North Carolina Inland Waters Limits
NCWRC creel and size limits for inland waters, the I-95 and I-77 splits, and the 153 waters with their own rules.
Photo of Enfield: Indy beetle, CC0 1.0
Statewide rows
NCWRC limits for inland fishing waters
| Species | Where | Daily creel | Size | Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Largemouth bass | All public waters except listed waters | 5 a day | 14 in minimum | No closed season |
| Smallmouth bass | All public waters except listed waters | 5 a day | 14 in minimum | No closed season |
| Alabama bass and spotted bass | All public waters except Lake Chatuge | no creel limit | no size limit | No closed season |
| Bartram's bass | All public waters | 5 a day | 14 in minimum | No closed season |
| Crappie (black and white) | All public fishing waters except listed waters | no creel limit | no size limit | No closed season |
| Crappie (black and white) | All other public waters east of I-95 (except Tar River Reservoir, Sutton Lake, Roanoke River) and all public waters west | 20 a day | 8 in minimum | No closed season |
| Sunfish (except crappie, rock bass and Roanoke bass) | All public fishing waters except listed waters | no creel limit | no size limit | No closed season |
| Sunfish (except crappie, rock bass and Roanoke bass) | All public waters east of I-95 (except Tar River Reservoir) and listed eastern rivers | 30 a day | no size limit | No closed season |
| Striped bass and Bodie bass (striped bass hybrid) | Impounded inland waters and their tributaries except listed waters | 4 a day | 20 in minimum | No closed season |
| Striped bass and Bodie bass (striped bass hybrid) | Roanoke River Striped Bass Management Area (Roanoke, Cashie, Eastmost and Middle rivers from Roanoke Rapids Dam to Albem | 1 a day | 18 to 22 in | By proclamation only |
| Striped bass and Bodie bass (striped bass hybrid) | Central-Southern Management Area inland and joint waters: Cape Fear River and tributaries (Buckhorn Dam to U.S. 17-74-76 | none may be kept | no size limit | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| Striped bass and Bodie bass (striped bass hybrid) | Central-Southern Management Area inland and joint waters: Tar-Pamlico River above Gum Point-Fork Point line and Neuse Ri | 1 a day | 22-27 in protected (no fish possessed between 22 and 27 inches) | April 1-30, 2026 |
| Striped bass and Bodie bass (striped bass hybrid) | Lake Mattamuskeet; Pee Dee River and tributaries below Blewett Falls Dam | 3 a day | 18 in minimum | No closed season |
| Rock bass and Roanoke bass | All public fishing waters except east of I-77 | no creel limit | no size limit | No closed season |
| Rock bass and Roanoke bass | All public waters east of I-77 | 2 a day | 8 in minimum | No closed season |
| White bass | All inland and joint fishing waters (hook and line) | 10 a day | no size limit | No closed season |
| White perch | All inland and joint fishing waters (hook and line) | no creel limit | no size limit | No closed season |
| Shad (American and hickory) | All inland and joint fishing waters (hook and line) except listed waters | 10 a day | no size limit | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| Walleye | All public fishing waters except listed waters | 8 a day | no size limit | No closed season |
| Muskellunge | All public fishing waters | 1 a day | 42 in minimum | No closed season |
| Sauger | All public fishing waters | 8 a day | 15 in minimum | No closed season |
| Kokanee salmon | All public fishing waters | 4 a day | no size limit | No closed season |
| Bullheads (black, brown, flat, snail, yellow and white catfish) | All inland and joint fishing waters (hook and line) | 10 a day | no size limit | No closed season |
| Yellow perch | All inland and joint fishing waters | no creel limit | no size limit | No closed season |
| Pickerel (chain and redfin) | All public fishing waters | no creel limit | no size limit | No closed season |
| All other warmwater game fishes | All public fishing waters | no creel limit | no size limit | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| Flounder | Inland and joint fishing waters (NCWRC, hook and line) | 1 a day | 15 in minimum | Sept. 1-14 (2026) |
| Red drum | Inland and joint fishing waters (NCWRC, hook and line) | 1 a day | 18 to 27 in | No closed season |
