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Fishing regulations at Nantahala Lake, NC
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.
Regulations for top species
Smallmouth bass
The maximum number of individual fish legally harvested per harvester per day. Bag limits are only for properly licensed anglers actively harvesting the species. People who are not actively harvesting or are not properly licensed (if a license is required) may NOT be counted for the purpose of bag limits.
No person shall harvest any individual fish less than the minimum size limit.
Total length means the straight line distance from the most forward point of the head with the mouth closed, to the farthest tip of the tail with the tail compressed or squeezed, while the fish is lying on its side.
NC Snagging
It is unlawful to snag fish by pulling or jerking a device equipped with one or more hooks through the water for the purpose of impaling fish. Applies to game and nongame fish.
NC Unlawful Possession
It is unlawful to possess:more than the daily creel limit while fishing, boating or afield; at any place more than three days' creel limit; fish whose size, creel or season restrictions are not in compliance with the regulations on the waters being fished.
NC Altering Fish
It is unlawful, while fishing, to change the appearance of fish subject to size limits or daily creel limits or remove the head and/ or tail from fish that are regulated by a size limit so that they may not be measured and/ or identified.
NC Purchase and Sale of Gamefish
The purchase and sale of inland game fish are unlawful, except from and by licensed commercial trout ponds and fish propagators.
NC Trotlines Set-hooks and Jug-hooks
Trotlines, set-hooks and jug-hooks may be fished under any license that authorizes fishing privileges. It is unlawful to use live bait with trotlines, set-hooks or jug-hooks. Trotlines must be set parallel to the nearest shore in all public waters, where their use is authorized. Each trotline, set-hook and jug-hook shall have attached the user's name and address or the user's NCWRC customer number legibly inscribed. Each trotline shall be conspicuously marked at each end, and each set-hook shall be conspicuously marked at one end with a prominent flag or floating object. Metal cans and glass containers cannot be used as markers. The number of jug-hooks that may be fished is limited to 70 per boat. Trotlines, set-hooks and jug-hooks must be fished daily, and all fish must be removed daily. Exceptions:· No trotlines, set-hooks or jug-hooks may be used in the impounded waters of Sandhills Game Land. · No trotlines, set-hooks or jug-hooks may be used in Public Mountain Trout Waters, except impounded waters of power reservoirs and municipal water supply reservoirs open to the public for fishing. · In Lake Waccamaw, it is unlawful to use trotlines, set-hooks or jug-hooks from May 1–Sept. 30. · No trotlines, jug hooks, and set hooks in the inland fishing waters of the Roanoke River from April 1 to June 30.
NC Single Barbless Hook
In the inland waters of the Roanoke River upstream of the U.S. 258 bridge, only a single barbless circle hook when fishing with live or natural bait or other tackle with a single barbless hook may be used from April 1 to June 30. "Barbless" means that the hook either does not have a barb or that the barb is bent down. Tandem rigs are prohibited.
NC Game Fish Hook and Line only
Inland game fish may be taken only with a hook and line and landing nets may be used to land fishes caught on a hook and line.
All public waters except those listed below:
14-inch minimum, except 2 may be less than 14 inches
Limit 5, including only 2 less than 14 inches
Lake Chatuge (Clay Co.): No minimum size limit; 10 largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, Alabama bass, and spotted bass in combination
New River (Alleghany Co. portion downstream of Fields Dam in Grayson Co., VA): No minimum size limit, none between 14-22 inches may be possessed, and only 1 largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, or spotted bass may be greater than 22 inches; Limit 5 largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and spotted bass in combination, including only 1 largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, or spotted bass greater than 22 inches
Lake Santeetlah (Graham Co.): No minimum size limit, and only 5 large- mouth bass and smallmouth bass in com- bination may be greater than 14 inches; No daily creel limit for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass less than 14 inches, and only 5 largemouth bass and smallmouth bass in combination may be greater than 14 inches
For more information please see https://www.ncwildlife.org/licensing/regulations
Largemouth bass
The maximum number of individual fish legally harvested per harvester per day. Bag limits are only for properly licensed anglers actively harvesting the species. People who are not actively harvesting or are not properly licensed (if a license is required) may NOT be counted for the purpose of bag limits.
No person shall harvest any individual fish less than the minimum size limit.
Total length means the straight line distance from the most forward point of the head with the mouth closed, to the farthest tip of the tail with the tail compressed or squeezed, while the fish is lying on its side.
