North Carolina Fishing License and Limits
License fees, who needs one, water classes and the limits pages for inland, joint and coastal waters.
Photo of Coats: Gerry Dincher from Hope Mills, NC, CC BY-SA 2.0
North Carolina fishing license rules
Individuals 16 years of age and older using any type of bait or gear to catch finfish while fishing in North Carolina's public waters must possess a valid North Carolina fishing license. This license requirement does not apply to private ponds. Inland licenses cover inland and joint waters; the Coastal Recreational Fishing License (CRFL) covers coastal and joint waters; the Unified license covers both. The CRFL is required for recreational taking of finfish in coastal waters, including from shore, piers (unless the pier holds a blanket license), with gigs, spears, cast nets, dip nets and minnow traps; it is not required to take shellfish or to catch crabs with bait and line.
NCWRC and NCDMF share licensing, management and regulatory authority along the coast. Waters are designated inland, joint and coastal. NCWRC has jurisdiction in inland waters; NCDMF has jurisdiction (except for inland game fishes) in coastal waters; both agencies have licensing and regulatory authority in joint waters. Boundaries are marked with metal signs; a list of waters and boundaries is at ncwildlife.gov.
Resident: lived in NC six months, or domiciled 60 days with intent to reside permanently. Nonresident students at NC universities, colleges or community colleges may buy resident licenses. Nonresident members of the U.S. Armed Forces stationed in NC (and spouses and children under 18) are deemed residents; NC members on active duty outside NC are residents for short-term and annual licenses. Carry
NCWRC license information and NCDMF license FAQ. Checked October 2026.
North Carolina fishing license fees, 2026-27
| License | Fee | Valid | Covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resident Inland Fishing 10-Day | $12 | 10 days | inland waters statewide, Public Mountain Trout Waters, trout waters on game lands, joint waters (not coastal w |
| Nonresident Inland Fishing 10-Day | $29 | 10 days | inland waters statewide, Public Mountain Trout Waters, trout waters on game lands, joint waters (not coastal w |
| Resident Coastal Recreational Fishing 10-Day | $9 | 10 days | coastal and joint waters (not inland waters) |
| Nonresident Coastal Recreational Fishing 10-Day | $15 | 10 days | coastal and joint waters (not inland waters) |
| Mountain Heritage Trout Waters 3-Day | $11 | 3 days | Designated Mountain Heritage Trout Waters only |
| Resident State Inland Fishing | $32 | Annual (12 months from purchase) | inland waters statewide, Public Mountain Trout Waters, trout waters on game lands, joint waters (not coastal w |
| Nonresident State Inland Fishing | $56 | Annual (12 months from purchase) | inland waters statewide, Public Mountain Trout Waters, trout waters on game lands, joint waters (not coastal w |
| Resident Coastal Recreational Fishing (CRFL) | $20 | Annual (12 months from purchase) | coastal and joint waters (not inland waters) |
| Nonresident Coastal Recreational Fishing (CRFL) | $40 | Annual (12 months from purchase) | coastal and joint waters (not inland waters) |
| Resident Unified Inland/Coastal Recreational Fishing | $51 | Annual (12 months from purchase) | inland and coastal recreational fishing statewide, incl. Public Mountain Trout Waters, game land trout waters, |
A $5 transaction fee is applied to the total order at time of purchase (N.C.G.S. 113-270.1B). Licenses are sold online at gooutdoorsnorthcarolina.com, by phone (833) 950-0575, at Wildlife Service Agents, and at NCWRC headquarters in Raleigh; the CRFL is also sold at NCDMF offices. All licenses are nontransferable.
Inland, joint and coastal fishing waters
| Water class | Agency | License that works |
|---|---|---|
| Inland | NCWRC | Inland fishing license ($32 resident) or unified license |
| Joint | NCWRC and NCDMF | Inland license or CRFL ($20 resident), or unified license |
| Coastal | NCDMF (NCWRC for inland game fish) | CRFL ($20 resident) or unified license |
Largemouth bass, crappie and mountain trout (among others) are inland game fish under NCWRC jurisdiction in all public waters; striped bass, white and yellow perch, flounder and red drum are inland game fish only in inland waters.
