North Carolina Administrative Code

15A NCAC 10C .0105 POSTING DIVIDING LINES The dividing lines of all major bodies of water and watercourses which are divided by the agreement of the Marine Fisheries Commission and the Wildlife Resources Commission so that portions of the same are constituted inland fishing water…

15A NCAC 10C .0106 APPLICABILITY OF rules: JOINT Fishing WATERS (a) All coastal fishing laws and regulations administered by the Department of Environmental Quality and the Marine Fisheries Commission apply to joint fishing waters except as otherwise provided in this Section and …

15A NCAC 10C .0107 SPECIAL REGULATIONS: JOINT FISHING WATERS The following shall supersede any inconsistent rules of the Marine Fisheries Commission or the Wildlife Resources Commission that would otherwise be applicable in joint fishing waters under the provisions of 15A NCAC 10…

15A NCAC 10C .0108 SPECIFIC CLASSIFICATION OF WATERS The several sounds and estuarine and tributary waters all or portions of which are specifically classified as inland, joint, or coastal fishing waters by agreement of the Marine Fisheries Commission and the Wildlife Resources C…

15A NCAC 10C .0109 PROTECTION OF SEA TURTLES Pursuant to a cooperative agreement entered into on the fifth day of February 1979, by the Department of Environmental Quality, the Marine Fisheries Commission, and the Wildlife Resources Commission, the Wildlife Resources Commission s…

15A NCAC 10C .0110 MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITY FOR ESTUARINE STRIPED BASS IN JOINT FISHING WATERS (a) The management areas for estuarine striped bass fisheries in coastal North Carolina are designated in 15A NCAC 03R .0201. (b) In order to effectively manage the recreational hook a…

15A NCAC 10C .0111 IMPLEMENTATION OF ESTUARINE STRIPED BASS MANAGEMENT PLANS: RECREATIONAL FISHING The Marine Fisheries and Wildlife Resources Commissions shall implement their respective striped bass management plans for recreational fishing pursuant to their respective rulemaki…

SECTION .0200 - GENERAL REGULATIONS 15A NCAC 10C .0201 IDENTIFICATION An individual shall have means of identification on their person indicating their current residence while fishing. History Note: Authority G.S. 113-134; 113-276.1; Eff. February 1, 1976; Readopted Eff. February…

15A NCAC 10C .0202 FISHING LICENSE REQUIREMENTS History Note: Authority G.S. 113-132; 113-134; Eff. February 1, 1976; Repealed Eff. July 1, 1988.

15A NCAC 10C .0203 RECIPROCAL LICENSE AGREEMENTS (a) Virginia. In accordance with a reciprocal license agreement between the States of North Carolina and Virginia, all valid fishing licenses and permits legally obtained from the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources or the No…

15A NCAC 10C .0204 DRAINING IMPOUNDED PUBLIC WATERS History Note: Authority G.S. 113-134; 113-274; Eff. February 1, 1976; Repealed Eff. July 1, 1988.

15A NCAC 10C .0205 PUBLIC MOUNTAIN TROUT WATERS (a) For purposes of this Rule, the following definitions apply: (1) "Natural bait" means a living or dead plant or animal, or parts thereof, or prepared substances designed to attract fish by the sense of taste or smell. (2) "Single…

15A NCAC 10C .0206 TROTLINES, JUG HOOKS AND SET HOOKS (a) For purposes of this Rule, the following definitions apply: (1) "Set hook" means a fishing device consisting of a single line having no more than three hooks that is attached at one end only to a stationary object. (2) "Ju…

15A NCAC 10C .0207 GRABBLING FOR FISH History Note: Authority G.S. 113-134; 113-292; Eff. February 1, 1976; Repealed Eff. July 1, 1988.

15A NCAC 10C .0208 SPAWNING AREAS (a) No person shall fish from March 1 to May 31 in the following restored floodplain sloughs connected to the French Broad River and Mud Creek in Henderson County: (1) Slough 1 at 35.403687 N, 82.531970 W connected to the French Broad River, loca…

15A NCAC 10C .0209 TRANSPORTATION OF LIVE FISH (a) Fish Transport: It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to transport live freshwater nongame fishes, or live game fishes in excess of the possession limit, or fish eggs without having in possession a permit obta…

15A NCAC 10C .0210 FISHES TAKEN ILLEGALLY: MANAGEMENT PURPOSES History Note: Authority G.S. 113-134; 113-137; Eff. February 1, 1976; Repealed Eff. July 1, 1988.