NC Snagging
It is unlawful to snag fish by pulling or jerking a device equipped with one or more hooks through the water for the purpose of impaling fish. Applies to game and nongame fish.
NC Unlawful Possession
It is unlawful to possess:more than the daily creel limit while fishing, boating or afield; at any place more than three days' creel limit; fish whose size, creel or season restrictions are not in compliance with the regulations on the waters being fished.
NC Altering Fish
It is unlawful, while fishing, to change the appearance of fish subject to size limits or daily creel limits or remove the head and/ or tail from fish that are regulated by a size limit so that they may not be measured and/ or identified.
NC Purchase and Sale of Gamefish
The purchase and sale of inland game fish are unlawful, except from and by licensed commercial trout ponds and fish propagators.
NC Trotlines Set-hooks and Jug-hooks
Trotlines, set-hooks and jug-hooks may be fished under any license that authorizes fishing privileges. It is unlawful to use live bait with trotlines, set-hooks or jug-hooks. Trotlines must be set parallel to the nearest shore in all public waters, where their use is authorized. Each trotline, set-hook and jug-hook shall have attached the user's name and address or the user's NCWRC customer number legibly inscribed. Each trotline shall be conspicuously marked at each end, and each set-hook shall be conspicuously marked at one end with a prominent flag or floating object. Metal cans and glass containers cannot be used as markers. The number of jug-hooks that may be fished is limited to 70 per boat. Trotlines, set-hooks and jug-hooks must be fished daily, and all fish must be removed daily. Exceptions:· No trotlines, set-hooks or jug-hooks may be used in the impounded waters of Sandhills Game Land. · No trotlines, set-hooks or jug-hooks may be used in Public Mountain Trout Waters, except impounded waters of power reservoirs and municipal water supply reservoirs open to the public for fishing. · In Lake Waccamaw, it is unlawful to use trotlines, set-hooks or jug-hooks from May 1–Sept. 30. · No trotlines, jug hooks, and set hooks in the inland fishing waters of the Roanoke River from April 1 to June 30.
NC Single Barbless Hook
In the inland waters of the Roanoke River upstream of the U.S. 258 bridge, only a single barbless circle hook when fishing with live or natural bait or other tackle with a single barbless hook may be used from April 1 to June 30. "Barbless" means that the hook either does not have a barb or that the barb is bent down. Tandem rigs are prohibited.
NC Game Fish Hook and Line only
Inland game fish may be taken only with a hook and line and landing nets may be used to land fishes caught on a hook and line.
14-inch minimum, except 2 may be less than 14 inches
For more information please see https://www.ncwildlife.org/licensing/regulations
Size and daily creel limit exceptions to state waters regulations:
Lake Santeetlah (Graham Co.)
No minimum size limit, and only 5 large- mouth bass and smallmouth bass in combination may be greater than 14 inches
No daily creel limit for large- mouth bass and smallmouth bass less than 14 inches, and only 5 largemouth bass and smallmouth bass in combination may be greater than 14 inches
Lake Cammack (Alamance Co.) and Lake Holt (Granville Co.)
No minimum size limit, and only 2 may be greater than 14 inches
10, including only 2 greater than 14 inches
New River (Alleghany Co. portion downstream of Fields Dam in Grayson Co., VA)
No minimum size, none between 14-22 inches may be possessed, and only 1 large- mouth bass, smallmouth bass, or spotted bass may be greater than 22 inches
5 largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and spotted bass in combination, including only 1 largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, or spotted bass greater than 22 inches
Lake Chatuge (Clay Co.)
12-inch minimum
10 largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, Alabama bass, and spotted bass in combination
In the following waters and their tributaries:
- Albemarle, Croatan, Currituck, and Roanoke Sounds
- Alligator River (including the Alligator/Pungo Canal (Intra- coastal Waterway) east of the U.S. 264/N.C. 45 bridge)
- Big Flatty Creek (Pasquotank Co.)
- Chowan River (including the Meherrin River)
- Little River (Pasquotank and Perquimans counties)
- North River (Camden and Currituck counties)
- Northwest River (Currituck Co.)
- Pasquotank River
- Perquimans River
- Roanoke River downstream of Roanoke Rapids Dam
- Scuppernong River
- Yeopim River
- All other associated tributaries and canals to the waters listed above
14-inch minimum; limit 5
New Lake (Hyde Co.)
14-inch minimum; limit 5
Pungo Lake (Hyde and Washington counties)
14-inch minimum; limit 5
Lake Raleigh (Wake Co.)
