Fishing License Information

Coastal Recreational Fishing License Required

Beginning Jan. 1, 2007, any person 16 and older who wants to fish recreationally in any water designated as coastal and joint waters of North Carolina must purchase a Coastal Recreational Fishing License (CRFL). This license can be purchased on a 10-day, annual or lifetime basis, or combined with a variety of licenses issued by the Wildlife Resources Commission (WRC).

This license allows recreational fishermen to take finfish for personal consumption only - not to be sold. Fishermen using this license are held to the state's recreational size and possession limits. This license cannot be assigned or transferred and is required for ANY type of recreational finfish taken not included under the Recreational Commercial Gear License. Fishermen holding the CRFL are required to comply with all DMF sampling and survey programs.

The license is required to recreationally take finfish in the state's Coastal Fishing Waters, which include sounds, coastal rivers and their tributaries, out to three miles in the ocean. Recreational anglers who catch fish in the Exclusive Economic Zone (3 miles - 200 miles offshore) will be required to have this license to land fish in state waters. Fishing in Joint Waters (areas managed by both the Marine Fisheries and the Wildlife Resources commissions) will require either the CRFL or a WRC inland fishing license.

Annual License
State Residents*, age 16 or older - $15
Nonresidents, age 16 or older - $30

10-day License
State Residents*, age 16 or older - $5
Nonresidents, age 16 or older - $10

Choose from one of the 4 ways described below to purchase your license.

Purchase your license online! Visit the Wildlife Service Agent nearest you. Call 1-888-2HUNTFISH (1-888-248-6834) Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Please have your Visa or MasterCard number ready.) View license types/fees, print application and mail in. Select Resident or Non-Resident. For more information please visit the NC Division of Marine Fisheries Website.