North Carolina Fishing License: Requirements, Costs & How to Buy

North Carolina requires anyone age 16 or older to have a fishing license when recreationally taking finfish in the state’s public waters. The state offers separate licenses for inland and coastal waters, as well as unified options that cover both. Fishing licenses are administered by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission for inland waters and the Division of Marine Fisheries for coastal waters. Youth under 16 are exempt from licensing requirements. License revenues support the management, protection, restoration, and enhancement of North Carolina’s marine and inland fisheries resources.

Quick Reference: North Carolina Fishing License

Who Needs a North Carolina Fishing License?

Resident Requirements

North Carolina residents age 16 or older must possess a valid fishing license to recreationally take finfish in the state’s public waters. A resident is defined as a person who has resided in North Carolina for six months or has established a permanent residence for 60 days. The license requirement applies to all types of recreational finfish harvest activities including hook-and-line, spears, gigs, cast nets, dip nets, landing nets, and seines less than 30 feet. The requirement does not apply to private ponds.

Non-Resident Requirements

Non-residents age 16 or older fishing in North Carolina’s public waters must purchase the appropriate fishing license. Non-resident students attending a college, university, or community college in North Carolina are eligible to purchase resident licenses. Military personnel stationed in North Carolina, along with their spouses and children under 18, are also considered residents for licensing purposes even if their legal residence is in another state. Migrant farm workers with temporary certification from the Rural Employment Service of the North Carolina Employment Security Commission are entitled to resident license privileges.

North Carolina Fishing License Types and Prices

Resident Short-Term Licenses

Non-Resident Short-Term Licenses

Resident Annual Licenses

Non-Resident Annual Licenses

Resident Lifetime Licenses

Non-Resident Lifetime Licenses

The State Inland Fishing license provides statewide inland fishing privileges including Public Mountain Trout Waters, trout waters on game lands, and joint waters, but does not include coastal waters. The Coastal Recreational Fishing License authorizes fishing in coastal and joint waters but not in inland waters. The Unified Inland/Coastal Recreational Fishing License covers all public waters statewide and is available only to residents. The Unified Sportsman/Coastal Recreational Fishing License combines hunting and fishing privileges for residents.

Senior lifetime license eligibility varies by birth date. Residents born on or before August 1, 1953 are eligible to purchase a senior lifetime license when they turn 65 years of age. Those born after August 1, 1953 are eligible when they turn 70 years of age.

Who Is Exempt from Needing a Fishing License?

Age Exemptions

Anyone under 16 years of age is exempt from the fishing license requirement when recreationally taking finfish in North Carolina’s public waters. Youth under 16 can fish in both coastal and inland waters without a license and are entitled to their own recreational possession limit of fish. There is no senior age exemption that eliminates the license requirement entirely, though senior lifetime licenses are available at reduced rates for qualifying residents.

Other Exemptions

Residents who receive Medicaid, Food Stamps, or Work First Family Assistance through their county Department of Social Services may qualify for a free Subsistence Unified Inland/Coastal Recreational Fishing License Waiver. Applications must be obtained through the county Department of Social Services.

Residents who are legally blind and certified by the Department of Health and Human Services can obtain a free Legally Blind Unified Inland/Coastal Recreational Fishing Lifetime License. Residents of adult care facilities can obtain a free Adult Care Home Unified Inland/Coastal Recreational Fishing Lifetime License, valid during their time of residency at the facility.

Disabled veterans who are 50 percent or more disabled as determined by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs can purchase lifetime licenses at reduced rates. Individuals who are totally and permanently disabled as determined by the Social Security Administration, Civil Service Retirement System, Railroad Retirement Board, or North Carolina State Retirement System, or who have been diagnosed with a condition considered a presumptive disability, can purchase lifetime licenses at reduced rates.

Individuals who purchased a Wildlife Resources Commission Lifetime Sportsman or Lifetime Comprehensive fishing license prior to January 1, 2006 are exempted from purchasing the Coastal Recreational Fishing License.

Fishing in private, freshwater ponds is exempt from the licensing requirement. North Carolina observes July 4th as a free fishing day when residents and non-residents can fish without a license, though all recreational size and possession limits still apply.

Special Permits and Endorsements

Recreational Commercial Gear License

The Recreational Commercial Gear License is an annual license allowing recreational fishermen to use limited amounts of commercial gear to harvest seafood for personal consumption. Seafood harvested under this license cannot be sold. Fishermen must follow recreational size and possession limits. The license costs $71.00 for residents and $501.00 for non-residents and is valid for 12 months from the date of purchase.

Authorized gear includes limited amounts of commercial fishing equipment. At least one person aboard a vessel must have this license if any authorized gears are used. The number of recreational possession limits allowed on a vessel equals the number of license holders aboard. Individuals under 16 may use authorized commercial gear and take a recreational possession limit if accompanied by a parent, grandparent, or guardian who holds a Recreational Commercial Gear License, or if they have that person’s valid license in their possession.