| Spotted seatrout | Inland and joint fishing waters (NCWRC, hook and line) | 3 a day | 20-26 in protected; only 1 over 26 in | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| American eel | Inland and joint fishing waters (NCWRC, hook and line) | 25 a day | 9 in minimum | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| Atlantic croaker | Inland and joint fishing waters (NCWRC, hook and line) | 50 a day | no size limit | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| Black drum | Inland and joint fishing waters (NCWRC, hook and line) | 10 a day | 14 to 25 in | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| Bluefish | Inland and joint fishing waters (NCWRC, hook and line) | 5 a day | no size limit | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| Catfish (blue, channel and flathead) | Inland and joint fishing waters (NCWRC, hook and line) | no creel limit | no size limit | No closed season |
| Cobia | Inland and joint fishing waters (NCWRC, hook and line) | 1 a day | 36 in minimum | May 1 – Dec. 31 |
| King mackerel | Inland and joint fishing waters (NCWRC, hook and line) | 3 a day | 24 in minimum | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| Mullet (striped and white) | Inland and joint fishing waters (NCWRC, hook and line) | 100 a day | no size limit | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| Sheepshead | Inland and joint fishing waters (NCWRC, hook and line) | 5 a day | 14 in minimum | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| Spanish mackerel | Inland and joint fishing waters (NCWRC, hook and line) | 15 a day | 12 in minimum | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| Spot | Inland and joint fishing waters (NCWRC, hook and line) | 50 a day | no size limit | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| Weakfish (gray trout) | Inland and joint fishing waters (NCWRC, hook and line) | 1 a day | 12 in minimum | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| Sharks | Inland and joint fishing waters (NCWRC, hook and line) | none may be kept | no size limit | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| Sturgeon | Inland and joint fishing waters (NCWRC, hook and line) | none may be kept | no size limit | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| Tarpon | Inland and joint fishing waters (NCWRC, hook and line) | none may be kept | no size limit | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| Grass carp | Inland and joint fishing waters (NCWRC, hook and line) | no creel limit | no size limit | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| River herring (alewife and blueback herring) | Inland and joint fishing waters (NCWRC, hook and line) | no creel limit | no size limit | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| Madtoms (margined and tadpole) | Inland and joint fishing waters (NCWRC, hook and line) | none may be kept | no size limit | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| All other nongame fish | Inland and joint fishing waters (NCWRC, hook and line) | no creel limit | no size limit | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| Mountain trout (brook, brown, rainbow) | Undesignated trout waters | 7 a day | no size limit | No closed season |
NCWRC 2026-27 inland regulations via eRegulations, updated July 13, 2026.
Listed waters
Waters with their own NCWRC rules
| Water | County | Rules |
|---|---|---|
| Albemarle City Lake | Stanly | Catfish (Blue, Channel, & Flathead): size limit None; daily creel 7 Channel Catfish |
| Albemarle Sound Striped Bass Management Area (including Albemarle, Croatan, Currituck, and Roanoke Sounds; as well as Alligator, Chowan, Little, North, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Scuppernong, and Yeopim rivers and their tributaries) | Striped Bass And Bodie Bass (Striped Bass Hybrid) (Coastal Rivers And Impoundments): Established by Division of Marine Fisheries | |
| Albemarle, Croatan, Currituck, and Roanoke Sounds | Largemouth Bass: size limit 14-inch minimum; daily creel 5 | |
| All other associated tributaries and canals to the waters listed above | Largemouth Bass: size limit 14-inch minimum; daily creel 5 | |
| All other inland fishing waters east of I-95 | River Herring (Alewife And Blueback Herring): size limit No minimum size limit, but no river herring greater than 6 inches may be taken or possessed (regardless or origin); daily creel No daily creel limit for river herring less than 6 inches, and no river her | |
| All other public waters east of I-95, except Tar River Reservoir (Nash Co.), Sutton Lake (New Hanover Co.), and Roanoke River | Crappie (Black And White): size limit 8-inch minimum; daily creel 20 in combination | |
| All other unlisted coastal waters | Striped Bass And Bodie Bass (Striped Bass Hybrid) (Coastal Rivers And Impoundments): Established by Division of Marine Fisheries | |