15A NCAC 10C .0211 POSSESSION OF CERTAIN FISHES (a) It shall be unlawful to transport, purchase, possess, sell, or stock in the public or private waters of North Carolina any live individuals of: (1) African longfin eel (Anguilla mossambica); (2) amur sleeper (Perccottus glenii);…

15A NCAC 10C .0212 FISH HATCHERIES (a) Fishing by any method at any time in the waters of Bones Creek from the Lake Rim Dam to the US 401 Bypass (Raeford Road) or upon any property used in conjunction with any State fish hatchery is prohibited, except that fishing shall be allowe…

15A NCAC 10C .0213 SNAGGING FISH Snagging by means of pulling or jerking a device equipped with one or more hooks through the water for the purpose of impaling fish is prohibited in all inland fishing waters. History Note: Authority G.S. 113-134; 113-292; Eff. January 1, 1977; Am…

15A NCAC 10C .0214 FISH COLLECTORS (a) A collection license may be issued to qualified individuals to take any species of fish from the inland fishing waters of the State, or inland game fish from the joint or coastal waters. (b) Individuals interested in obtaining a collection l…

15A NCAC 10C .0215 REPLACEMENT COSTS OF WILDLIFE RESOURCES - FISH History Note: Authority G.S. 113-134; 113-267; Eff. December 1, 1993. Repealed Eff. October 1, 2022.

15A NCAC 10C .0216 STATE INLAND FISHING LICENSE EXEMPTIONS (a) The Commission may exempt participants of an organized fishing event conducted by a governmental or non-profit entity from obtaining an inland fishing license. (b) The state inland fishing license exemption shall only…

15A NCAC 10C .0217 Public Access for Anglers Only (a) By accepting and posting the Public Access for Fishing Only sign from the Wildlife Resources Commission on their property, a landowner: (1) agrees to allow any member of the public with a valid fishing license and any accompan…

15A NCAC 10C .0218 HARVEST REPORTING REQUIREMENTS (a) For the purpose of this Rule, the following definitions shall apply: (1) "Division" means the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries. (2) "inland fishing waters adjacent to joint or coastal fishing waters" means inland fi…

SECTION .0300 – GAME FISH IN INLAND FISHING WATERS 15A NCAC 10C .0301 INLAND GAME FISHES DESIGNATED (a) The following fishes are classified and designated as inland game fishes in inland, joint, and coastal fishing waters: (1) Alabama bass, largemouth bass, redeye bass, smallmout…

15A NCAC 10C .0302 MANNER OF TAKING INLAND GAME FISHES (a) Inland game fishes may only be taken with hook and line unless otherwise provided. (b) Landing nets may be used to land fishes caught on hook and line. (c) Game fishes taken incidental to the use of special devices for ta…

15A NCAC 10C .0303 PURCHASE AND SALE OF INLAND GAME FISHES History Note: Authority G.S. 113-134; 113-273; 113-292; 113-302; Eff. February 1, 1976; Amended Eff. January 1, 1982; January 1, 1981; January 1, 1979; January 1, 1977; Repealed Eff. July 1, 1988.

15A NCAC 10C .0304 TAKING AND POSSESSION OF INLAND GAME FISHES (a) Individuals shall only take up to the daily creel limit of those species of inland game fish having a specified creel limit. (b) Individuals shall only possess on those waters being fished: (1) the specified daily…

15A NCAC 10C .0305 LarGEMOUTH bass (a) The daily creel limit for Largemouth Bass is five fish, except in waters identified in Paragraphs (d), (e), (f), (l), (m), and (n) of this Rule. (b) There is no minimum size limit for Largemouth Bass, but only two of them may be less than 14…

15A NCAC 10C .0306 crappie (a) There is no daily creel limit for Crappie, except in waters identified in Paragraphs (d) through (h) of this Rule. (b) There is no minimum size limit except in waters identified in Paragraphs (f) through (h) of this Rule. (c) There is no closed seas…

15A NCAC 10C .0307 FLOUNDER (a) The daily creel limit for flounder is one fish. (b) The minimum size limit is 15 inches. (c) The season for taking and possessing flounder is September 1 through September 14. History Note: Authority G.S. 113-134; 113-292; 113-304; 113-305; Eff. No…

15A NCAC 10C .0308 KOKANEE SALMON (a) The daily creel limit for kokanee salmon is four fish. (b) There is no minimum size limit. (c) There is no closed season. History Note: Authority G.S. 113-134; 113-292; Eff. November 1, 2013; Readopted Eff. August 1, 2020; Amended Eff. March …

15A NCAC 10C .0309 muskellunge (a) The daily creel limit for Muskellunge is one fish. (b) The minimum size limit is 42 inches. (c) There is no closed season. History Note: Authority G.S. 113-134; 113-292; Eff. November 1, 2013; Readopted Eff. October 1, 2021.

