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, 2019.

IV. Greater Amberjack

A. It is unlawful to possess greater amberjack less than 36 inches fork length.

B. It is unlawful to possess more than 1,200 pounds (gutted weight) of greater amberjack per trip.

C. It is unlawful to possess more than one greater amberjack per person per day, or one per person per trip (whichever is more restrictive) during the month of April.

D. It is unlawful to sell or offer for sale greater amberjack during the month of April.

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, 2019.

VI. Red Snapper

A. It is unlawful to possess more than 75 pounds gutted weight of red snapper per trip.

B. There is no minimum size limit (except as in accordance with N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission Rule 15A NCAC 03M .0103).

C. Effective 12:01 A.M. December 15, 2018, it is unlawful to possess red snapper taken from waters under the jurisdiction of North Carolina or the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council. The fishery will re-open July 8, 2019.

VII. Vermilion Snapper

A. It is unlawful to possess vermilion snapper less than 12 inches total length.

B. It is unlawful to possess more than 500 pounds (gutted weight) of vermilion snapper per trip.

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. Mutton Snapper

A. It is unlawful to possess mutton snapper less than 18 inches total length.

B. It is unlawful to possess more than 500 pounds (whole weight) of mutton snapper per trip from January 1 through March 31 and from July 1 through December 31.

C. It is unlawful to possess more than five (5) mutton snapper per person per day, or five (5) mutton snapper per person per trip, whichever is more restrictive, from April 1 through June 30.

X. 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 lane snapper less than 8 inches total length.

XI. 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.

XII. 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 (except as in accordance with N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission Rule 15A NCAC 03M .0103) or trip limits.

XIII. Golden Tilefish

A. For a vessel with a valid federal Golden Tilefish Longline Endorsement:

1. It is unlawful to sell or offer for sale golden tilefish taken from waters under the jurisdiction of North Carolina or the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council by longline gear. The fishery will re-open January 1, 2019.
2. It is unlawful for vessels that have valid or renewable golden tilefish longline endorsements, anytime during the golden tilefish fishing year, to take golden tilefish by hook-and-line gear.

B. It is unlawful to sell or offer for sale golden tilefish taken by hook-and-line. The fishery will re-open January 1, 2019.