| All other unlisted inland and joint waters of coastal rivers and tributaries | Striped Bass And Bodie Bass (Striped Bass Hybrid) (Coastal Rivers And Impoundments): No striped bass may be possessed. | |
| All public waters east of I-95, except Tar River Reservoir | Sunfish (Except Crappie, Rock Bass, & Roanoke Bass): size limit None; daily creel 30 in combination, including no more than 12 redbreast sunfish | |
| All public waters west of I-77, except Lake Chatuge | Crappie (Black And White): size limit 8-inch minimum; daily creel 20 in combination | |
| Alligator River (including the Alligator/Pungo Canal (Intra-coastal Waterway) east of the U.S. 264/N.C. 45 bridge) | Largemouth Bass: size limit 14-inch minimum; daily creel 5 | |
| Anderson Community Park Pond | Orange | Catfish (Blue, Channel, & Flathead): size limit None; daily creel 7 Channel Catfish |
| Azalea Park Pond | Buncombe | Catfish (Blue, Channel, & Flathead): size limit None; daily creel 7 Channel Catfish |
| B. Everett Jordan Reservoir | Crappie (Black And White): size limit 8-inch minimum; daily creel 20 in combination | |
| Badin Lake | Catfish (Blue, Channel, & Flathead): size limit No minimum size limit, and only one Blue Catfish may be greater than 32 inches; daily creel No daily creel limit for Blue Catfish less than 32 inches, and only one Blue Catfish may be greater than 32 inches | |
| Bass Lake | Wake | Catfish (Blue, Channel, & Flathead): size limit None; daily creel 7 Channel Catfish |
| Big Elkin Creek | Surry | Catfish (Blue, Channel, & Flathead): size limit None; daily creel 7 Channel Catfish |
| Big Flatty Creek | Pasquotank | Largemouth Bass: size limit 14-inch minimum; daily creel 5 |
| Bond Park Pond | Wake | Catfish (Blue, Channel, & Flathead): size limit None; daily creel 7 Channel Catfish |
| Buckhorn Reservoir | Nash and Wilson | Largemouth Bass: size limit 16-inch minimum; daily creel 5; Crappie (Black And White): size limit None; daily creel 20 in combination |
| Bur-Mill Park Ponds | Guilford | Catfish (Blue, Channel, & Flathead): size limit None; daily creel 7 Channel Catfish |
| CG Hill Memorial Park Pond | Forsyth | Catfish (Blue, Channel, & Flathead): size limit None; daily creel 7 Channel Catfish |
| Cane Creek Lake | Union | Largemouth Bass: size limit 16-inch minimum; daily creel 5; Crappie (Black And White): size limit 8-inch minimum; daily creel 20 in combination |
| Cape Fear River | Crappie (Black And White): size limit 8-inch minimum; daily creel 20 in combination; Sunfish (Except Crappie, Rock Bass, & Roanoke Bass): size limit None; daily creel 30 in combination, including no more than 12 redbreast sunfish | |
| Cape Fear River (up to Buckhorn Dam) | River Herring (Alewife And Blueback Herring): size limit No minimum size limit, but no river herring greater than 6 inches may be taken or possessed (regardless or origin); daily creel No daily creel limit for river herring less than 6 inches, and no river her | |
| Cape Fear River and its tributaries | Shad (American And Hickory): size limit None; daily creel 10 in combination, including no more than 5 American Shad | |
| Cape Fear River and tributaries from Buckhorn Dam downstream to U.S. 17-74-76 bridge at Wilmington | Striped Bass And Bodie Bass (Striped Bass Hybrid) (Coastal Rivers And Impoundments): No striped bass may be possessed. | |
| Cape Fear River downstream of the U.S. 17-74-76 bridge at Wilmington | Striped Bass And Bodie Bass (Striped Bass Hybrid) (Coastal Rivers And Impoundments): Established by Division of Marine Fisheries | |
| Cashie, Eastmost, Middle, and Roanoke River (downstream of Roanoke Rapids Dam), and their tributaries | Crappie (Black And White): size limit 10-inch minimum; daily creel 20 in combination | |
| Cashiers Recreation Pond | Jackson | Catfish (Blue, Channel, & Flathead): size limit None; daily creel 7 Channel Catfish |
| Cedarock Park Pond | Alamance | Catfish (Blue, Channel, & Flathead): size limit None; daily creel 7 Channel Catfish |
| Charles Owen Park Pond | Buncombe | Catfish (Blue, Channel, & Flathead): size limit None; daily creel 7 Channel Catfish |
| Chowan River (including the Meherrin River) | Largemouth Bass: size limit 14-inch minimum; daily creel 5 | |
| Country Park Pond | Guilford | Catfish (Blue, Channel, & Flathead): size limit None; daily creel 7 Channel Catfish |
| Dallas Park Pond | Gaston | Catfish (Blue, Channel, & Flathead): size limit None; daily creel 7 Channel Catfish |
| Dan Nicholas Park Pond | Rowan | Catfish (Blue, Channel, & Flathead): size limit None; daily creel 7 Channel Catfish |