Yes, unless the public pier has purchased a blanket license. Blanket priviledges are included with the ocean pier license.
Who fishes without a license
- Youth under age 16 are exempt from the requirement of any fishing license.all licenses
- A landowner or person leasing land primarily for cultivation, their spouse, and dependents under 18 residing with them may hunt, trap and fish on that land without a license.all licenses
- NC residents serving in the U.S. Armed Forces outside NC (or full-time reserve duty outside NC) on leave in NC for 30 days or less are exempt from hunting, inland and coastal fishing licenses (carry military ID and leave orders).all licenses
- Free Fishing Day: July 4 – no fishing license required in any public waters, including coastal and trout waters.all licenses
- Residents with a valid Unified Subsistence Inland/Coastal Recreational Fishing License Waiver.all licenses
- An inland fishing license is not required to fish in a private pond (a body of water wholly on one owner's land with no fish passage to or from public waters). Ponds on land owned by a public body are not private ponds.inland only
- Holders of a WRC Lifetime Sportsman or Lifetime Comprehensive fishing license purchased before January 1, 2006 are exempt from buying the CRFL (NCDMF FAQ).coastal only
- Anglers on a pier or for-hire vessel covered by a CRFL blanket license.coastal only
- Private freshwater ponds in coastal counties are exempt.coastal only
July 4 each year is "Free Fishing Day"; no license is required in any public waters, including coastal and trout waters. Size and possession limits still apply.
NCWRC license information page, checked October 2026.
Lifetime and special licenses
| License | Fee | Who |
|---|---|---|
| Resident Lifetime Comprehensive Inland Fishing | $326 | Resident |
| Resident Lifetime Comprehensive Inland Fishing (Senior) | $20 | Resident age 70+ |
| Resident Lifetime Unified Inland/Coastal Recreational Fishing | $587 | Resident |
| Resident Lifetime Coastal Recreational Fishing (adult (12+)) | $326 | Resident |
| Nonresident Lifetime Coastal Recreational Fishing (adult (12+)) | $652 | Nonresident |
| Resident Lifetime Coastal Recreational Fishing (youth (1-11)) | $196 | Resident |
| Nonresident Lifetime Coastal Recreational Fishing (youth (1-11)) | $196 | Nonresident |
| Resident Lifetime Coastal Recreational Fishing (infant (under 1)) | $131 | Resident |
| Nonresident Lifetime Coastal Recreational Fishing (infant (under 1)) | $131 | Nonresident |
| Resident Lifetime Coastal Recreational Fishing (senior (70+)) | $20 | Resident |
| Resident Lifetime Disabled Veteran Inland Fishing | $15 | Resident 50%+ disabled veteran (VA) |
| Resident Lifetime Disabled Veteran Coastal Recreational Fishing | $15 | Resident 50%+ disabled veteran (VA) |
| Resident Lifetime Totally Disabled Inland Fishing | $15 | Resident totally and permanently disabled (SSA, CSRS, RRB or NC State Retirement System, or presumptive disability) |
| Resident Lifetime Totally Disabled Coastal Recreational Fishing | $15 | Resident totally and permanently disabled (SSA, CSRS, RRB or NC State Retirement System, or presumptive disability) |
| Resident Lifetime Legally Blind Unified Inland/Coastal Recreational Fishing | $0 | Resident certified legally blind by DHHS |
| Resident Lifetime Sportsman (adult (12+)) | $652 | Resident |
| Nonresident Lifetime Sportsman (adult (12+)) | $1,563 | Nonresident |
| Resident Lifetime Sportsman (youth (1-11)) | $456 | Resident |
| Nonresident Lifetime Sportsman (youth (1-11)) | $456 | Nonresident |
| Resident Lifetime Sportsman (infant (under 1)) | $261 | Resident |
| Nonresident Lifetime Sportsman (infant (under 1)) | $261 | Nonresident |
| Resident Lifetime Sportsman (age 50+) | $326 | Resident |
| Resident Lifetime Sportsman (senior (70+)) | $20 | Resident |
| Resident Lifetime Unified Sportsman/Coastal Recreational Fishing (adult (12+)) | $880 | Resident |
