Fishing in North Carolina

Where to Fish

Fish attractor coordinates for downloading to personal GPS devices:

Seasons & Limits

There are no closed seasons on inland game fishes with the following exceptions

Warmwater Game Fish
Game fish size and creel limits. Also, Bass and Morone (striped bass) Identification Charts.
Mountain Trout
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
Nongame Fish
Nongame fish regulations including Sale of Nongame Fish, Manner of Taking and Seasons and Waters listed by County.
Size and creel limits for spotted sea trout, flounder, red drum, and gray trout taken in inland waters are the same as the recreational limits for those species in adjacent joint and coastal waters. (DMF website)

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 this link to ensure that you understand the rules, regulations and other guidelines governing North Carolina's inland, joint and coastal fishing waters.

Boating Regulations

To make certain that the public is safe, responsible, and free to enjoy boating activities throughout the state, the Wildlife Resources Commission enforces laws and regulations that all should observe. This link provides a resource for obtaining the facts you need to know.

Joint Report on the Boating Safety and Fisheries Management Agreement

Disabled Programs

Hatcheries & Stocking

NWRC Stocking

Coldwater Stocking

Warmwater Stocking

Warmwater Stocking List by District (PDF)
Warmwater Stocking Summary (PDF)

NCWRC Hatcheries

Warmwater Hatcheries

McKinney Lake State Fish Hatchery (Richmond County)
Watha State Fish Hatchery (Pender County)

Coolwater Hatchery

Table Rock State Fish Hatchery (Burke County)

Coldwater Hatcheries

Armstrong State Fish Hatchery (McDowell County)
Bobby N. Setzer State Fish Hatchery (Transylvania County)
Marion State Fish Hatchery (McDowell County)

Stocking Your Pond / Pond Management

Commerial Hatcheries and Pond Management

Stocking Permit

Fishing Records

NC Freshwater Fishing State Record Program
- Apply For A NC State Fishing Record

NC Angler Recognition Program (NCARP)

NC Saltwater Fishing Record
NC Saltwater Fishing Tournament (Citation Program)

Additional Fishing Resources

Publications

Mountain Trout Information

Trout Sport Fish Profiles

Trout Stocking

Stocking dates are subject to change due to weather, equipment failures or other unforeseen circumstances.

Additional Information

Striped Bass Information

Aquatic Nuisance Species

Programs

The NC Wildlife Resources Commission offers a variety of fishing programs.
Click on the program that interests you:

Monitoring & Surveys

Important Fish Info

How to Report Fish Kills

To report a fish kill or find locations of reported fish kills in North Carolina, visit the NC Division of Water Resources.

Fish Consumption Advisories

Fish consumption advisories are issued by the Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch, N.C. Division of Public Health. Find current fish advisories for the state of North Carolina and for specific bodies of water in North Carolina at this link Fish Consumption Advisories.

Coastal Recreational Fishing Information

General information about fishing North Carolina's coastal waters (NC Division of Marine Fisheries website)
Size and creel limits for spotted sea trout, flounder, red drum, and gray trout taken in inland waters are the same as the recreational limits for those species in adjacent joint and coastal waters. (NC Division of Marine Fisheries website)

NC Aquatic Nuisance Species Management Plan

Regulatory Updates

2021 Striped Bass Harvest Season for the Roanoke River Management Area

April 10–16 in the lower river zone (downstream of the U.S. 258 Highway bridge at Scotland Neck to the mouth at Albemarle Sound).
April 24–30 in the upper river zone (upstream of the U.S. 258 Highway bridge at Scotland Neck to the base of Roanoke Rapids Dam).

Striped Bass information

Read April 7, 2021 news release