14-inch minimum; limit 5
Sutton Lake (New Hanover Co.)
14-inch minimum; limit 5
Lake Hampton (Yadkin Co.) and Shearon Harris Reservoir (Chatham and Wake counties)
14-inch minimum, except 2 may be less than 14 inches and none between 16-20 inches may be possessed 5, including only 2 less than 14 inches
Lake Phelps
14-inch minimum and none between 16-20 inches may be possessed; limit 5
Buckhorn Reservoir (Nash and Wilson counties) and Cane Creek Lake (Union Co.)
16-inch minimum; limit 5
Lake Mattamuskeet and associated canals (Hyde Co.)
16-inch minimum, and only 1 may be greater than 20 inches; limit 5, including only 1 greater than 20 inches
Lake Thom-A-Lex (Davidson Co.)
18-inch minimum; limit 5
Jean Guite Creek and assoicated canals within the Town of Southern Shores (Dare Co.) and Ponds associated with Martin Marietta Park (Craven Co.)
No largemouth bass may be possessed
For more information please see https://www.ncwildlife.org/licensing/regulations
Bluegill
NC Snagging
It is unlawful to snag fish by pulling or jerking a device equipped with one or more hooks through the water for the purpose of impaling fish. Applies to game and nongame fish.
NC Unlawful Possession
It is unlawful to possess:more than the daily creel limit while fishing, boating or afield; at any place more than three days' creel limit; fish whose size, creel or season restrictions are not in compliance with the regulations on the waters being fished.
NC Altering Fish
It is unlawful, while fishing, to change the appearance of fish subject to size limits or daily creel limits or remove the head and/ or tail from fish that are regulated by a size limit so that they may not be measured and/ or identified.
NC Purchase and Sale of Gamefish
The purchase and sale of inland game fish are unlawful, except from and by licensed commercial trout ponds and fish propagators.
NC Trotlines Set-hooks and Jug-hooks
Trotlines, set-hooks and jug-hooks may be fished under any license that authorizes fishing privileges. It is unlawful to use live bait with trotlines, set-hooks or jug-hooks. Trotlines must be set parallel to the nearest shore in all public waters, where their use is authorized. Each trotline, set-hook and jug-hook shall have attached the user's name and address or the user's NCWRC customer number legibly inscribed. Each trotline shall be conspicuously marked at each end, and each set-hook shall be conspicuously marked at one end with a prominent flag or floating object. Metal cans and glass containers cannot be used as markers. The number of jug-hooks that may be fished is limited to 70 per boat. Trotlines, set-hooks and jug-hooks must be fished daily, and all fish must be removed daily. Exceptions:· No trotlines, set-hooks or jug-hooks may be used in the impounded waters of Sandhills Game Land. · No trotlines, set-hooks or jug-hooks may be used in Public Mountain Trout Waters, except impounded waters of power reservoirs and municipal water supply reservoirs open to the public for fishing. · In Lake Waccamaw, it is unlawful to use trotlines, set-hooks or jug-hooks from May 1–Sept. 30. · No trotlines, jug hooks, and set hooks in the inland fishing waters of the Roanoke River from April 1 to June 30.
NC Single Barbless Hook
In the inland waters of the Roanoke River upstream of the U.S. 258 bridge, only a single barbless circle hook when fishing with live or natural bait or other tackle with a single barbless hook may be used from April 1 to June 30. "Barbless" means that the hook either does not have a barb or that the barb is bent down. Tandem rigs are prohibited.
NC Game Fish Hook and Line only
Inland game fish may be taken only with a hook and line and landing nets may be used to land fishes caught on a hook and line.
Applies to all Sunfish (EXCEPT CRAPPIE, ROCK BASS, & ROANOKE BASS)
All public fishing waters except those listed below:
No daily creel limit.
No size limit.
In the following waters and their tributaries no size limit, 30 in combination, including no more than 12 redbreast sunfish:
- Cape Fear River
- Deep River downstream of Lockville Dam
- Haw River downstream of Jordan Lake Dam
- Lumber River including Drowning Creek
- Neuse River downstream of Falls Lake Dam
- Roanoke River downstream of Roanoke Rapids Dam
- Tar River downstream of Tar River Reservoir Dam
- Waccamaw River downstream of Lake Waccamaw Dam
- All public waters east of I-95, except Tar River Reservoir (Nash Co.)
Free trial available