Fishing Licenses Now Required

As of 2007, any person age 16 and up who wants to fish in coastal waters for recreation in North Carolina must purchase a fishing license. You may purchase a 10-day, annual or lifetime license.

A 10-day license is $5 for NC residents and $10 for nonresidents. An annual license is $15 for NC residents and $30 for nonresidents. A lifetime license for NC residents up to age 64 is $250 and $15 for age 65 and over. A lifetime license for nonresidents is $500.

On Hatteras Island, licenses may be purchased at Askins Creek Store (Avon), Dillon's Corner (Buxton), Frank & Fran's (Avon), Frisco Shopping Center (Frisco), Frisco Tackle (Frisco), Shoreline Beach Mart (Rodanthe), Teach's Lair Marina (Hatteras), The Fishin' Hole (Salvo) and Village Marina (Hatteras). You can also purchase a license online at
http://www.ncwildlife.org/fs_index_01_license.htm.

Note you do NOT need a license when you hire a charter boat. Charter boat operators typically purchase blanket licenses to cover their customers.

For more information, call the Department of Marine Fisheries at 800-682-2632 or visit http://www.ncwildlife.org/fs_index_01_license.htm. - Shelby Kinnaird