III. Groupers

A. It is unlawful to possess speckled hind, warsaw grouper, Nassau grouper, and goliath grouper.

B. It is unlawful to possess black grouper or gag grouper less than 24 inches total length.

C. It is unlawful to possess red grouper, yellowfin (fireback) grouper, yellowmouth grouper or scamp less than 20 inches total length.

D. It is unlawful to possess shallow water grouper species taken from the waters under the jurisdiction of North Carolina or the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council from January 1 through April 30. Shallow water grouper species include gag grouper, black grouper, red grouper, scamp, rock hind, red hind, coney, graysby, yellowfin grouper and yellowmouth grouper. It is unlawful to possess more than 1,000 pounds (gutted weight) of gag grouper per trip.

E. It is unlawful to sell or offer for sale snowy grouper taken from waters under the jurisdiction of North Carolina or the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council. The fishery will re-open January 1, 2018.

IV. Greater Amberjack
It is unlawful to possess greater amberjack taken from waters under the jurisdiction of North Carolina or the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council. The fishery will open March 1, 2018.

V. Other Jacks
It is unlawful to sell or offer for sale almaco jack, banded rudderfish and lesser amberjack taken from waters under the jurisdiction of North Carolina or the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council. The fishery will re-open January 1, 2018.

VI. Red Snapper
Effective 12:01A.M. Thursday, November 2, 2017 it is unlawful for a vessel with a valid Federal Commercial South Atlantic Snapper-Grouper Permit to possess more than 75 pounds (gutted weight) of red snapper per trip or per day, whichever is more restrictive. There is no minimum size limit. The season will close via proclamation if the annual catch limit is met or projected to be met, or will automatically close at 11:59 P.M. December 31, 2017, whichever occurs earlier.

VII. Vermilion Snapper
It is unlawful to sell or offer for sale vermilion snapper taken from waters under the jurisdiction of North Carolina or the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council. The fishery will open January 1, 2018.

VIII. Hogfish (hog snapper):

A. It is unlawful to possess hogfish less than 17 inches fork length.

B. It is unlawful to possess more than 500 pounds (whole weight) of hogfish per trip.

IX. Other Snappers

A. It is unlawful to possess silk snapper, blackfin snapper, yellowtail snapper, cubera snapper, queen snapper and gray snapper less than 12 inches total length.

B. It is unlawful to possess mutton snapper less than 16 inches total length.

C. It is unlawful to possess lane snapper less than 8 inches total length.

 

X. Red Porgy

A. It is unlawful to possess red porgy less than 14 inches total length.

B. It is unlawful to sell or offer for sale red porgy taken from waters under the jurisdiction of North Carolina or the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council from January 1 through April 30 of each year.

C. It is unlawful to possess more than 120 individual red porgy per vessel per trip from May 1 through December 31

XI. Other Porgies
The Porgies Complex includes scup (south of Cape Hatteras only, 35° 15.0321’ N. Latitude), whitebone porgy, jolthead porgy, knobbed porgy, and saucereye porgy. The season is open with no commercial size limits or trip limits.

XII. Golden Tilefish

A. For a vessel with a valid federal Golden Tilefish Longline Endorsement any time during the fishing year:

1. It is unlawful to sell or offer for sale golden tilefish taken by longline gear. The fishery will re-open January 1, 2018.
2. It is unlawful to take golden tilefish by hook-and-line gear.

B. It is unlawful to possess more than 500 pounds (gutted weight) of golden tilefish taken by hook-and-line per trip.