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Coastal Recreational Fishing License

North Carolina's Coastal Recreational Fishing License is effective January 1, 2007. This license can be purchased on a 10-day, annual or lifetime basis, or combined with a variety of licenses issued by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (WRC).

This license allows recreational fishermen to harvest finfish for personal consumption; finfish harvested under this license cannot be sold. Fishermen using this license are held to the state's recreational size and possession limits.

This license is required to recreationally harvest finfish in the state's Coastal Fishing Waters, which include sounds, coastal rivers and their tributaries, out to three miles in the ocean. Recreational anglers, who catch fish in the ocean, including waters beyond three miles, will be required to have this license to land fish. Fishing in Joint Waters (Areas managed by both the Marine Fisheries and the Wildlife Resources commissions) will require either this or a WRC inland fishing license.

The new license will be available from any Division of Marine Fisheries office, WRC license agents (which include most Wal-Mart and Bait & Tackle stores), online at WRC's website www.ncwildlife.org, or by calling toll-free 888-248-6834.

To view license options or for more information, please visit www.ncfisheries.net or call the Division of Marine Fisheries at 252-726-7021 or 800-682-2632.