A: It depends on where and how you are fishing. If you are booking an excursion through our Topsail Island Charter Captains Directory, or if you are fishing from a licensed public pier (like the Surf City Pier or Jolly Roger Pier), you are fully covered by their overarching blanket commercial licenses. However, if you are surf fishing directly from the sand, paddling an inshore kayak, or operating your own private vessel in the sound, every angler over the age of 16 must purchase a standard North Carolina Coastal Recreational Fishing License (CRFL).