| Dan River (Caswell Co.), downstream of Danville, VA | Caswell | Striped Bass And Bodie Bass (Striped Bass Hybrid) (Inland Impoundments And Tributaries): size limit 20-inch minimum, and no fish may be greater than 26 inches (Oct. 1 – May 31) No minimum size limit (June 1 – Sept. 30); daily creel 2 in combination (Oct. 1 – M |
| Dan River (downstream of the Union Street Dam in Danville, VA) | Catfish (Blue, Channel, & Flathead): size limit No minimum size limit, and only one Blue Catfish may be greater than 32 inches; daily creel No daily creel limit for Blue Catfish less than 32 inches, and only one Blue Catfish may be greater than 32 inches | |
| Deep River downstream of Lockville Dam | Crappie (Black And White): size limit 8-inch minimum; daily creel 20 in combination; Sunfish (Except Crappie, Rock Bass, & Roanoke Bass): size limit None; daily creel 30 in combination, including no more than 12 redbreast sunfish | |
| Dogwood Park Pond | Union | Catfish (Blue, Channel, & Flathead): size limit None; daily creel 7 Channel Catfish |
| Ellendale Community Center Pond | Alexander | Catfish (Blue, Channel, & Flathead): size limit None; daily creel 7 Channel Catfish |
| Ellerbe Community Lake | Richmond | Catfish (Blue, Channel, & Flathead): size limit None; daily creel 7 Channel Catfish |
| Elon Holmes Park Pond | Mecklenburg | Catfish (Blue, Channel, & Flathead): size limit None; daily creel 7 Channel Catfish |
| Etheridge Pond | Edgecombe | Catfish (Blue, Channel, & Flathead): size limit None; daily creel 7 Channel Catfish |
| Farmer Lake | Striped Bass And Bodie Bass (Striped Bass Hybrid) (Inland Impoundments And Tributaries): size limit 16-inch minimum; daily creel 4 in combination | |
| Fox Pond | Vance | Catfish (Blue, Channel, & Flathead): size limit None; daily creel 7 Channel Catfish |
| Frank Liske Park Pond | Cabarrus | Catfish (Blue, Channel, & Flathead): size limit None; daily creel 7 Channel Catfish |
| Freedom Park Pond | Mecklenburg | Catfish (Blue, Channel, & Flathead): size limit None; daily creel 7 Channel Catfish |
| George Poston Park Pond | Gaston | Catfish (Blue, Channel, & Flathead): size limit None; daily creel 7 Channel Catfish |
| Guilford County Farm Park | Guilford | Catfish (Blue, Channel, & Flathead): size limit None; daily creel 7 Channel Catfish |
| Hagan Stone Park Ponds | Guilford | Catfish (Blue, Channel, & Flathead): size limit None; daily creel 7 Channel Catfish |
| Hamlet City Lake | Richmond | Catfish (Blue, Channel, & Flathead): size limit None; daily creel 7 Channel Catfish |
| Harris Lake County Park Pond | Wake | Catfish (Blue, Channel, & Flathead): size limit None; daily creel 7 Channel Catfish |
| Haw River downstream of Jordan Lake Dam | Crappie (Black And White): size limit 8-inch minimum; daily creel 20 in combination; Sunfish (Except Crappie, Rock Bass, & Roanoke Bass): size limit None; daily creel 30 in combination, including no more than 12 redbreast sunfish | |
| Hinson Lake | Richmond | Catfish (Blue, Channel, & Flathead): size limit None; daily creel 7 Channel Catfish |
| Hornet’s Nest Park Pond | Mecklenburg | Catfish (Blue, Channel, & Flathead): size limit None; daily creel 7 Channel Catfish |
| Hyco Lake | Crappie (Black And White): size limit 8-inch minimum; daily creel 20 in combination; Striped Bass And Bodie Bass (Striped Bass Hybrid) (Inland Impoundments And Tributaries): size limit 16-inch minimum; daily creel 4 in combination | |
| Indian Lake | Edgecombe | Catfish (Blue, Channel, & Flathead): size limit None; daily creel 7 Channel Catfish |
| Jean Guite Creek and assoicated canals within the Town of Southern Shores | Dare | Largemouth Bass: No largemouth bass may be possessed |
| John H. Kerr Reservoir | Crappie (Black And White): size limit 9-inch minimum; daily creel 25 in combination; Striped Bass And Bodie Bass (Striped Bass Hybrid) (Inland Impoundments And Tributaries): size limit 20-inch minimum, and no fish may be greater than 26 inches (Oct. 1 – May 31 | |
| Keeley Park Ponds | Guilford | Catfish (Blue, Channel, & Flathead): size limit None; daily creel 7 Channel Catfish |
| Kernersville Lake | Forsyth | Catfish (Blue, Channel, & Flathead): size limit None; daily creel 7 Channel Catfish |
| Lake Cammack | Alamance | Largemouth Bass: size limit No minimum size limit, and only 5 may be greater than 14 inches; daily creel Only 5 fish greater than 14 inches may be possessed; no creel limit for fish less than 14 inches |
