LivewellFish consumption advisories
North Carolina
North Carolina publishes advisories for 34 waters, covering 161 species-and-size recommendations.
Contaminants of concern: Arsenic, Hexavalent chromium, Dioxins, Mercury, PCBs, PFOS
Statewide advisory
These apply across North Carolina, including waters with no specific advisory of their own.
- Black Crappie General population Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. Statewide mercury advisory
- Black Crappie Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: do not eat due to elevated Mercury. Statewide mercury advisory
- Bowfin General population Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. Statewide mercury advisory
- Bowfin Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: do not eat due to elevated Mercury. Statewide mercury advisory
- Chain Pickerel General population Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. Statewide mercury advisory
- Chain Pickerel Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: do not eat due to elevated Mercury. Statewide mercury advisory
- Channel Catfish General population Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. Statewide mercury advisory
- Channel Catfish Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: do not eat due to elevated Mercury. Statewide mercury advisory
- Largemouth Bass General population Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. Statewide mercury advisory
- Largemouth Bass Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: do not eat due to elevated Mercury. Statewide mercury advisory
- Walleye General population Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. Statewide mercury advisory
- Walleye Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: do not eat due to elevated Mercury. Statewide mercury advisory
- Warmouth General population Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. Statewide mercury advisory
- Warmouth Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: do not eat due to elevated Mercury. Statewide mercury advisory
- Yellow Perch General population Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. Statewide mercury advisory
- Yellow Perch Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: do not eat due to elevated Mercury. Statewide mercury advisory
Waters with advisories in North Carolina
34 waters on file. A water not listed here has no advisory in the state's data — which usually means it has never been sampled, not that it's been cleared.
Coastals 1
- Albemarle Sound Bertie
Lakes 12
- Badin Lake Montgomery
- Chatuge Lake Clay
- Fontana Lake Graham
- High Rock Lake Davidson
- Lake Crabtree Wake
- Lake Gaston Halifax
- Lake Norman Catawba
- Lake Santeetlah Graham
- Lake Tillery Montgomery
- Lake Wylie Gaston
- Mountain Island Lake Gaston
- Nantahala Lake Macon
Reservoirs 2
- Falls Reservoir Montgomery
- Glenville Reservoir Jackson
Rivers 19
- Brier Creek Wake
- Brunswick River-Cape Fear Brunswick
- Brunswick River-Site 1 of 2
- Burnt Mill Creek New Hanover
- Cape Fear River 1 Bladen
- Cape Fear River 2 Brunswick
- Cape Fear River 3 Brunswick
- Crabtree Creek Wake
- Dan River Caswell
- Davis Creek Brunswick
- Little Brier Creek Wake
- Neuse River Wake
- Northeast Cape Fear River
- Roanoke River Bertie
- Rocky Branch Wake
- Sturgeon Creek Brunswick
- Walnut Creek Wake
- Welch Creek Beaufort
- Yadkin-Pee Dee River System Davidson
North Carolina statewide fishing limits
Statewide defaults — specific waters and zones may differ. Verify the current rules before keeping a fish.
| Species | Size | Daily limit | Open season | Keep season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | 14" min | 5 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Muskellunge | 30" min | 1 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Walleye | — | 8 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Black Crappie | — | 20 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Channel Catfish | — | — | Year-round | Same as open |
Official rules: North Carolina — North Carolina WRC