Outer Banks Fishing License Information

If you're looking to fish while visiting the Outer Banks, a Coastal Recreational Fishing License (CRFL). is required. There are several different types of licenses, places to obtain them, and exemptions to this requirement (if you qualify).

Here is a complete list of all North Carolina fishing license types and where to purchase them in the Outer Banks.

For information on fishing locations and charter operations, visit our Fishing & Boating page.

Fishing License Types

License Type	NC Residents	Non-Resident
Short-Term Licenses
Short-term licenses are valid for the period specified on the license.
Inland Fishing 10-Day: Statewide inland fishing during the 10-day period specified on the license. Includes fishing in Public Mountain Trout Waters, fishing in trout waters on game lands and fishing in joint waters. It does not include fishing in coastal waters.	$9	$23
Coastal Recreational Fishing 10-Day: Authorizes fishing in coastal and joint waters during the 10-day period specified on the license. It does not authorize fishing in inland waters.	$6	$11
Annual Licenses
Unless otherwise specified, annual licenses are valid for 12 months from the date of purchase.
State Inland Fishing: Statewide inland fishing during a license term. Includes fishing in Public Mountain Trout Waters, fishing in trout waters on game lands and fishing in joint waters. It does not include fishing in coastal waters.	$25	$45
Coastal Recreational Fishing: Authorizes fishing in coastal and joint waters during a license term. It does not authorize fishing in inland waters.	$16	$32
Unified Inland/Coastal Recreational Fishing: Statewide inland and coastal recreational fishing for residents during a license term. Includes fishing in Public Mountain Trout Waters, fishing in trout waters on game lands, and fishing in joint waters.	$41	N/A
Subsistence Unified Inland/Coastal Recreational Fishing License Waiver: Statewide inland and coastal recreational fishing for residents who receive Medicaid, Food Stamps, or Work First Family Assistance through the county Department of Social Services. Includes fishing in Public Mountain Trout Waters, fishing in trout waters on game lands and fishing in joint waters. License Waiver must be obtained through the county Department of Social Services.	FREE	N/A
Special Device (inland fishing): Authorizes the taking of nongame fishes from inland waters (does not include joint and coastal waters) during designated seasons with seines, cast nets, gill nets, dip nets, bow nets, reels, gigs, spear guns, baskets, fish pots, eel pots, traps, and hand-crank electrofishers where authorized by local law. Includes the sale of these nongame fishes. Taking of nongame fishes with archery equipment is authorized under any of the licenses providing hunting or inland fishing privileges. Certain special devices may be used to take nongame fishes for personal use (bait or personal consumption) using any valid license that provides inland fishing privileges. Authorizes the taking of nongame fishes from inland waters (does not include joint and coastal waters) during designated seasons with seines, cast nets, gill nets, dip nets, bow nets, reels, gigs, spear guns, baskets, fish pots, eel pots, traps, and hand-crank electrofishers where authorized by local law. Includes the sale of these nongame fishes. Taking of nongame fishes with archery equipment is authorized under any of the licenses providing hunting or inland fishing privileges. Certain special devices may be used to take nongame fishes for personal use (bait or personal consumption) using any valid license that provides inland fishing privileges.	$80	$530
Lifetime Licenses
Comprehensive Inland Fishing: Statewide inland fishing. Includes fishing in Public Mountain Trout Waters, fishing in trout waters on game lands, and fishing in joint waters. It does not include fishing in coastal waters.	$265	N/A
Unified Inland/Coastal Recreational Fishing: Statewide inland and coastal recreational fishing. Includes fishing in Public Mountain Trout Waters, fishing in trout waters on game lands, and fishing in joint waters.	$477	N/A
Coastal Recreational Fishing: Authorizes fishing in coastal and joint waters. It does not authorize fishing in inland waters.
- Adult (ages 12 & older)	$265	$530
- Youth (ages 1–11)	$159	$159
- Infant (under age 1)	$106	$106
- Senior	$16	N/A
Disabled Veteran Inland Fishing: Statewide inland fishing. Includes fishing in Public Mountain Trout Waters, fishing in trout waters on game lands, and fishing in joint waters. It does not include fishing in coastal waters.	$11	N/A
Disabled Veteran Coastal Recreational Fishing: Authorizes fishing in coastal and joint waters. It does not authorize fishing in inland waters.	$11	N/A
Totally Disabled Inland Fishing: Statewide inland fishing. Includes fishing in Public Mountain Trout Waters, fishing in trout waters on game lands, and fishing in joint waters. It does not include fishing in coastal waters.	$11	N/A
Totally Disabled Coastal Recreational Fishing: Authorizes fishing in coastal and joint waters. It does not authorize fishing in inland waters.	$11	N/A
Legally Blind Unified Inland/Coastal Recreational Fishing: Statewide fishing in all public waters for residents who have been certified by the Department of Health and Human Services as being legally blind. Includes fishing in Public Mountain Trout Waters and fishing in trout waters on game lands.	FREE	N/A
Adult Care Home Unified Inland/Coastal Recreational Fishing: Statewide fishing in all public waters for residents of an adult care home. Includes fishing in Public Mountain Trout Waters and fishing in trout waters on game lands. License valid during time of residency at adult care facility.	FREE	N/A

