General Info
New Hanover County is one of 100 counties located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2010 census, the population was 202,667.
CITIES
Cities In County
Not including unincorporated communities
Cities and towns
Carolina Beach
Kure Beach
Wilmington (county seat)
Wrightsville Beach
RESIDENTIAL SERVICES
County Residential Services
A little bit of contact information for all purpose residential needs.
Coming Soon
County Website
*For more information visit: http://www.nhcgov.com/Pages/Home.aspx
HUNTING
Hunting Seasons
For more information visit:
| Locations | Type of Season | Open Dates |
| Eastern Deer Season | Archery | Sept. 9-29, 2017 |
| Black Powder | Sept. 30-Oct. 13, 2017 | |
| Gun | Oct. 14, 2017-Jan. 1, 2018 | |
| Central Deer Season | Archery | Sept. 9-Oct. 27, 2017 |
| Black Powder | Oct. 28-Nov. 10, 2017 | |
| Gun | Nov. 11, 2017-Jan. 1, 2018 | |
| Northwestern Deer Season | Archery | Sept. 9-Nov. 3, 2017 |
| Black Powder | Nov. 4-Nov. 17, 2017 | |
| Gun | Nov. 18, 2017-Jan. 1, 2018 | |
| Western Deer Season | Archery | Sept. 9-Oct. 1, 2017; Oct. 15-Nov. 19, 2017; Dec. 10, 2017-Jan. 1, 2018 |
| Black Powder | Oct. 2-14, 2017 | |
| Gun | Nov. 20-Dec. 9, 2017 | |
| Gun Either-Sex Deer Seasons | Introductory Season | Last open day of applicable gun season. |
| Conservative Season | Last six open days of the applicable gun season. | |
| Moderate Season | First six open days and last six open days of the applicable gun season. | |
| Maximum Season | All open days of the applicable gun season. | |
| Urban Archery Deer Season | Archery Only | Jan. 13-Feb. 17, 2018 |
| Youth Deer Hunting Day | Any Legal Weapon | Sept. 23, 2017 |
| Western Bear Season | Oct. 16-Nov. 18, 2017 and Dec. 11, 2017-Jan. 1, 2018 | |
| Central Bear Seasons | Nov. 11, 2017-Jan. 1, 2018:
Alamance, Anson, Cabarrus, Caswell, Chatham, Davidson, Durham, Granville, Guilford, Lee, Mecklenburg, Montgomery, Orange, Person, Randolph, Rockingham, Rowan, Stanly, and Union counties. Oct. 14, 2017-Jan. 1, 2018: Franklin, Harnett, Johnston, Hoke, Moore, Richmond, Scotland, Vance, Wake and Warren counties. Nov. 10, 2017-Jan. 1, 2018: Alexander, Catawba, Davie, Forsyth, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Stokes, and Yadkin counties. |
|
| Eastern Bear Seasons | Nov. 13-Nov. 18, 2017 and Dec. 23, 2017:
Beaufort, Camden, Chowan, Craven, Dare, Edgecombe, Greene, Halifax, Hyde, Jones, Lenoir, Martin, Nash, Northampton, Pasquotank, Pitt, Tyrrell, Washington, Wayne, and Wilson counties. Nov. 11-18, 2017 and Dec. 23, 2017: Bertie, Currituck, Gates, Hertford and Perquimans counties. Nov. 13, 2017-Jan. 1, 2018: Bladen, Brunswick, Carteret, Columbus, Cumberland, Duplin, New Hanover, Onslow, Pamlico, Pender and Sampson counties. Dec. 4-23, 2017 Robeson county. |
|
| Wild Turkey Spring Season | Apr. 14-May 12, 2018 | |
| Wild Turkey Youth-only Season | Apr. 7-13, 2018 | |
FISHING
Fishing Seasons
For more information visit:
| State Coastal Waters (Internal and 0-3 Miles) |
Exclusive Economic Zone EEZ (3-200 miles) |
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|
Finfish Species
(note symbols, pg.2) |
Minimum Length | Bag Limits (Per Person) |
Minimum Length | Bag Limits (Per Person) |
|
Alewife and
blueback herring |
UNLAWFUL TO POSSESS | UNLAWFUL TO POSSESS | ||
|
Amberjack, greater
|
28″ FL | 1/Day | 28″ FL | 1/Day |
