North Carolina Administrative Code

15A NCAC 10C .0326 RED DRUM (a) The daily creel limit for red drum (also known as channel bass, red fish or puppy drum) is one fish. (b) The minimum size limit is 18 inches and no fish over 27 inches may be possessed in the daily creel limit. (c) There is no closed season. Histor…

SECTION .0400 – NONGAME FISH IN INLAND FISHING WATERS 15A NCAC 10C .0401 MANNER OF TAKING NONGAME FISHES (a) Except as permitted by the rules in this Section, no person shall take nongame fishes from the inland fishing waters of North Carolina in a manner other than with hook and…

15A NCAC 10C .0402 TAKING NONGAME FISHES by special device FOR BAIT OR PERSONAL CONSUMPTION (a) The use of equipment specified in this Rule requires a valid license that provides basic inland fishing privileges. (b) It is unlawful to take nongame fish for bait or personal consump…

15A NCAC 10C .0403 TAKING NONGAME FISHES BY SPECIAL DEVICES History Note: Authority G.S. 113-134; 113-272.3; 113-276; 113-292; Eff. February 1, 1976; Amended Eff. January 1, 1982; January 1, 1977; Repealed Eff. July 1, 1988.

15A NCAC 10C .0404 SPECIAL DEVICES (a) Archery equipment. Archery equipment, as defined in 15A NCAC 10B .0116, is a special device. (b) Nets. Where authorized, manually operated nets, including seines and bow, cast, dip, gill, drift, and fyke nets may be used under the special de…

15A NCAC 10C .0405 POSSESSION OF LICENSES Except as indicated in this Rule, every individual participating in the taking of fish through the use of any special device must have the special device fishing license issued to him, personally, in his possession or readily available fo…

15A NCAC 10C .0406 TRAWLS AND DREDGES It is unlawful to use a trawl or clam dredge in any inland fishing waters. History Note: Authority G.S. 113-134; 113-276; 113-292; Eff. February 1, 1976; Amended Eff. July 1, 1988; January 1, 1982; January 1, 1981; Readopted Eff. March 15, 20…

15A NCAC 10C .0407 PERMITTED SPECIAL DEVICES AND OPEN SEASONS The use of special fishing devices, including crab pots in impoundments located entirely on game lands, shall be prohibited. Seasons and waters in which the use of other special devices is authorized are indicated by c…

15A NCAC 10C .0408 TRAPPING NONGAME FISH IN HIGH ROCK LAKE History Note: Emergency Rule Eff. June 23, 1981; Authority G.S. 113-134; 113-292; 150B-13; Made Permanent with Change Eff. September 30, 1981; Repealed Eff. January 1, 1982.

15A NCAC 10C .0409 Taking and possession of nongame fishes (a) Individuals shall only take up to the daily creel limit of those species of nongame fish having a specified creel limit. (b) Individuals shall only possess, on those waters being fished: (1) the specified daily creel …

15A NCAC 10C .0410 AmericaN EEl (a) The daily creel limit for American eels taken from or possessed, regardless or origin, while boating on or fishing in inland fishing waters is 25. (b) The minimum size limit is nine inches. (c) There is no closed season. (d) Eels greater than n…

15A NCAC 10C .0411 atlantic cROAker (a) The daily creel limit for Atlantic croaker is 50 fish. (b) There is no minimum size limit. (c) There is no closed season. (d) Atlantic croaker shall not be sold. History Note: Authority G.S. 113-134; 113-292; 113-304; 113-305; Temporary Ado…

15A NCAC 10C .0412 black drum (a) The daily creel limit for black drum is 10 fish. (b) The minimum size limit is 14 inches and no fish over 25 inches may be possessed in the daily creel limit. (c) There is no closed season. (d) Black drum shall not be sold. History Note: Authorit…

15A NCAC 10C .0413 blue crab (a) Blue crabs shall have a minimum carapace width of five inches (point to point). (b) It is unlawful to possess more than 50 crabs per person per day, or to exceed 100 crabs per vessel per day. (c) There is no closed season. (d) Blue crabs shall not…

15A NCAC 10C .0414 bluefish (a) The daily creel limit for bluefish is five. (b) There is no size limit. (c) There is no closed season. (d) Bluefish shall not be sold. History Note: Authority G.S. 113-134; 113-292; 113-304; 113-305; Temporary Adoption Eff. September 1, 2022; Eff. …

15A NCAC 10C .0415 bowfin (a) There is no daily creel limit for bowfin. (b) There is no minimum size limit. (c) There is no closed season. (d) Bowfin shall not be sold. History Note: Authority G.S. 113-134; 113-292; 113-304; 113-305; Temporary Adoption Eff. September 1, 2022; Eff…

