Regulations!
For N.C. Trout Waters

On this page I will give a brief description of the regulations for trout waters in North Carolina.   These are by no means a legal copy of the regulations.  For more information and a written copy of the regulations see the North Carolina Regulations Digest for the current year.

Please report poachers and violations to 1-800-662-7137
Click on the NCWRC icon above for a link to NC Wildlife Resource Commission's web page!

Click here to go straight to the NCWRC's Trout Fishing Page!

Season   Closed for the month of March and re-opens the first Saturday of April at 6 am

Daily Creel Limit   7

Minimum Size Limit   None

Lure Restrictions   None

Season    No Closed season

Daily Creel Limit   4

Minimum Size Limit   7 inches

Lure Restrictions   Artificial lure having one single hook only

Season (Part 1)   From Oct. 1 to May 31 (1/2 hour after sunset)

Daily Creel Limit   No Fish May be Harvested or Possessed

Minimum Size Limit   See Creel Limit

Lure Restrictions   Artificial lures having one single hook only

Season (Part 2) From 6:00 am on June 1 to Sept. 30

Daily Creel Limit   7

Minimum Size Limit   None

Lure Restrictions   None

Season   Year Round

Daily Creel Limit   No Fish May be Harvested or Possessed

Minimum Size Limit   See Creel Limit

Lure Restrictions   Artificial lures having one single hook only

Season  Year Round

Daily Creel Limit   No Fish May be Harvested or Possessed

Minimum Size Limit   See Creel Limit

Lure Restrictions   Artificial Flies having one single hook only
 

Season  Year Round

Daily Creel Limit  4

Minimum Size Limit  7 inches

Lure Restrictions   Artificial lures having one single hook or natural baits with one single hook.  No live fish as bait.
 

Season  Year Round

Daily Creel Limit   4

Minimum Size Limit   7 inches

Lure Restrictions   Artificial Flies having one single hook only
 

The National Park Service establishes fishing regulations for Parkway waters.

Unless posted otherwise, trout waters are designated as wild trout waters.

Trout season and size and creel limits are the same as for similarly designated waters regulated by the Wildlife Resources Commission.  The exception is Basin Creek where lures are restricted to artificial flies having a single hook.

A valid North Carolina or Virginia fishing license is required for all persons 16 years of age or older fishing on Parkway waters.  Either license is valid on all Parkway waters. Special trout licenses are not required.

Season   No Closed season

Daily Creel Limit  4

Minimum Size Limit   7 inches

Lure Restrictions  Artificial lure having one single hook only

Limited to single hook and line only.

Unlawful to fish with more than 1 line per person except power supply reservoirs and city water supply reservoirs.

Unlawful to posses live bait on any Wild Trout Waters and Catch & Release Waters.

Fishing hours in any trout waters located on game lands or in any Wild Trout Waters are from one half hour before sunrise to one half hour after sunset, except in the Natahala River downstream from the Swain County line and in the sections of Green River in Polk County located on Green River Game Lands from the mouth of Cove Creek downstream to Brights Creek where night fishing is permitted.

It is unlawful to take fish bait or bait fish from designated public mountain trout waters.

In designated public mountain trout waters, the fishing season for all fishes shall be the same as the trout fishing season.

Dropper flies may be used when fishing any designated public mountain trout waters.

It is unlawful to place hatchery reared fish into a wild trout water or move wild fish from one stream to another on game lands without prior written authorization.

Delayed Harvest Waters are closed to fishing from one half hour after sunset the Friday before the first Saturday in June until 6:00 a.m. on the first Saturday in June. Private lands posted against trespass are not designated public mountain trout waters and require landowner permission to fish.

South Mountains State Park in Burke County and Stone Mountain State Park in Wilkes and Alleghany counties and Gorges State Park in Transylvania County offer many miles of trout fishing waters. As established by the Wildlife Resources Commission for other trout streams, a valid trout license and a valid North Carolina fishing license are requirements in state park streams. A game land license is not required. A special catch and release stream is located in Stone Mountain State Park with additional regulations. The possession of any type of firearms, explosives, bows and arrows, or alcoholic beverages within State Parks is unlawful.
 

Any person fishing in Designated Public Mountain Trout Waters must have in possession a special trout fishing license in addition to a basic fishing license or an appropriate comprehensive fishing license.

Persons under the age of 16 are exempt from the basic fishing license when accompanied by a properly licensed adult may enjoy those privileges conveyed by the accompanying adult.

A youth under the age of 16 who possesses the appropriate license or licenses of a parent or guardian may exercise all privileges conveyed by the license(s) held.