| Lake Chatuge | Clay | Largemouth Bass: size limit 12-inch minimum; daily creel 10 largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, Alabama bass and spotted bass in combination; Smallmouth Bass: size limit No minimum size limit; daily creel 10 largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, Alabama bass, and sp |
| Lake Corriher | Rowan | Catfish (Blue, Channel, & Flathead): size limit None; daily creel 7 Channel Catfish |
| Lake Devin | Granville | Catfish (Blue, Channel, & Flathead): size limit None; daily creel 7 Channel Catfish |
| Lake Gaston | Striped Bass And Bodie Bass (Striped Bass Hybrid) (Inland Impoundments And Tributaries): size limit 20-inch minimum (Oct. 1 – May 31) No minimum size limit (June 1 – Sept. 30); daily creel 4 in combination; Shad (American And Hickory): No American shad may be | |
| Lake Hampton | Yadkin | Largemouth Bass: size limit 14-inch minimum, except 2 may be less than 14 inches and none between 16–20 inches may be possessed; daily creel 5, including only 2 less than 14 inches; Crappie (Black And White): size limit 8-inch minimum; daily creel 20 in combin |
| Lake Holt | Granville | Largemouth Bass: size limit No minimum size limit, and only 2 may be greater than 14 inches; daily creel 10, including only 2 greater than 14 inches |
| Lake James | Grass Carp: No grass carp may be possessed except one fish per day may be taken and possessed with archery equipment . | |
| Lake James and tributaries | Walleye: size limit 15-inch minimum; daily creel 8 | |
| Lake Julian | Buncombe | Catfish (Blue, Channel, & Flathead): size limit None; daily creel 7 Channel Catfish |
| Lake Louise | Buncombe | Catfish (Blue, Channel, & Flathead): size limit None; daily creel 7 Channel Catfish |
| Lake Luke Marion | Moore | Catfish (Blue, Channel, & Flathead): size limit None; daily creel 7 Channel Catfish |
| Lake Mattamuskeet | Striped Bass And Bodie Bass (Striped Bass Hybrid) (Coastal Rivers And Impoundments): size limit 18-inch minimum; daily creel 3 in combination | |
| Lake Mattamuskeet and associated canals | Hyde | Largemouth Bass: size limit 16-inch minimum, and only 1 may be greater than 20 inches; daily creel 5, including only 1 greater than 20 inches; Crappie (Black And White): size limit 10-inch minimum; daily creel 20 in combination |
| Lake Michael | Orange | Catfish (Blue, Channel, & Flathead): size limit None; daily creel 7 Channel Catfish |
| Lake Norman | Crappie (Black And White): size limit 8-inch minimum; daily creel 20 in combination; Catfish (Blue, Channel, & Flathead): size limit No minimum size limit, and only one Blue Catfish may be greater than 32 inches; daily creel No daily creel limit for Blue Catfi | |
| Lake Phelps | Largemouth Bass: size limit 14-inch minimum, and none between 16–20 inches may be possessed; daily creel 5 | |
| Lake Raleigh | Wake | Largemouth Bass: size limit 14-inch minimum; daily creel 5; Catfish (Blue, Channel, & Flathead): size limit None; daily creel 7 Channel Catfish |
| Lake Rim | Cumberland | Catfish (Blue, Channel, & Flathead): size limit None; daily creel 7 Channel Catfish |
| Lake Santeetlah | Graham | Largemouth Bass: size limit No minimum size limit, and only 5 largemouth bass and smallmouth bass in combination may be greater than 14 inches; daily creel No daily creel limit for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass less than 14 inches, and only 5 largemouth |
| Lake Thom-A-Lex | Davidson | Largemouth Bass: size limit 18-inch minimum; daily creel 5 |
| Lake Tillery | Catfish (Blue, Channel, & Flathead): size limit No minimum size limit, and only one Blue Catfish may be greater than 32 inches; daily creel No daily creel limit for Blue Catfish less than 32 inches, and only one Blue Catfish may be greater than 32 inches | |
| Lake Tomahawk | Buncombe | Catfish (Blue, Channel, & Flathead): size limit None; daily creel 7 Channel Catfish |
| Lake Townsend | Striped Bass And Bodie Bass (Striped Bass Hybrid) (Inland Impoundments And Tributaries): size limit 16-inch minimum; daily creel 4 in combination | |
| Lake Waccamaw | Freshwater Mussels Including The Asian Clam (Corbicula Fluminea): No freshwater mussels including the Asian clam may be taken or possessed. | |
| Lake Wylie | Catfish (Blue, Channel, & Flathead): size limit No minimum size limit, and only one Blue Catfish may be greater than 32 inches; daily creel No daily creel limit for Blue Catfish less than 32 inches, and only one Blue Catfish may be greater than 32 inches; Gras | |
| Laughter Pond | Polk | Catfish (Blue, Channel, & Flathead): size limit None; daily creel 7 Channel Catfish |
| Linville River upstream from N.C. 126 bridge | Walleye: size limit None; daily creel 4 | |
