Populations in Lake Phelps (PDF)

06/20/11 Sportfish populations in Northwest River and Tulls Creek (PDF) 

03/31/11 Sutton Lake Sportfish Assessment (PDF)

03/19/10 White Oak and New Rivers Boast Quality Sunfish Fishing Opportunities in Coastal North Carolina (PDF)

03/31/09 Popularity Contest Winners Announced: Largemouth Bass and Striped Bass Tops Among Tar River Anglers (PDF) 

03/28/09 Chowan River a Favorite Among Largemouth Bass Anglers (PDF)

03/28/09 Evaluation of the Black Bass Population in Lake James, North Carolina (PDF)

03/28/09 The Influence of Growth and Mortality on Largemouth Bass Size in Coastal Rivers (PDF) 

2009 Fish Assemblage Response Following a Hurricane-induced Fish Kill in the Lower Roanoke River, NC (PDF)

March 2008 Contribution Of Stocked Largemouth Bass Following Hurricane-induced Fish Kills in 2 NC Coastal Rivers (PDF)

2008 Largemouth Bass Assessment at B. Everett Jordan Reservoir, 2008 (PDF)

2007 Assessment of Largemouth Bass at Falls of the Neuse Reservoir, 2007 (PDF)

2006 Winter  Lake Norman Fisheries Sampling and Assessment (PDF)

2006 Fall  Trophy Largemouth Bass Management at Lake Phelps (PDF)

2003 Potential Value of Neuse River Recreational Fishery Tops $4,000,000 a Year (PDF)

 

Smallmouth Bass

01/10/12 Smallmouth Bass in Western North Carolina Rivers and Streams (PDF) 

03/28/09 Evaluation of the Black Bass Population in Lake James, North Carolina (PDF) 

 

Striped Bass

03/09/11 Striped bass population of the lower Neuse and Trent river (PDF)

03/31/09 Popularity Contest Winners Announced: Largemouth Bass and Striped Bass Tops Among Tar River Anglers (PDF) 

2007 Neuse River Striped Bass Production Low in 2006 & 2007 Will Recruitment Failures Slow Stock Recovery? (PDF)  

 

Blue Catfish

03/28/09 Cape Fear River a Haven for Catfish Anglers (PDF)

 

Channel Catfish

03/28/09 Cape Fear River a Haven for Catfish Anglers (PDF)

 

Flathead Catfish

03/28/09 Cape Fear River a Haven for Catfish Anglers (PDF)

03/28/09 Tar River is Home of Trophy Flathead Catfish (PDF)

White and Yellow Perch

06/20/11 Sportfish populations in Northwest River and Tulls Creek (PDF)  

Brook, Brown, and Rainbow Trout

08/24/09 2008 The Economic Impacts of Mountain Trout Fishing in North Carolina (PDF)