North Carolina calls it the Coastal Recreational Fishing Licence, and it covers coastal and joint waters only. The line between inland and coastal is a legal boundary, not a guess, and joint waters count as coastal. At twenty dollars for a resident it is the cheaper of the state’s two licences, but it gives you nothing on the Roanoke or in the mountains.
What it costs
Set your situation for the exact saltwater figure. Switching to fresh water here shows what the other licence would cost instead.
Every North Carolina saltwater fee
| Licence | Who | Length | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coastal recreational, 10 days | Resident | 10 days | $9.00 |
| Coastal recreational, 10 days | Visitor | 10 days | $15.00 |
| Subsistence waiver, unified For residents receiving Medicaid, Food Stamps or Work First. Obtained through the county Department of Social Services. | Resident | Annual | Free |
| Legally blind, unified | Resident | Annual | Free |
| Disabled veteran, coastal | Resident | Annual | $15.00 |
| Coastal recreational, annual | Resident | Annual | $20.00 |
| Senior resident | Resident | Annual | $20.00 |
| Coastal recreational, annual | Visitor | Annual | $40.00 |
| Unified inland + coastal, annual The only licence that covers both. Residents only. | Resident | Annual | $51.00 |
| Lifetime unified inland + coastal | Resident | Lifetime | $587.00 |
Fees verified against NCWRC on 2026-09-07.
What it covers, and what it does not
The CRFL covers the sounds, the joint waters and the Atlantic. It does not cover inland waters, Public Mountain Trout Waters or game land trout water, which need the inland licence. Residents who fish both sides of the state can buy the Unified Inland/Coastal licence at $51.00; visitors cannot, and must hold both.
For the freshwater side of the state, and for the combination options where they exist, see the full North Carolina licence page.
Where to use it
We track 6 saltwater waters in North Carolina daily, with live tides and conditions:
- Cape Hatteras — Dare County
- Outer Banks — Dare County
- Carolina Beach — New Hanover County
- Morehead City — Carteret County
- Wilmington — New Hanover County
- Pamlico Sound — Hyde County
Questions
How much is a saltwater fishing licence in North Carolina?
$20.00 for a resident and $40.00 for a visitor, for an annual licence. Short-term options cost less and are listed in the table above.
Does a North Carolina freshwater licence cover salt water?
No. North Carolina sells them as separate licences, so a freshwater licence gives you no cover on the coast. Fishing both means two licences, or the combined option where the state offers one.
Can visitors buy the North Carolina unified licence?
No. The Unified Inland/Coastal licence is residents only. A visitor fishing both the mountains and the coast has to buy the inland and the coastal licences separately.
Where is the line between inland and coastal in North Carolina?
It is set in the regulations water by water, and joint waters count as coastal. If you are near the boundary, check the specific water before you fish rather than guessing from the map.