1. (a) For the purposes of this Rule, the following fishes are classified and designated as inland game fishes in joint fishing waters:

   1. (1) Alabama bass, largemouth bass, redeye bass, smallmouth bass, and spotted bass;
   2. (2) black crappie and white crappie;
   3. (3) chain pickerel (jack), muskellunge, and redfin pickerel;
   4. (4) kokanee salmon;
   5. (5) mountain trout, including but not limited to brook trout, brown trout, and rainbow trout;
   6. (6) Roanoke bass and rock bass (redeye);
   7. (7) sauger and walleye; and
   8. (8) sunfish, including bluegill (bream), flier, pumpkinseed, redbreast (robin), redear (shellcracker), warmouth, and the other species of the sunfish family (Centrarchidae) not specifically listed in this Rule.
2. (b) Inland game fishes shall not be taken by methods other than with hook and line, except that landing nets may be used to land fishes caught on hook and line.
3. (c) Size, creel limits, and seasons for inland game fishes in joint fishing waters shall be the same as those designated in Section .0300 of this Subchapter for inland fishing waters.
4. (d) Inland game fishes taken incidental to commercial fishing operations shall be immediately returned to the water unharmed.
5. (e) Inland game fishes taken from joint fishing waters shall not be sold.
6. (f) Individuals may take up to the daily creel limit of those species of inland game fish having a specified creel limit.

7. (g) On the waters being fished, individuals may possess:

   1. (1) the specified daily creel limit for the species; and
   2. (2) fish conforming to the size limit for the species.
8. (h) Individuals may possess the daily creel limit while fishing or afield and up to three days creel limit at any other place.

9. (i) No person, while fishing or afield, shall:

   1. (1) unnecessarily destroy any inland game fish taken from public fishing waters;
   2. (2) remove the head or tail or otherwise change the appearance of a game fish having a size limit to render it impracticable to measure its total original length; or
   3. (3) change the appearance of a game fish having a daily creel limit to obscure its identification or render it impracticable to count the number of fish in possession.

History Note: Authority G.S. 113-134; 113-135; 113-135.1; 113-292;
Eff. March, 24, 2025.