North Carolina Fish Species

90 North Carolina freshwater and saltwater species with NCWRC and NCDMF limits, state records and the waters that hold them.

Photo of McDonald: Gerry D, CC BY-SA 3.0

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Every North Carolina sport fish NCWRC or NCDMF covers, with its limits, the state record and the waters that hold it.

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Pictures

North Carolina waters, pictured

Saratoga, North Carolina
Saratoga
Photo: Indy beetle, CC0 1.0
Sims, North Carolina
Sims
Photo: Indy beetle, CC0 1.0
Spindale, North Carolina
Spindale
Photo: Brian Stansberry, CC BY 4.0
Stantonsburg, North Carolina
Stantonsburg
Photo: Indy beetle, CC0 1.0
Answers

About this list, North Carolina Fish Species

How many species are covered?

90.

Where do limits come from?

The NCWRC 2026-27 digest and NCDMF proclamations.

Why do some species have two rows?

NCWRC and NCDMF each set a row for coastal species in their waters.

What is the state saltwater fish?

The red drum.

Are records listed?

Yes, on each species page.

Are offshore species covered?

Yes, tunas, billfish, grouper and snapper.

Are trout covered?

Brook, brown and rainbow trout, each with the class rules.

Which sources supply the species notes?

NCWRC and NCDMF species profiles.

More

Other North Carolina reference pages