Statewide hook-and-line licenses from NC or the listed state are honored on these boundary waters. Georgia: boat fishing (not anchored to shore, pier or dock) on Chatuge Reservoir and boat-accessible tributaries. Tennessee: state-line portion of Slick Rock Creek and Calderwood Reservoir. Virginia: boat fishing on the Dan River east of Union Street Dam (Danville), the Staunton River east of Difficult Creek, Kerr and Gaston reservoirs and boat-accessible tributaries, and the New River between the confluence of its North and South forks (Alleghany Co.) and the confluence with the Little River in
Rules that apply everywhere
- Inland game fish may be taken only with hook and line (landing nets allowed). Snagging is unlawful. Roanoke River inland waters above the U.S. 258 bridge: single barbless circle hook with live/natural bait, and single barbless hook with other tackle, April 1 – June 30; tandem rigs prohibited.manner of taking
- Unlawful to possess more than the daily creel limit while fishing, boating or afield, or more than three days' creel limit at any place. Unlawful to change the appearance of fish subject to size or creel limits or remove heads/tails of size-regulated fish while fishing.possession
- NCWRC: length is measured in a straight line from the tip of the closed mouth to the tip of the compressed caudal fin. NCDMF: TL tip of snout (mouth closed) to top of compressed tail; FL to middle of fork; LJFL lower jaw to fork; CFL curved along body; black sea bass TL excludes caudal filament.measuring
- New for 2026-2027 (NCWRC change table): state law requires recreational harvest reporting for red drum, flounder, spotted seatrout, striped bass and weakfish taken from inland or joint fishing waters adjacent to coastal waters (and from coastal and joint waters under 15A NCAC 03I .0124). Report at deq.nc.gov/report-my-fish.harvest reporting
- Anglers cannot catch both a federal and state bag limit for the same species on the same trip.federal and state bags
- No one may possess aboard a vessel or while fishing any fish subject to limits without head and tail attached, except mullet and hickory shad used for bait (not more than two fish per boat cut at one time) – 15A NCAC 3M .0101.heads and tails
- Ocean waters are seaward of the COLREGS Demarcation Lines on National Ocean Service charts; state coastal waters in the Atlantic extend to 3 miles.ocean boundary
2026-27 inland / 2026 coastal
Limits pages
- Inland Waters LimitsNCWRC limits for inland waters
- Coastal and Joint Waters LimitsNCDMF and NCWRC limits for coastal and joint waters
- Striped Bass Management AreasAtlantic Ocean, Albemarle, Roanoke and Central Southern areas
- Mountain Trout Classes and SeasonsHatchery Supported, Delayed Harvest, Wild and Catch and Release rules
- Mountain trout watersevery classed stream by county
North Carolina waters, pictured
Photo: Mark Fickett, CC BY 3.0
Photo: User:Dincher, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Matt Tillett from Cumberland, MD, USA, CC BY 2.0
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Photo: Indy beetle, CC0 1.0
North Carolina license questions
Who needs a North Carolina fishing license?
Individuals 16 years of age and older using any type of bait or gear to catch finfish while fishing in North Carolina's public waters must possess a valid North Carolina fishing license. This license requirement does not apply to private po
How much is a North Carolina inland fishing license?
$32 for residents and $56 for nonresidents, annual, plus a $5 transaction fee.
How much is the Coastal Recreational Fishing License?
$20 for residents and $40 for nonresidents, annual.
Is there one license for inland and coastal fishing?
Yes, the resident unified inland and coastal license at $51.
Do I need a license on a fishing pier?
Yes, unless the public pier has purchased a blanket license. Ocean piers include blanket privileges with their pier license.
What are joint fishing waters?
Waters where NCWRC and NCDMF share authority; the inland license or the CRFL both work there.
When is Free Fishing Day in North Carolina?
July 4 each year; no license is needed in any public water that day.
Do I need a separate trout license?
No; the inland fishing license covers Public Mountain Trout Waters. A 3-day Mountain Heritage Trout Waters license ($11) covers only those waters.
What age needs a license?
Anglers 16 and older; under 16 are exempt.