15A NCAC 10C .0416 BLUE Catfish, CHANNEL CatFISH, and FLATHEAD CATFISH (a) There is no daily creel limit for blue, channel, and flathead catfish, except for waters identified in Paragraphs (e), (f), and (g) of this Rule. (b) There is no minimum size limit. (c) There is no closed …

15A NCAC 10C .0417 cobia (a) The daily creel limit for cobia is one fish. (b) The minimum size limit is 36 inches. (c) The season for taking and possessing cobia is May 1 to December 31. (d) Cobia shall not be sold. History Note: Authority G.S. 113-134; 113-292; 113-304; 113-305;…

15A NCAC 10C .0418 freshwater mussels (a) Freshwater mussels, including the Asiatic clam (Corbicula fluminea), may only be taken from impounded waters, except mussels shall not be taken in: (1) Lake Waccamaw in Columbus County; and (2) University Lake in Orange County. (b) The da…

15A NCAC 10C .0419 grass carp (a) There is no daily creel limit for grass carp, 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) Grass carp shall not be taken or possessed except that one f…

15A NCAC 10C .0420 king mackerel (a) The daily creel limit for king mackerel is three fish. (b) The minimum size limit is 24 inches. (c) There is no closed season. (d) King mackerel shall not be sold. History Note: Authority G.S. 113-134; 113-292; 113-304; 113-305; Temporary Adop…

15A NCAC 10C .0421 MARGINED MADTOM and TADPOLE Madtom Margined madtom and tadpole madtom shall not be taken or possessed. History Note: Authority G.S. 113-134; 113-292; 113-304; 113-305; Temporary Adoption Eff. September 1, 2022; Eff. March 15, 2023.

15A NCAC 10C .0422 Striped mullet and white MULLET (a) The daily creel limit for striped mullet and white mullet is 100 fish per person in aggregate and no more than 400 fish per boat. (b) There is no minimum size limit. (c) There is no closed season. History Note: Authority G.S.…

15A NCAC 10C .0423 alewife and blueback herring (a) There is no daily creel limit for alewife or blueback herring (river herring), except for waters identified in Paragraph (e) of this Rule. (b) There is no minimum size limit, except for waters identified in Paragraph (d) of this…

15A NCAC 10C .0424 sharks Sharks shall not be taken or possessed. History Note: Authority G.S. 113-134; 113-292; 113-304; 113-305; Temporary Adoption Eff. September 1, 2022; Eff. March 15, 2023.

15A NCAC 10C .0425 sheepshead (a) The daily creel limit for sheepshead is 5 fish. (b) The minimum size limit is 14 inches. (c) There is no closed season. (d) Sheepshead shall not be sold. History Note: Authority G.S. 113-134; 113-292; 113-304; 113-305; Temporary Adoption Eff. Sep…

15A NCAC 10C .0426 spanish mackerel (a) The daily creel limit for Spanish mackerel is 15 fish. (b) The minimum size limit is 12 inches. (c) There is no closed season. (d) Spanish mackerel shall not be sold. History Note: Authority G.S. 113-134; 113-292; 113-304; 113-305; Temporar…

15A NCAC 10C .0427 spot (a) The daily creel limit for spot is 50 fish. (b) There is no minimum size limit. (c) There is no closed season. (d) Spot shall not be sold. History Note: Authority G.S. 113-134; 113-292; 113-304; 113-305; Temporary Adoption Eff. September 1, 2022; Eff. M…

15A NCAC 10C .0428 tarpon Tarpon shall not be taken or possessed. History Note: Authority G.S. 113-134; 113-292; 113-304; 113-305; Temporary Adoption Eff. September 1, 2022; Eff. March 15, 2023.

15A NCAC 10C .0429 weakfish (gray trout) (a) The daily creel limit for weakfish (gray trout) is one fish. (b) The minimum size limit is 12 inches. (c) There is no closed season. (d) Weakfish shall not be sold. History Note: Authority G.S. 113-134; 113-292; 113-304; 113-305; Tempo…

15A NCAC 10C .0430 other fishes (a) For any nongame fish species not specifically listed in this Section, there is no daily creel limit. (b) There is no size limit. (c) There is no closed season. History Note: Authority G.S. 113-134; 113-292; 113-304; 113-305; Temporary Adoption …

SECTION .0500 – PRIMARY NURSERY AREAS 15A NCAC 10C .0501 SCOPE AND PURPOSE History Note: Authority G.S. 113-132; 113-134; Eff. September 1, 1990; Amended Eff. July 1, 2000; Repealed Eff. October 1, 2021.

