Commercial Fishing Licenses

NC commercial fishing licenses explained — from the Recreational Commercial Gear License (RCGL) for personal-use gear, to full Standard Commercial Fishing Licenses (SCFL) for selling your catch.

Recreational Commercial Gear License (RCGL)

The RCGL allows you to use limited commercial fishing gear — crab pots, gill nets, shrimp trawls, eel pots — for personal consumption. You cannot sell your catch with an RCGL. This is the license our owner Mike holds for catching crabs and fish with gear around the Outer Banks.

RCGL Pricing

NC Resident (Annual)	$41
Non-Resident (Annual)	$66

Buy RCGL on GoOutdoorsNC →

What You Can Do with an RCGL

Set up to 2 crab pots per license holder
Use gill nets (limited footage — check current regs)
Use a shrimp trawl (limited headrope length)
Set eel pots and hooks-and-lines for personal use
Harvest for personal/family consumption

Important RCGL Restrictions

• Cannot sell your catch. Sale requires an SCFL + dealer's license.
• Catch limits apply per person, per gear type — check NC DMF proclamations.
• Gear must be marked with your license number and "RCGL" identification.
• Gear restrictions vary by water body and season — always check current proclamations.
• Some waters are closed to certain gear types entirely.

Standard Commercial Fishing License (SCFL)

The SCFL is required if you want to sell your catch. It's a significant step up from the RCGL — more paperwork, higher fees, and strict reporting requirements. SCFLs are managed by the NC Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) and may be limited-entry (caps on the number of licenses issued per year).

SCFL Requirements

• Must be an NC resident (with limited exceptions)
• Must demonstrate fishing experience (varies by endorsement)
• Required for harvesting and selling finfish, shellfish, crabs, shrimp
• Must land catch in NC
• Subject to trip limits, size limits, and seasonal closures
• May require additional endorsements (e.g., crab, shrimp, finfish)

SCFL Fees (Approximate)

SCFL Base License	$200+
Crab Endorsement	$50+
Shrimp Trawl Endorsement	$80+
Gill Net Endorsement	$50+
Vessel Registration (annual)	See below

Fees vary by endorsement and may change. Verify with NC DMF before applying.

Limited Entry System

Many SCFL endorsements are limited-entry — NC DMF caps the number of licenses issued to prevent overfishing. If the cap is reached, you'll be placed on a waiting list. Some endorsements can be transferred between individuals (e.g., when a licensed fisherman retires), which has created a secondary market. Check theNC DMF websitefor current availability.

Dealer's License

If you want to buy catch from fishermen and resell it — running a seafood market, selling to restaurants, or distributing wholesale — you need a NC Fish Dealer's License from the Division of Marine Fisheries.

Dealer License Requirements

• Must maintain accurate records of all purchases and sales
• Must report landings to NC DMF (typically monthly via the Trip Ticket system)
• Must verify sellers hold valid SCFLs
• Subject to inspection by NC DMF enforcement
• Separate licenses for different species categories (finfish, shellfish, crustaceans)

Trip Ticket System

NC uses a Trip Ticket system to track commercial landings. Every transaction between a fisherman and a dealer must be recorded on a trip ticket:

• Species, weight, and count
• Gear type used
• Landing location and date
• Fisher's license number
• Market value / sale price

Vessel Registration

If you're fishing from a boat with commercial gear, the vessel itself must be registered and titled with the NC Wildlife Resources Commission (or US Coast Guard for federally documented vessels).

Vessel Requirements

Registration

• All motorized vessels must be registered in NC
• Registration renewed every 3 years
• Registration number displayed on bow
• Current validation decals

Commercial Vessel Endorsement

• Vessel must be listed on your SCFL application
• Gear must match vessel capacity
• Safety equipment per USCG regulations
• Commercial liability insurance (recommended)

NCWRC Vessel Registration →

Gear Restrictions

NC regulates commercial gear types tightly to protect fisheries. Rules change frequently via DMF proclamations — always check current regulations before setting gear.

Crab Pots

• RCGL: max 2 pots per licensee
• SCFL: varies by endorsement (typically 50–100+ pots)
• Pots must be marked with license number
• Escapement panels required (cull rings)
• Terrapin excluder devices required in some areas
• Closed areas in certain sounds and rivers

Gill Nets

• RCGL: limited footage (check current proclamation)
• SCFL: endorsement-specific footage limits
• Must be attended in some waters (attended gill net areas)
• Mesh size restrictions by target species
• Seasonal closures for sea turtle / sturgeon protection
• Pinged (marked) with license info every 100 yards

Shrimp Trawls

• RCGL: limited headrope length (typically ≤ 48 ft)
• SCFL: endorsement-specific limits
• TEDs (Turtle Excluder Devices) required by federal law
• BRDs (Bycatch Reduction Devices) required
• Closed areas in sounds during certain seasons
• Night trawling restrictions in some waters

Eel Pots & Other Gear

• Eel pots require endorsement on SCFL
• Must be marked and tended per regulations
• Hook-and-line commercial fishing allowed under SCFL
• Cast nets: size limits on mesh and radius
• Clam rakes, oyster tongs: gear-specific rules

Seasonal Closures

NC closes certain waters to specific gear types seasonally to protect spawning fish, migrating sea turtles, and overfished stocks. Closures are announced viaNC DMF Proclamations — check them before every trip.

Common Seasonal Closures

Spiny Dogfish: Closed season varies — check proclamation
Striped Bass (Albemarle Sound): Short seasons, strict quotas
River Herring: No harvest — closed year-round
Shrimp trawling: Closed in internal waters at certain times
Gill nets (deep sets): Closed in sea turtle interaction zones seasonally
Oyster season: Typically Oct–March, varies by area

How to Stay Updated

• Subscribe to NC DMF email proclamation notifications
• Check the NC DMF proclamations page before each trip
• Call NC DMF at (252) 726-7021 for current rules
• Monitor VHF Channel 16 for emergency closures
• Follow NC Marine Fisheries on social media

Current NC DMF Proclamations →

NC Division of Marine Fisheries

The NC DMF is the authority on all commercial fishing regulations. Contact them directly for license applications, endorsements, and current proclamations.

NC DMF Homepage

Regulations, licenses, proclamations, and enforcement.

GoOutdoorsNC (ALVIN)

Buy RCGL and recreational licenses online.

DMF Proclamations

Current seasonal closures and emergency rules.

NC Wildlife Resources Commission

Vessel registration, inland licensing, enforcement.

Contact NC DMF

Main Office:

(252) 726-7021

License Section: