North Carolina fishing seasons

73 species profiles in our database list North Carolina waters among their fisheries — including Redear Sunfish, Bigmouth Buffalo, Smallmouth Buffalo, Black Bullhead. Below: what's in season month by month, where to fish, and the licence source you need. Seasons shift year to year; the official agency has the final word.

Best months to fish in North Carolina

Months when the largest share of North Carolina's profiled species are in season, from our database. Full calendar: What's Biting.

North Carolina fishing calendar, month by month

Each month links to the species in season then, from our season windows. A month is charted when at least 3 species are in season.

Freshwater species in North Carolina

Species	Season
Bantam Sunfish	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Bigmouth Buffalo	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Black Bullhead	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Black Redhorse	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Blacknose Dace	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Blue Sucker	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Brook Trout	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Brown Bullhead	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Butter Catfish	Varies by region and regulation
Central Stoneroller	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Creek Chub	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Dollar Sunfish	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Fantail Darter	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Flier	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Golden Redhorse	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Greater Redhorse	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Jau Catfish	Varies by region and regulation
Logperch	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Longnose Dace	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Longnose Sucker	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Marble Catfish	Varies by region and regulation
Mud Sunfish	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Northern Hogsucker	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Orangespotted Sunfish	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Peacock Bass	Varies by region and regulation
Pirate Perch	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Redbreast Sunfish	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Redear Sunfish	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
River Carpsucker	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Rosyface Shiner	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Sacramento Perch	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Shadow Bass	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Shorthead Redhorse	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Silver Redhorse	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Smallmouth Buffalo	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Snail Bullhead	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Spotted Sucker	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Stonecat	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Swampfish	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Tadpole Madtom	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Vundu Catfish	Varies by region and regulation
White Catfish	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
White Sucker	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Yellow Bullhead	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Yellowfin Shiner	Often most active in warm months; check local rules

Saltwater & brackish species in North Carolina

Species	Season
Atlantic Threadfin	Varies by migration, temperature, region, and regulation
Basking Shark	Highly migratory; availability varies by current, temperature, and regulation
Black Drum	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Blacktip Reef Shark	Varies by region and regulation
Blacktip Shark	Varies by region and regulation
Bluefin Tuna	Late Spring–Fall in many regions; varies by current/temperature
Bluefish	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Dusky Shark	Varies by region and regulation
False Albacore	Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Grey Reef Shark	Varies by region and regulation
Inshore Lizardfish	Varies by region and regulation
King Mackerel	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Lemon Shark	Varies by region and regulation
Mahi-Mahi	Late Spring–Fall in many regions; varies by current/temperature
Northern Stargazer	Varies by region and regulation
Nurse Shark	Varies by region and regulation
Oceanic Whitetip Shark	Highly migratory; availability varies by current, temperature, and regulation
Reef Shark	Varies by region and regulation
Salmon Shark	Highly migratory; availability varies by current, temperature, and regulation
Sand Tiger Shark	Varies by region and regulation
Sandbar Shark	Varies by region and regulation
Sharksucker	Varies by region and regulation
Silky Shark	Highly migratory; availability varies by current, temperature, and regulation
Southern Flounder	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Spinner Shark	Varies by region and regulation
Spot	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Weakfish	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
White Marlin	Highly migratory; availability varies by current, temperature, and regulation

Where to fish in North Carolina

• Outer Banks (NC)
• Carolina sounds
• Carolinas

Fishing in the South

Florida · Texas · Louisiana · Alabama · Mississippi · Georgia · South Carolina · Virginia · Arkansas · Oklahoma · Tennessee · Kentucky · West Virginia