| Little River | Pasquotank and Perquimans | Largemouth Bass: size limit 14-inch minimum; daily creel 5 |
| Little Tennessee River Basin in and upstream of Lake Santeetlah and Cedar Cliff Lake including all tributaries and impoundments | River Herring (Alewife And Blueback Herring): No live alewife or blueback herring may be possessed, transported, or released. | |
| Lookout Shoals Lake | Grass Carp: No grass carp may be possessed except one fish per day may be taken and possessed with archery equipment . | |
| Lumber River including Drowning Creek | Crappie (Black And White): size limit 8-inch minimum; daily creel 20 in combination; Sunfish (Except Crappie, Rock Bass, & Roanoke Bass): size limit None; daily creel 30 in combination, including no more than 12 redbreast sunfish; River Herring (Alewife And Bl | |
| McAlpine Lake | Mecklenburg | Catfish (Blue, Channel, & Flathead): size limit None; daily creel 7 Channel Catfish |
| Moss Lake | Striped Bass And Bodie Bass (Striped Bass Hybrid) (Inland Impoundments And Tributaries): size limit 16-inch minimum; daily creel 4 in combination | |
| Mountain Island Reservoir | Catfish (Blue, Channel, & Flathead): size limit No minimum size limit, and only one Blue Catfish may be greater than 32 inches; daily creel No daily creel limit for Blue Catfish less than 32 inches, and only one Blue Catfish may be greater than 32 inches; Gras | |
| Neuse River (up to Falls Lake Dam) | River Herring (Alewife And Blueback Herring): size limit No minimum size limit, but no river herring greater than 6 inches may be taken or possessed (regardless or origin); daily creel No daily creel limit for river herring less than 6 inches, and no river her | |
| Neuse River and its tributaries upstream of a line shore to shore beginning at a point at Cooper Point 35.035722 N 76.933275 W running southwesterly to a point at Fisher Landing Point 35.002583 N 76.97623 W | Striped Bass And Bodie Bass (Striped Bass Hybrid) (Coastal Rivers And Impoundments): size limit 18-inch minimum, no fish possessed may be between 22 and 27 inches; daily creel 1 in combination (April 1 – April 30) Unless Changed by Proclamation | |
| Neuse River downstream of Falls Lake Dam | Crappie (Black And White): size limit 8-inch minimum; daily creel 20 in combination; Sunfish (Except Crappie, Rock Bass, & Roanoke Bass): size limit None; daily creel 30 in combination, including no more than 12 redbreast sunfish | |
| Neuse River downstream of Southern Railroad Bridge at New Bern, including Pamlico Sound and tributaries designated as coastal waters | Striped Bass And Bodie Bass (Striped Bass Hybrid) (Coastal Rivers And Impoundments): Established by Division of Marine Fisheries | |
| Neuseway Nature Center Pond | Lenoir | Catfish (Blue, Channel, & Flathead): size limit None; daily creel 7 Channel Catfish |
| New Lake | Hyde | Largemouth Bass: size limit 14-inch minimum; daily creel 5 |
| New River (Alleghany Co. portion downstream of Fields Dam in Grayson Co., VA) | Largemouth Bass: size limit No minimum size limit, none between 14–22 inches may be possessed, and only 1 largemouth bass or smallmouth bass may be greater than 22 inches; daily creel 5 largemouth bass or smallmouth bass in combination, including only 1 largem | |
| Newbold Pond | Edgecombe | Catfish (Blue, Channel, & Flathead): size limit None; daily creel 7 Channel Catfish |
| North River | Camden and Currituck | Largemouth Bass: size limit 14-inch minimum; daily creel 5 |
| Northwest River | Currituck | Largemouth Bass: size limit 14-inch minimum; daily creel 5 |
| Oak Hollow Lake | Striped Bass And Bodie Bass (Striped Bass Hybrid) (Inland Impoundments And Tributaries): size limit 16-inch minimum; daily creel 4 in combination | |
| Oka T Hester Pond | Guilford | Catfish (Blue, Channel, & Flathead): size limit None; daily creel 7 Channel Catfish |
| Owens Park Pond | Franklin | Catfish (Blue, Channel, & Flathead): size limit None; daily creel 7 Channel Catfish |
| Pages Lake | Moore | Catfish (Blue, Channel, & Flathead): size limit None; daily creel 7 Channel Catfish |
| Pasquotank River | Largemouth Bass: size limit 14-inch minimum; daily creel 5 | |
| Pee Dee River (up to Blewett Falls Dam) | River Herring (Alewife And Blueback Herring): size limit No minimum size limit, but no river herring greater than 6 inches may be taken or possessed (regardless or origin); daily creel No daily creel limit for river herring less than 6 inches, and no river her | |