License Exemptions

Children under age 16 are exempt from the requirement of any fishing license and trout privilege license.
The game lands license is not required to fish in any waters on game lands or Wildlife Conservation Areas.
An inland fishing license is not required to fish in a private pond.
July 4th is declared “Free Fishing Day,” and a fishing license and trout privilege license are not required in any public waters, including coastal waters, on this date.
A resident or nonresident of this State who served as a member of the Armed Forces and who separated under honorable conditions is exempt from the Mountain Heritage Trout fishing license requirements while fishing in waters designated by the Wildlife Resources Commission as Mountain Heritage Trout waters. In order to qualify the individual shall have valid documentation of their service on his or her person at all times during the fishing activity.
Residents with a valid Unified Subsistence Inland/Coastal Recreational Fishing License Waiver are exempt from the requirement of a basic inland (does not include trout fishing) and coastal recreational fishing license.

Fishing licenses may be purchased online directly from Go Outdoors North Carolina!. calling (833) 950-0575 Monday thru Friday between 8 am and 5 pm, or from an approved Wildlife Service Agent.

Some Agents can only sell licenses OR vessel registrations. Others can sell BOTH licenses and vessel registrations. Please note the Outlet Type below. Service Agents are presented for Dare, Currituck and Hyde Counties and are subject to change.

Currituck County

Outlet Type	Name	Address
License Agent	OBX Bait and Tackle	815 Ocean Trl, Suite B Corolla, NC 27927 (252) 453-3339

Dare County

Outlet Type	Name	Address
License Agent	TW's Bait & Tackle	3864 N Croatan Hwy Kitty Hawk, NC 29749 (252) 453-3339
License Agent	Walmart	5400 N Croatan Hwy Suite 100 Kitty Hawk, NC 27949 (252) 261-6011
License Agent	Stop 'N' Shop	100 S VA Dare Trl Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 (252) 441-6105
License and Vessel Agent	Bill's Marine	1648 Colington Rd Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 (252) 982-6595
License Agent	TW's Bait & Tackle	2230 S Croatan Hwy Nags Head, NC 27959 (252) 441-4807
License Agent	Ocean's East Bait & Tackle	7405 S Croatan Hwy Nags Head, NC 27959 (252) 441-7413
License Agent	Fishing Unlimited	7665 S VA Dare Trl Nags Head, NC 27959 (252) 423-0157
License Agent	Jennette's Pier	7223 S VA Dare Trl Nags Head, NC 27959 (252) 255-1501
License Agent	Hatteras Jack II, Inc	23902 HWY 12 Rodanthe, NC 27968 (252) 987-2428