SlotGaugeCheck a catchMountain Trout regulations in North Carolina
· Freshwater · 2026 season
Mountain Trout size limit, season and daily limit
| Where | Season | Size limit | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| NC inland waters (statewide; listed waters differ) | Open year-round | None in Hatchery Supported waters; 7 inches in Wild Trout Waters | 7 in hatchery-supported waters; 4 (7 in minimum) in wild trout waters |
Notes
- A 2026-10-31 check against the official source found a discrepancy in this species' zones. Read the official wording before keeping the fish: https://www.eregulations.com/northcarolina/fishing/general-mountain-trout-regulations
- Hatchery Supported waters close Mar 1 – Apr 2 each spring; Delayed Harvest waters are catch-and-release Oct 1 – early June.
Exact NC Division of Marine Fisheries wording
- Season
- Hatchery Supported waters closed March 1 – April 2, 2027 (7 a.m. opening April 3)
- Size
- None in Hatchery Supported waters; 7 inches in Wild Trout Waters
- Limit
- 7 (Hatchery Supported and undesignated waters); Wild Trout Waters: 7-inch minimum, 4
- Inland waters — as printed
- “Mountain Trout — Hatchery Supported Trout Waters: Aug. 1, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027; 7 a.m. April 3, 2027 – July 31, 2027: None | 7. Wild Trout Waters: No closed season | 7 inches | 4 | Artificial lures with a single hook. Delayed Harvest: no trout may be possessed Oct 1 – June 4.”
Source: NC Division of Marine Fisheries, captured 2026-09-29 (2026 season).
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About the mountain trout
Freshwater fish from subfamily Salmoninae
Trout is a generic common name for numerous species of carnivorous freshwater fishes belonging to the genera Oncorhynchus, Salmo, and Salvelinus, all of which are members of the subfamily Salmoninae in the family Salmonidae. The word trout is also used for some similar-shaped but non-salmonid fish, such as the spotted seatrout/speckled trout.
Read more about Trout on Wikipedia →
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Regulations on this page come from NC Division of Marine Fisheries, not Wikipedia.
All 120 North Carolina species A–Z →
Frequently asked
What is the size limit for Mountain Trout in North Carolina?
None in Hatchery Supported waters; 7 inches in Wild Trout Waters in North Carolina state waters.
How many Mountain Trout can you keep per day in North Carolina?
7 in hatchery-supported waters; 4 (7 in minimum) in wild trout waters.
When is Mountain Trout season in North Carolina?
Open year-round.
Is my Mountain Trout a keeper today?
Mountain Trout has no size limit today, with a daily limit of 7.