| Pee Dee River and tributaries downstream of Blewett Falls Dam | Striped Bass And Bodie Bass (Striped Bass Hybrid) (Coastal Rivers And Impoundments): size limit 18-inch minimum; daily creel 3 in combination | |
| Pee Dee River downstream of Blewett Falls Dam to the South Carolina state line and all tributaries | Catfish (Blue, Channel, & Flathead): size limit None; daily creel 5 in combination | |
| Pee Dee, Pungo, and Tar-Pamlico rivers and their tributaries | Shad (American And Hickory): size limit None; daily creel 10 in combination | |
| Perquimans River | Largemouth Bass: size limit 14-inch minimum; daily creel 5 | |
| Pine Lake in Apex Community Park | Wake | Catfish (Blue, Channel, & Flathead): size limit None; daily creel 7 Channel Catfish |
| Ponds associated with Martin Marietta Park | Craven | Largemouth Bass: No largemouth bass may be possessed; Striped Bass And Bodie Bass (Striped Bass Hybrid) (Coastal Rivers And Impoundments): No striped bass may be possessed. |
| Ponds located on game lands | Catfish (Blue, Channel, & Flathead): size limit None; daily creel 7 Channel Catfish | |
| Pungo Lake | Hyde and Washington | Largemouth Bass: size limit 14-inch minimum; daily creel 5 |
| Pungo River | Striped Bass And Bodie Bass (Striped Bass Hybrid) (Coastal Rivers And Impoundments): No striped bass may be possessed. | |
| Pungo River downstream of Smith Creek | Striped Bass And Bodie Bass (Striped Bass Hybrid) (Coastal Rivers And Impoundments): Established by Division of Marine Fisheries | |
| River Park North Ponds | Pitt | Catfish (Blue, Channel, & Flathead): size limit None; daily creel 7 Channel Catfish |
| Roanoke Rapids Reservoir | Striped Bass And Bodie Bass (Striped Bass Hybrid) (Inland Impoundments And Tributaries): size limit 20-inch minimum (Oct. 1 – May 31) No minimum size limit (June 1 – Sept. 30); daily creel 4 in combination; Shad (American And Hickory): No American shad may be | |
| Roanoke River (up to Roanoke Rapids Dam) | River Herring (Alewife And Blueback Herring): size limit No minimum size limit, but no river herring greater than 6 inches may be taken or possessed (regardless or origin); daily creel No daily creel limit for river herring less than 6 inches, and no river her | |
| Roanoke River Striped Bass Management Area (including Cashie, Eastmost, Middle, and Roanoke rivers from Roanoke Rapids Dam downstream to mouth of the river at Albemarle Sound and its tributaries) | Striped Bass And Bodie Bass (Striped Bass Hybrid) (Coastal Rivers And Impoundments): size limit 18-inch minimum, no fish may be greater than 22 inches (Season by proclamation only); daily creel 1 in combination (Season by proclamation only) | |
| Roanoke River downstream of Roanoke Rapids Dam | Largemouth Bass: size limit 14-inch minimum; daily creel 5; Sunfish (Except Crappie, Rock Bass, & Roanoke Bass): size limit None; daily creel 30 in combination, including no more than 12 redbreast sunfish | |
| Robbins Park Ponds | Mecklenburg | Catfish (Blue, Channel, & Flathead): size limit None; daily creel 7 Channel Catfish |
| Rocky Mount City Lake | Nash | Catfish (Blue, Channel, & Flathead): size limit None; daily creel 7 Channel Catfish |
| Salem Lake | Striped Bass And Bodie Bass (Striped Bass Hybrid) (Inland Impoundments And Tributaries): size limit 16-inch minimum; daily creel 4 in combination | |
| Salisbury Community Park Lake | Rowan | Catfish (Blue, Channel, & Flathead): size limit None; daily creel 7 Channel Catfish |
| San-Lee Park Ponds | Lee | Catfish (Blue, Channel, & Flathead): size limit None; daily creel 7 Channel Catfish |
| Scuppernong River | Largemouth Bass: size limit 14-inch minimum; daily creel 5 | |
| Shearon Harris Reservoir | Crappie (Black And White): size limit 8-inch minimum; daily creel 20 in combination | |
| Shelley Lake | Wake | Catfish (Blue, Channel, & Flathead): size limit None; daily creel 7 Channel Catfish |
| Simpkins Pond in Lake Wheeler Park | Wake | Catfish (Blue, Channel, & Flathead): size limit None; daily creel 7 Channel Catfish |
| Squirrel Lake | Mecklenburg | Catfish (Blue, Channel, & Flathead): size limit None; daily creel 7 Channel Catfish |
| Sutton Lake | New Hanover | Largemouth Bass: size limit 14-inch minimum; daily creel 5 |
| TN Spencer Park Pond | Cabarrus | Catfish (Blue, Channel, & Flathead): size limit None; daily creel 7 Channel Catfish |
| Tar River (up to Rocky Mount Mill Dam) | River Herring (Alewife And Blueback Herring): size limit No minimum size limit, but no river herring greater than 6 inches may be taken or possessed (regardless or origin); daily creel No daily creel limit for river herring less than 6 inches, and no river her | |