15A NCAC 10C .0310 pickerEl (a) There is no daily creel limit for Pickerel (Chain and Redfin). (b) There is no minimum size limit. (c) There is no closed season. History Note: Authority G.S. 113-134; 113-292; Eff. November 1, 2013; Readopted Eff. October 1, 2021.

15A NCAC 10C .0311 roanoke and rock bass (a) There is no daily creel limit for Roanoke and Rock Bass, except for waters identified in Paragraph (d) of this Rule. (b) There is no minimum size limit, except for waters identified in Paragraph (d) of this Rule. (c) There is no closed…

15A NCAC 10C .0312 sauger (a) The daily creel limit for Sauger is eight fish. (b) The minimum size limit is 15 inches. (c) There is no closed season. History Note: Authority G.S. 113-134; 113-292; Eff. November 1, 2013; Readopted Eff. October 1, 2021.

15A NCAC 10C .0313 AmERICAN SHAD AND HiCKORY shad (a) The daily creel limit for American and Hickory Shad in aggregate is 10 fish, only one of which may be an American Shad, except for waters identified in Paragraphs (d) through (f) of this Rule. (b) There is no minimum size limi…

15A NCAC 10C .0314 STRIPED BASS (a) The daily creel limit for striped bass and its hybrids is four fish in aggregate, except in waters identified in Paragraphs (d) and (g) through (m) of this Rule. (b) The minimum size limit for these fish is 20 inches, except in waters identifie…

15A NCAC 10C .0315 sunfish (a) For purposes of this Rule, Sunfish include bluegill, redbreast, redear, pumpkinseed, warmouth, flier, and all other species of the sunfish family (Centrarchidae) not specified in 15A NCAC 10C .0305, .0306, .0311, .0321, .0322, or .0323. (b) There is…

15A NCAC 10C .0316 Mountain trout (a) The daily creel limit for trout in Hatchery-Supported Trout Waters is seven fish. There is no minimum size limit for these fish. The open season is from 7 a.m. on the first Saturday in April until March 1, except for waters designated in Para…

15A NCAC 10C .0317 walleye (a) The daily creel limit for Walleye is eight fish except for waters identified in Paragraphs (d) and (f) of this Rule. (b) There is no minimum size limit except for waters identified in Paragraphs (e) and (f) of this Rule. (c) There is no closed seaso…

15A NCAC 10C .0318 white bass (a) The daily creel limit for white bass is 10 fish. (b) There is a 14-inch minimum size limit. (c) There is no closed season. History Note: Authority G.S. 113-134; 113-292; Eff. November 1, 2013. Amended Eff. August 1, 2017; Readopted Eff. March 15,…

15A NCAC 10C .0319 white perch (a) There is no daily creel limit for white perch. (b) There is no minimum size limit. (c) There is no closed season. (d) In and west of Haywood, Buncombe, and Rutherford counties, it is unlawful to transport, possess, or release live white perch. (…

15A NCAC 10C .0320 Yellow perch (a) There is no daily creel limit for Yellow Perch. (b) There is no minimum size limit. (c) There is no closed season. History Note: Authority G.S. 113-134; 113-292; 113-304; 113-305; Eff. November 1, 2013; Readopted Eff. October 1, 2021.

15A NCAC 10C .0321 SMALLMOUTH Bass (a) The daily creel limit for smallmouth bass is five fish, except in waters identified in Paragraphs (d) through (f) of this Rule. (b) There is no minimum size limit for smallmouth bass, but only two of them may be less than 14 inches except in…

15A NCAC 10C .0322 ALABAMA BASS AND SPOTTED Bass (a) There is no daily creel limit for Alabama bass or spotted bass, except for waters identified in Paragraphs (d) and (e) of this Rule. (b) There is no minimum size limit. (c) There is no closed season. (d) In Lake Chatuge in Clay…

15A NCAC 10C .0323 REDEYE Bass (a) The daily creel limit for redeye bass is five fish. (b) There is no minimum size limit for redeye bass, but only two of them may be less than 14 inches. (c) There is no closed season. History Note: Authority G.S. 113-134; 113-292; Eff. August 1,…

15A NCAC 10C .0324 BULLHEADS (a) The daily creel limit for black bullhead, brown bullhead, flat bullhead, snail bullhead, white catfish, and yellow bullhead is 10 fish in aggregate. (b) There is no minimum size limit. (c) There is no closed season. History Note: Authority G.S. 11…

15A NCAC 10C .0325 SEATROUT (a) Seatrout (spotted or speckled) shall not be taken or possessed. (b) The temporary amendment shall expire on June 30, 2026. History Note: Authority G.S. 113-134; 113-292; 113-304; 113-305; Temporary Adoption Eff. September 1, 2022; Eff. March 15, 20…