Outer Banks Fishing License: What You Need and Where to Get It
Last updated: May 2026.
If you’re 16 or older and you’re fishing in salt water in North Carolina — including the surf, the sounds, and any of the inlets — you need a Coastal Recreational Fishing License (CRFL). It’s separate from the freshwater license and the federal saltwater registry.
Who needs one
- Anyone 16 or older fishing recreationally in NC coastal waters
- Out-of-state visitors (separate non-resident pricing)
Who doesn’t
- Anyone under 16
- Anglers fishing from a licensed pier (the pier’s blanket license usually covers you — confirm with the pier)
- Anyone fishing on a licensed for-hire charter
What it costs (resident)
- 10-day: $7
- Annual: $16
- Lifetime: tiered by age
What it costs (non-resident)
- 10-day: $11
- Annual: $32
Where to buy
- NCWRC online license portal (instant, print or save to phone)
- Most OBX tackle shops
- Walmart, Ace Hardware, and other approved vendors
Confirm current pricing on the NCWRC site before you buy — fees do change.