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Fishing in North Carolina
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Fishing regulations in North Carolina
Disclaimer: Always check local fishing regulations, water access rights and land ownership before fishing, regardless of any catches logged in that area by the Fishbrain community. Fishbrain has mapped millions of acres of government-owned land across the USA to help you identify potential fishing access, but you are responsible for ensuring compliance with all legal requirements.
Fishing regulations in North Carolina can change throughout the year. Make sure to check this page before fishing for the most up to date rules and regulations for the current season. Local regulations govern when you can fish, the max size of the fish you can keep, how many fish you can keep, and more.
Below you will see fishing regulations for catching Black crappie as of July 10th, 2026. To view regulations for a different fish species, please click on your preferred species in the drop-down.
Seasons
Restrictions & requirements
Additional information
All public fishing waters except those listed below:
No size limit. No daily creel limit.
Buckhorn Reservoir (Nash and Wilson counties): No size limit ; Daily creel limit 20 in combination
Lake Chatuge (Clay Co.): No size limit; daily creel limit 30 in combination
In the following waters and their tributaries 8-inch minimum, daily creel limit 20 in combination:
- B. Everett Jordan Reservoir
- Cane Creek Lake (Union Co.)
- Cape Fear River
- Deep River downstream of Lockville Dam
- Lake Hampton (Yadkin Co.)
- Haw River downstream of Jordan Lake Dam
- Hyco Lake
- Lumber River including Drowning Creek
- Neuse River downstream of Falls Lake Dam
- Lake Norman
- Lake Ramseur
- Tar River downstream of Tar River Reservoir Dam
- Waccamaw River downstream of Lake Waccamaw Dam
- All other public waters east of I-95, except Tar River Reservoir (Nash Co.), Sutton Lake (New Hanover Co.), and Roanoke River
- AllpublicwaterswestofI-77,exceptLakeChatuge(ClayCo.)
John H. Kerr Reservoir: 9-inch minimum, Daily creel limit 25 in combination
Cashie, Eastmost, Middle, and Roanoke River (downstream of Roanoke Rapids Dam), and their tributaries, and Lake Mattamuskeet and assoicated canals (Hyde Co.): 10-inch minimum, Daily creel limit 20 in combination
For more information please see https://www.ncwildlife.org/licensing/regulations
Edibility
Synonyms
Black Crappie, Pomoxis, Pomoxis annularis, Pomoxis nigromaculatus, White Crappie
Regulations for
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