Brown Trout

The brown trout is golden brown to olive brown with yellowish sides. Its back and sides have dark spots encircled with light yellow or white. Some brown trout also have orange or red spots on their sides. Native to Europe and western Asia, brown trout were introduced to North America in the late 1800s. Brown trout are often reclusive, hanging out close to underwater structure, such as fallen trees and undercut banks. Larger specimens are often caught near dark and after rain storms that result in dingy water. Young brown trout feed on small aquatic and terrestrial insects. Adult brown trout usually reach larger sizes than brook or rainbow trout. As a result, they often consume larger food items, such as crayfish, mollusks and fish, including other trout

North Carolina offers some great fishing opportunities. If you are a resident or visitor to the state, please review the links below to ensure that you understand the rules, regulations and other guidelines.

The following fishing regulations are effective August 1, 2019 to July 31, 2020.

Inland Fishing

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
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

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

Fishing techniques: Fishing dry flies, streamers, and nymphs that imitate natural foods works well. This method is especially popular in North Carolina’s many streams that support wild trout. Fishing baits, such as worms and corn, work well for hatcheryreared brown trout. Spin casting small spinners, spoons and crankbaits can be productive as well. Be sure to check the current trout fishing regulations on the type of lures allowed as well as the size limit and creel limit for a particular trout water before fishing.

Good places to fish: Check out the interactive Public Mountain Trout Waters map to find good places to catch trout.