15A NCAC 10C .0502 PRIMARY NURSERY AREAS DEFINED Primary nursery areas are defined as those areas inhabited by the embryonic, larval, or juvenile life stages of marine or estuarine fish or crustacean species due to favorable physical, chemical, or biological factors. History Note…

15A NCAC 10C .0503 DESCRIPTIVE BOUNDARIES The following waters have been designated as primary nursery areas: (1) North River: (a) Broad Creek - Camden County - Entire stream; (b) Deep Creek - Currituck County - Entire stream; and (c) Lutz Creek - Currituck County - Entire stream…

SECTION .0600 - ANADROMOUS FISH SPAWNING AREAS 15A NCAC 10C .0601 SCOPE AND PURPOSE History Note: Authority G.S. 113-132; 113-134; Eff. May 1, 2008; Repealed Eff. October 1, 2021.

15A NCAC 10C .0602 ANADROMOUS FISH SPAWNING areas DEFINED Anadromous fish spawning areas are those areas where evidence of spawning of anadromous fishes has been documented by direct observation of spawning, capture of running ripe females, or capture of eggs or early larvae. His…

15A NCAC 10C .0603 DESCRIPTIVE BOUNDARIES The following waters have been designated as anadromous spawning areas: (1) Currituck Sound Area: (a) Northwest River including designated tributaries - main stem waters west of a line beginning on the north shore at a point 36° 30.8374' …

SECTION .0700 – GAME FISH IN COASTAL FISHING WATERS 15A NCAC 10C .0701 INLAND GAME FISHES DESIGNATED IN COASTAL FISHING WATERS (a) For the purposes of this Rule, only the following fishes are classified and designated as inland game fishes in coastal fishing waters: (1) Alabama b…

SECTION .0800 - JOINT FISHING WATERS 15A NCAC 10C .0801 inland game fishes designated in joint fishing waters (a) For the purposes of this Rule, the following fishes are classified and designated as inland game fishes in joint fishing waters: (1) Alabama bass, largemouth bass, re…

15A NCAC 10C .0802 taking and possession of other fishes by hook and line in joint fishing waters (a) This Rule applies to fish taken by hook and line in joint fishing waters, excluding the species listed in 15A NCAC 10C .0801. (b) Landing nets may be used to land fishes caught o…

SUBCHAPTER 10D - GAME LANDS REGULATIONS SECTION .0100 - GAME LANDS REGULATIONS 15A NCAC 10D .0101 DESIGNATION OF GAME LANDS History Note: Authority G.S. 113-134; 113-264; 113-291.2; 113-305; 113-306; Eff. February 1, 1976; Repealed Eff. July 1, 1988.

15A NCAC 10D .0102 GENERAL REGULATIONS REGARDING USE (a) For purposes of this Subchapter, the following definitions apply: (1) "Permanent Hunting Blind" means a structure that is used for hunter concealment, constructed from manmade or natural materials, and that is not disassemb…

15A NCAC 10D .0103 GENERAL REGULATIONS REGARDING HUNTING on game lands (a) The following shall be prohibited on game lands: (1) hunting on a designated game land while under the influence of an impairing substance, as defined by G.S. 20-4.01(48b); (2) failing to comply with restr…

15A NCAC 10D .0104 FISHING ON GAME LANDS (a) Game lands are open to public fishing except: (1) restocked ponds when posted against fishing; (2) Hunting Creek Swamp Waterfowl Refuge; (3) Cedar Rock Creek, Grogan Creek, and John Rock Branch, in Transylvania County; and (4) private …

15A NCAC 10D .0105 Possession and Removal of animals, plants and materials (a) For purposes of this Rule, the following definitions apply: (1) "Other materials" means metals, minerals, rocks, soil, organic debris, buildings, fences, archeological resources as defined in G.S. 70-1…

15A NCAC 10D .0106 Designated BEAR Management Areas (a) Bear may be taken on posted designated bear management areas specified in Paragraph (c) of this Rule during the open season by permit only. Individuals may apply for permits on or after July 1 online at ncwildlife.org, by ph…

SECTION .0200 - USE OF GAME LANDS 15A NCAC 10D .0201 ALLIGATOR RIVER GAME LAND IN TYRELL COUNTY Alligator River game land is a Seven Days per Week Area, in which the following applies: (1) Deer of either sex may be taken all the open days of the applicable Deer With Visible Antle…

15A NCAC 10D .0202 ANGOLA BAY GAME LAND IN DUPLIN AND PENDER COUNTIES Angola Bay game land is a Seven Days per Week Area, in which the following applies: (1) Deer of either sex may be taken all the open days of the applicable Deer With Visible Antlers Season. (2) Target shooting …

15A NCAC 10D .0203 BACHELOR BAY GAME LAND IN BERTIE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES (a) Bachelor Bay game land is a Seven Days per Week Area. (b) In this game land, deer of either sex may be taken all the open days of the applicable Deer With Visible Antlers Season. History Note: Authori…

15A NCAC 10D .0204 BERTIE COUNTY GAME LAND IN BERTIE COUNTY Bertie County game land is a Six Days per Week Area, in which the following applies: (1) Deer of either sex may be taken all the open days of the applicable Deer With Visible Antlers Season. (2) Target shooting is prohib…