Block of 10 Ten-Day Coastal Recreational Fishing Licenses

Vessel owners or operators may purchase a block of 10 Ten-Day Coastal Recreational Fishing Licenses for $150.00 to cover anglers fishing aboard their boat. Each block contains ten licenses that are each valid for 10 consecutive days from the date first used. The boat must be 23 feet or more in length and either registered in North Carolina or documented with the U.S. Coast Guard. These licenses cannot be used aboard vessels licensed for or engaged in for-hire charter fishing.

Each license must be issued to one person and cannot be shared. The licenses are not transferable or assignable and must be used on the vessel for which they were issued. Each license, once issued and expired, must be returned to the Division in a postage-paid envelope provided with each license. Each block of licenses is valid for two years from date of purchase. Blocks are only available from Division of Marine Fisheries license offices or by mail.

Coastal Recreational Fishing License Exemption Permit

Individuals or organizations conducting organized fishing events in coastal or joint fishing waters may seek exemption from recreational fishing license requirements. The Coastal Recreational Fishing License Exemption Permit is only issued when all required information is submitted in writing a minimum of 30 days prior to the event.

How to Buy Your North Carolina Fishing License

Online Purchase

Most North Carolina fishing licenses can be purchased online through the Go Outdoors North Carolina website. Anglers can create a customer account, purchase licenses, and receive digital versions via email. The digital license is valid and can be reprinted anytime by logging into the account. The online system is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Customers will need a picture ID and can pay with a credit card.

By Phone

Licenses can be purchased by calling 888-248-6834 or the customer service line at 833-950-0575 (Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm). Payment is accepted by credit card over the phone.

In-Person Purchase

Fishing licenses are available at Wildlife Resources Commission license agents located throughout the state, including most Walmart stores and many sports and bait and tackle shops. Licenses can also be purchased at Division of Marine Fisheries offices. Blanket licenses and blocks of 10 Ten-Day Coastal Recreational Fishing Licenses are only available at DMF offices or by mail. A picture ID is required for in-person purchases.

License Validity and Expiration

Unless otherwise specified, annual licenses are valid for 12 months from the date of purchase. Short-term licenses are valid for the period specified on the license. Ten-day licenses are valid for 10 consecutive days from the date first used. Lifetime licenses remain valid for the lifetime of the license holder, with certain conditions for disabled veteran and totally disabled licenses that require maintaining the qualifying disability status.

Adult Care Home Unified Inland/Coastal Recreational Fishing Lifetime Licenses are valid during the time of residency at the adult care facility. Senior lifetime licenses have specific eligibility requirements based on birth date and age.

Licenses cannot be assigned, transferred, bought, sold, lent, or borrowed to any other individual. Lost licenses can be replaced for a $5.00 fee by applying for a reissued license. Anglers can access unlimited free license reprints through their online account at any time.

Understanding North Carolina’s Fishing Waters

Coastal Fishing Waters

Coastal Fishing Waters are defined by North Carolina General Statute 113-129(4) and require a Coastal Recreational Fishing License for anyone age 16 or older to recreationally take finfish. The license allows recreational fishermen to take finfish for personal consumption, but finfish harvested cannot be sold. Fishermen must comply with recreational size and possession limits and are required to participate in all Division of Marine Fisheries sampling and survey programs.

Joint Waters

Joint Waters are areas managed by both the Division of Marine Fisheries and the Wildlife Resources Commission. Recreational fishing in Joint Waters requires either a Coastal Recreational Fishing License or a Wildlife Resources Commission inland fishing license. Unified licenses that cover both inland and coastal waters also authorize fishing in Joint Waters.

Inland Waters

Inland fishing licenses authorize statewide inland fishing and typically include fishing in Public Mountain Trout Waters, fishing in trout waters on game lands, and fishing in Joint Waters. Inland licenses do not authorize fishing in coastal waters. The State Inland Fishing annual license costs $30.00 for residents and $54.00 for non-residents.

Reciprocal Agreements with Neighboring States

North Carolina maintains reciprocal fishing agreements with certain neighboring states that allow licenses from those states to be honored in specific boundary waters.

Georgia

A reciprocal agreement with Georgia covers fishing on the Chatuge Reservoirs and its tributaries. Anglers with valid licenses from either state may fish these waters.

Tennessee

The reciprocal agreement with Tennessee covers the state line portion of Slick Rock Creek and Calderwood Reservoir. Valid licenses from either state are honored in these boundary waters.

Virginia

North Carolina’s agreement with Virginia covers boat fishing sections of the Dan River, Staunton River, and Kerr and Gaston reservoirs. Anglers fishing from boats in these waters may use valid licenses from either state.

Frequently Asked Questions

For the most current information and to purchase your license, visit the official North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission website or the Division of Marine Fisheries website.