| Tar River downstream of Tar River Reservoir Dam | Crappie (Black And White): size limit 8-inch minimum; daily creel 20 in combination; Sunfish (Except Crappie, Rock Bass, & Roanoke Bass): size limit None; daily creel 30 in combination, including no more than 12 redbreast sunfish | |
| Tar-Pamlico River and its tributaries upstream of a line shore to shore beginning at a point at Gum Point 35.419448 N 76.758752 W running southwesterly to a point at Fork Point at 35.390755 N 76.7739124 W | Striped Bass And Bodie Bass (Striped Bass Hybrid) (Coastal Rivers And Impoundments): size limit 18-inch minimum, no fish possessed may be between 22 and 27 inches; daily creel 1 in combination (April 1 – April 30) Unless Changed by Proclamation | |
| Tar-Pamlico River downstream of the N & S Railroad Bridge at Washington, including Pamlico Sound and tributaries designated as coastal waters | Striped Bass And Bodie Bass (Striped Bass Hybrid) (Coastal Rivers And Impoundments): Established by Division of Marine Fisheries | |
| Tumbling Rock Reservoir | Surry | Catfish (Blue, Channel, & Flathead): size limit None; daily creel 7 Channel Catfish |
| University Lake | Orange | Freshwater Mussels Including The Asian Clam (Corbicula Fluminea): No freshwater mussels including the Asian clam may be taken or possessed. |
| Village Point Lake | Forsyth | Catfish (Blue, Channel, & Flathead): size limit None; daily creel 7 Channel Catfish |
| Waccamaw River (up to Lake Waccamaw Dam) | River Herring (Alewife And Blueback Herring): size limit No minimum size limit, but no river herring greater than 6 inches may be taken or possessed (regardless or origin); daily creel No daily creel limit for river herring less than 6 inches, and no river her | |
| Waccamaw River downstream of Lake Waccamaw Dam | Crappie (Black And White): size limit 8-inch minimum; daily creel 20 in combination; Sunfish (Except Crappie, Rock Bass, & Roanoke Bass): size limit None; daily creel 30 in combination, including no more than 12 redbreast sunfish | |
| Winston Park Pond | Forsyth | Catfish (Blue, Channel, & Flathead): size limit None; daily creel 7 Channel Catfish |
| Yadkin County Park Pond | Yadkin | Catfish (Blue, Channel, & Flathead): size limit None; daily creel 7 Channel Catfish |
| Yadkin-Pee Dee River basin upstream of Blewett Falls Dam | Shad (American And Hickory): No American shad may be possessed. | |
| Yeopim River | Largemouth Bass: size limit 14-inch minimum; daily creel 5 |
NCWRC waters with rules that differ from the inland statewide defaults, from the 2026-2027 Warmwater Game Fish table and the Nongame Fish Size & Creel Limits table (eRegulations, updated July 13, 2026). Rule text is NCWRC wording, prefixed with the species group. Waters listed together in one cell a
How to read it
Interstate lines and listed waters
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.
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.
NCWRC lists species that may not be transported, purchased, possessed, sold live or stocked (e.g., snakeheads, bighead/silver/black carp, grass carp except certified triploid with permit, yellow bass, round goby, zebra/quagga mussels, red shiner, rusty crayfish, piranhas, Asian swamp eel).
Pictures
North Carolina waters, pictured
Photo: Mark Fickett, CC BY 3.0
Photo: User:Dincher, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Gerry Dincher, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Nyttend, Public domain
Answers
North Carolina Inland Waters Limits questions
Do NCWRC limits change at I-95?
Yes; crappie and sunfish limits are tighter east of I-95, and crappie also west of I-77.
What is the largemouth bass limit in North Carolina?
5 a day, 14-inch minimum, except 2 may be under 14 inches, unless a water is listed.
Is there a catfish limit?
No statewide creel on blue, channel and flathead catfish, with listed exceptions such as one blue catfish over 32 inches on several reservoirs.
How many striped bass can I keep in a reservoir?
4 in combination with Bodie bass, 20-inch minimum, in impounded inland waters unless listed.
How many listed waters have their own rules?
153 waters in the NCWRC tables.
Can I snag fish in inland waters?
No; inland game fish may be taken only with hook and line.
What is the walleye limit?
8 a day with no size limit, except listed waters.
Where do these limits come from?
The NCWRC 2026-27 regulations digest as published on eRegulations.
More
Other North Carolina limits pages
- 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
- License and feeswho needs one, prices