Just as many lives, businesses, landscapes and wildlife were impacted on September 27, 2024 by Hurricane Helene as it ravaged through western North Carolina, one of the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission’s (NCWRC) fish hatcheries, the Armstrong State Fish Hatchery in McDowell County, was nearly destroyed.
Topics Related to Fishing
The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) will implement Delayed Harvest Trout Waters regulations on 33 trout waters beginning Oct. 1.
The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) will host two family-friendly events to recognize National Hunting and Fishing Day, an annual celebration promoting outdoor recreation and conservation.
The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) will open 2025 flounder harvest season for Inland Fishing Waters and in Joint Fishing Waters for hook and line fishing only, Sept. 1 to Sept. 14, 2025. The daily creel limit is one fish with a minimum size limit of 15 inches.
The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) is accepting public comments through September 15, 2025, for the agency’s proposed 2026-27 hunting, fishing and game land regulation changes. Virtual public hearings on the proposed changes are scheduled for August 5 and August 7, 2025.The proposed changes include: Inland Fishing
The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) has opened the public comment period for proposed rule changes to the 2026-2027 regulations related to inland fisheries, land and water access, and wildlife management. The comment period will be open through Monday, September 15, 2025.Comments may be submitted online, emailed to regulations@ncwildlife.gov (must include name, county and state of residence in e-mail) or mailed to:
The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) announces the spotted seatrout harvest season in inland and joint (by hook-and-line) fishing waters reopens today, July 1, 2025. NCWRC closed the season between May 2 and June 30 to help the species recover from mortality due to last winter’s cold stun event.
The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) asks the public to refrain from the illegal practice of moving inland fish, specifically mountain trout, to other mountain water bodies as it can result in altering healthy habitats and negatively impact the agency’s ongoing aquatic conservation efforts. Staff have been encountering newly introduced trout species into various mountain waterways during routine and post-Helene monitoring.
Alabama bass, which are invasive to North Carolina, are now in more rivers and lakes than ever before and are competing with our native fish and aquatic organisms. Biologists at the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) are asking the public for help to prevent the spread and reduce the populations of this invasive species in order to protect the future of native largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass.