North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission

Inland Fishing Regulations
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.

• Regulation for River Herring in Inland Fishing Waters of Coastal Rivers and Their Tributaries (PDF)
• 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. Also, Blue Ridge Parkway and State Park regulations
  • Trout Maps
  • Trout signs and regulations (PDF)
  • Public Mountain Trout Waters Search
• Fishing on NC Gamelands, NC State Parks, and on Blue Ridge Parkway
• 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)

• Saltwater Fishing Regulations - NCDMF website
• Coastal Recreational Fish License (CRFL) General Information - NCDMF website
• Coastal Recreational Fishing License (CRFL) Type Descriptions –NCDMF Website
• Descriptive Boundaries for Coastal-Joint-Inland Waters –NCDMF Website

 Largemouth Bass

2019 - Sportfish Survey in the New River, Onslow County-2018 (PDF)

2019 - Largemouth Bass Stunting and the Prevalence of Small Bass (PDF)

2018 - Badin Lake Largemouth Bass Population Assessment - 2017 (PDF)

2018 - An Overview of the Lake Gaston Largemouth Bass Fishery (2010-2016) (PDF)

2018 - An Overview of the Falls Lake Largemouth Bass Fishery (2007-2015) (PDF)

2018 - Long-term Assessment and Adaptive Management of Sutton Lake Largemouth Bass (PDF)

2018 - Status of Largemouth Bass and Pumpkinseed in Lake Phelps - 2017 (PDF)

2017 - Lake Mattamuskeet Largemouth Bass Stocking Evaluation August 2017 (PDF)

2017 An Overview of the Shearon Harris Reservoir Largemouth Bass Fishery 2007-2017 (PDF)

2016 Characteristics of Recreationally Important Fish Populations of the White Oak River (PDF)

2015 Assessment of Largemouth Bass and Pumpkinseed at Lake Phelps, 2013-2014 (PDF)

2014 Survey Report on Largemouth Bass and Sunfish in Neuse, Trent, and Pungo Rivers (PDF)

2014 Chowan River Largemouth Bass Response following Hurricane Irene (PDF)

2014 Sutton Lake Largemouth Bass Survey 2010-2013 (PDF)

2014  Lake Mattamuskeet Sport Fish Survey (PDF)

2012 Sportfish populations in Little, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Scuppernong and Yeopim Rivers (PDF)

2012 Cape Fear River Black Bass Survey (PDF)

2012 Lookout Shoals Lake Largemouth Bass Assessment (PDF)

2011 Lake Lucas Largemouth Bass Assessment (PDF)

2011 Hyco Lake Largemouth Bass Assessment (PDF)

2011 Oak Hollow Lake Largemouth Bass Assessment (PDF)

2011 Status of Largemouth Bass and Pumpkinseed Populations in Lake Phelps (PDF)

2011 Sportfish populations in Northwest River and Tulls Creek (PDF) 

2011 Sutton Lake Sportfish Assessment (PDF)

2010 White Oak and New Rivers Boast Quality Sunfish Fishing Opportunities in Coastal North Carolina (PDF)

2009 Popularity Contest Winners Announced: Largemouth Bass and Striped Bass Tops Among Tar River Anglers (PDF) 

2009 Chowan River a Favorite Among Largemouth Bass Anglers (PDF)

2009 Evaluation of the Black Bass Population in Lake James, North Carolina (PDF)

2009 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)

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 Lake Norman Fisheries Sampling and Assessment (PDF)

2006 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

2012 Smallmouth Bass in Western North Carolina Rivers and Streams (PDF) 

2009 Evaluation of the Black Bass Population in Lake James, North Carolina (PDF)