| (A) | (A) | UNLAWFUL TO POSSESS | ||
| None | 15/Day Only 5 greater than 24″ TL |
None | 15/Day | |
| Cobia (M) | 33” FL | 2/Day | UNLAWFUL TO POSSESS | |
| None | 10/Day | None | 10/Day | |
|
Drum, black
|
14″-25″ TL (C) | 10/Day | 14″-25″ TL (C) | 10/Day |
| 18-27″ TL (C) | 1/Day | UNLAWFUL TO POSSESS | ||
|
Eel, American (Q)
|
9″ TL | 25/Day | 9″ TL | 25/Day |
| 15″ TL | 4/Day | 15″ TL | 4/Day | |
| UNLAWFUL TO POSSESS SHALLOW WATER GROUPER JAN. 1 THROUGH APRIL 30 (SEE NOTE J) |
UNLAWFUL TO POSSESS SHALLOW WATER GROUPER JAN. 1 THROUGH APRIL 30 (SEE NOTE J) |
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|
Grouper
Red, scamp, yellowfin, yellowmouth grouper and tilefish (no size limit on tilefish) |
20″ TL |
3/Day (all grouper combined; includes 1 golden tilefish and no more than 1 black or gag grouper, individual or combined) |
20″ TL |
3/Day (all grouper combined; includes 1 golden tilefish and no more than 1 black or gag grouper, individual or combined) |
|
Grouper
black and gag |
24″ TL | 1/Day (See above) | 24″ TL | 1/Day (See above) |
|
Grouper, snowy (K)
|
1/vessel/day (included in 3 grouper aggregate) Harvest allowed May 1 through Aug. 31 |
1/vessel/day (included in 3 grouper aggregate) Harvest allowed May 1 through Aug. 31 |
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|
Hogfish
(Hog snapper) (I) |
12″ FL | 5/Day | 12″ FL | 5/Day |
| 24″ FL | 3/Day | 24″ FL | 3/Day | |
| 12″ FL | 15/Day | 12″ FL | 15/Day | |
| 99″ LJFL | 1/vessel/trip either Blue or White Marlin | 99″ LJFL | State rules apply when landing | |
| 66″ LJFL | 1/vessel/trip either Blue or White Marlin | 66″ LJFL | State rules apply when landing | |
|
Mullet
(Striped and white) |
None | 200/Day (species combined) |
None | |
|
Porgy, red
(Silver snapper, pinky) |
14″ TL | 3/Day | 14″ TL | 3/Day |
| 63″ LJFL | 1/Day | 63″ LJFL | ||
|
Scup
(North of Cape Hatteras only) |
8” TL | 50/Day | 9” TL | 50/Day |
|
Seatrout, spotted (speckled)
 |
14” TL | 4/Day | 14” TL | 4/Day |
| UNLAWFUL TO POSSESS | UNLAWFUL TO POSSESS | |||
|
Sea bass, black
(South of Cape Hatteras) |
13″ TL | 7/Day | 13″ TL | 7/Day |
|
Shad, American (O)
|
None | (O) | UNLAWFUL TO POSSESS | |
|
Shad, hickory (O)
|
None | (O) | None | 10/Day |
| (E, I, L) | 1/Vessel/Day | (E, I, L) | 1/Vessel/Day | |
|
Sharks, Atlantic sharpnose, smooth dogfish and bonnethead (E)
|
None | (E) | None | (E) |
|
Sheepshead
|
10” FL | 10/Day | State rules apply when landing | State rules apply when landing |
|
Snapper-Grouper Complex SpeciesIncludes spadefish,gray triggerfish, white grunt, knobbed porgy and more (see notes Hand I)
|
N/A | 20/Day | N/A | 20/Day |
|
Snappers:
Gray, cubera, queen, yellowtail, silk and blackfin |
12″ TL | 10/Day (Species combined) |
12″ TL | 10/Day (Species combined) |
|
Snapper, mutton
|
16″ TL | See Above | 16″ TL | See Above |
|
Snapper, lane
|
8″ TL | See Above | 8″ TL | See Above |
|
Snapper, red
|
UNLAWFUL TO POSSESS | UNLAWFUL TO POSSESS | ||
|
Snapper, vermilion
|
12″ TL | 5/Day | 12″ TL | 5/Day |
|
Tarpon
|
None | 1/Day | None | 1/Day |
| Yellowfin 27″ CFL Bigeye 27″ CFL |
Bigeye and Yellowfin 3 per day | Bigeye and Yellowfin tuna 27″ CFL |
Yellowfin Tuna 3 per day |
|
| None | 2/Day | None | 2/Day | |
| 12″ TL |
1/Day |
12″ TL | State rules apply when landing | |
|
Wreckfish (P)
|
None | 1/Vessel/Day | None |
1/Vessel/Day |
