Welcome to North Carolina Fishing

What's New for 2023-2024

Go Outdoors North Carolina License and Vessel Registration System

• Website www.gooutdoorsnorthcarolina.com
  • Customer managed account access
  • Auto renewal options
  • Digital licenses in lieu of paper cards
  • Annual collectable hard card upgrade options
  • Event and course registration
  • NCWRC merchandise
• Mobile App
  • Digital license storage
  • Report a big game harvest with or without cell service

Inland Fishing

• Seasons, size, and creel limits were established for the following species in inland fishing waters. See Warmwater Game Fish Regulations.
  • Atlantic Croaker
  • Black Drum
  • Bluefish
  • Cobia
  • Flounder
  • King Mackerel
  • Red Drum
  • Sharks
  • Sheepshead
  • Spanish Mackerel
  • Spot
  • Spotted Sea Trout
  • Striped Mullet & White Mullet
  • Tarpon
  • Weakfish
• In the inland waters of the Roanoke River upstream of the U.S. 258 bridge, only a single barbless circle hook when fishing with live or natural bait or other tackle with a single barbless hook may be used from April 1 to June 30. See Inland Fishing Regulations.

What's New for 2022-2023

As part of the Commission’s ongoing effort to keep you informed, we reserve this page of the digest each year to identify significant regulatory, legislative and agency-related changes that you should be aware of each season. Please note that the information found on this page is not a complete list of regulation changes. For your convenience, all regulation changes appear throughout the digest in RED.

Inland Fishing

• The Commission has initiated rulemaking for the following species in inland fishing waters:
  • Atlantic Croaker
  • Black Drum
  • Bluefish
  • Cobia
  • King Mackerel
  • Striped Mullet & White Mullet
  • Sharks
  • Sheepshead
  • Spanish Mackerel
  • Spot
  • Tarpon

At the time that this publication went to print, proposed rule changes were pending legislative review. Any updates concerning seasons, size, and creel limits will be posted at ncwildlife.org as they become available.

• A species identification chart has been added to Fish Identification for commonly found inland sport fish.
• The North Carolina Angler Recognition Program (NCARP) application form has been added on North Carolina Angler Recognition Program (NCARP) for your convenience.

Non-Game

• A collection licenses is required for the take, possession, or transportation of four or more individual snapping turtles. No more than 10 snapping turtles may be taken per person per day (100 turtles per person per year) and turtles must have a minimum curved carapace length of at least 13 inches. No more than 15 trapping devices may be set per license and devices must be labeled with a waterproof tag showing the licensee’s name, WRC customer number or collection license number. Traps must be checked daily.
• Collection Licenses for snapping turtles are only available to North Carolina residents.