Topics Related to 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.
The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) has suspended the season for harvesting striped bass by hook-and-line in the Roanoke River Management Area, which runs from March 1 through April 30, 2025. This includes the Roanoke River and its tributaries from Roanoke Rapids Dam downstream to the mouth of the river at the Albemarle Sound, as well as the Cashie, Middle and Eastmost rivers.
Anglers, get your fishing gear ready. The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) will soon stock more than 60,000 trout from its Bobby N. Setzer fish hatchery into 40 small lakes and ponds as far east at Edgecombe County.
The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission’s (NCWRC) Armstrong State Fish Hatchery in McDowell County north of Marion sustained significant damage as a result of flooding and landslides during Hurricane Helene. Some of the hatchery’s trout escaped during the flooding; however, most of the 600,000 fish of various sizes died when the storm compromised the water supply to the raceways and hatchery building. Currently, Armstrong State Fish Hatchery is closed indefinitely.
Please note: since this press release was published, the dates for the Setzer Hatchery renovation have been changed. The information has been updated below.