SlotGaugeCheck a catchWalleye regulations in North Carolina
· Freshwater · 2026 season
Walleye size limit, season and daily limit
| Where | Season | Size limit | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| All NC public waters except listed | Open year-round | No size limit | 8 per day |
| Linville River upstream from N.C. 126 bridge | Open year-round | No size limit | 4 per day |
| Lake James and tributaries | Open year-round | 15 inch minimum | 8 per day |
| Lake Gaston, John H. Kerr Reservoir, Roanoke Rapids Reservoir | Open year-round | 18 inch minimum | 5 per day |
Notes
- Statewide 8 per day with no size limit, but Lake James has a 15 inch minimum and the Roanoke basin reservoirs (Gaston, Kerr, Roanoke Rapids) have an 18 inch minimum and 5 per day.
Exact NC Division of Marine Fisheries wording
- Season
- Open year-round
- Size
- None (Lake James 15-inch; Gaston/Kerr/Roanoke Rapids 18-inch)
- Limit
- 8 (Linville River above N.C. 126: 4; Gaston/Kerr/Roanoke Rapids: 5)
- All NC public waters except listed — as printed
- “Walleye — All public fishing waters except those listed below: | None | 8 | Linville River upstream from N.C. 126 bridge | None | 4 | Lake James and tributaries | 15-inch minimum | 8 | Lake Gaston, John H. Kerr Reservoir, Roanoke Rapids Reservoir | 18-inch minimum | 5”
Source: NC Division of Marine Fisheries, captured 2026-09-29 (2026 season).
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About the walleye
Species of fish
The walleye, also called the walleyed pike, yellow pike, yellow pikeperch or yellow pickerel, is a freshwater perciform fish native to most of Canada and to the Northern United States. It is a North American close relative of the European zander, also known as the pikeperch. The walleye is sometimes called the yellow walleye to distinguish it from the blue walleye, which is a color morph that was once found in the southern Ontario and Quebec regions, but is now presumed extinct. However, recent genetic analysis of a preserved (frozen) 'blue walleye' sample suggests that the blue and yellow walleye were simply phenotypes within the same species and do not merit separate taxonomic classification.
Read more about Walleye 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 Walleye in North Carolina?
No size limit in North Carolina state waters.
How many Walleye can you keep per day in North Carolina?
8 per day.
When is Walleye season in North Carolina?
Open year-round.
Is my Walleye a keeper today?
Walleye has no size limit today, with a daily limit of 8.