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N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources

NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Marine Fisheries - Recreational Fishing Size and Bag Limits

Marine Fisheries

fishing gear

N.C. Recreational Coastal Waters Guide
for Sports Fishermen

Current Version Effective: June 1, 2013
(Website chart reflects the most recent changes to size and bag limits) 

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New weakfish bag limit effective May 16, 2010. See FF-54-2010
New Snapper/Grouper rules effective June 17, 2011. See FF-58-2011
New Spotted Seatrout size and bag limits effective Nov. 14, 2011. See FF-75-2011
For inland fishing regulations, contact Wildlife Resources Commission 919-707-0220
or visit their website www.ncwildlife.org
A Coastal Recreational Fishing License went into effect Jan. 1, 2007
for all of the state's coastal and ocean waters.
 State Coastal Waters
(Internal and 0-3 Miles)		Exclusive Economic Zone EEZ
(3-200 miles)
Finfish Species
(note symbols, pg.2)		Minimum LengthBag Limits
(Per Person)		Minimum LengthBag Limits
(Per Person)
Alewife and
blueback herring 		NoneUNLAWFUL TO POSSESSNoneUNLAWFUL TO POSSESS
Amberjack, greater28" FL1/Day28" FL1/Day
Bass, striped
See striped bass details 		(A)(A)UNLAWFUL TO POSSESS
BluefishNone15/Day
Only 5 greater than 24" TL

None

 15/Day
Cobia33" FL2/Day33" FL2/Day
Dolphin (B)None10/DayNone10/Day
Drum, red
(Channel Bass,
Puppy Drum) 		18-27" TL (C)1/DayUNLAWFUL TO POSSESS
Eel, American6" TL50/Day6" TL50/Day
Flounder
Gulf, Southern,  Summer 
15" TL6/Day15" TL 6/Day
Groupers (H, I, J, K)(See below)(See below)(See below) (See below)
Groupers;
Red, scamp, yellowfin, yellowmouth and tilefish (no size limit on tilefish)		20" TL3/Day (all groupers combined; includes tilefish and no more than 1 black or gag grouper, individual or combined) (J) & (K)20" TL3/Day (all groupers combined; includes,  tilefish and no more than 1 black or gag grouper, individual or combined) (J) & (K)
Groupers
black and gag		24" TL1/Day (See above)24" TL1/Day
(See above)
Grouper, snowyUNLAWFUL TO POSSESSUNLAWFUL TO POSSESS
Hogfish
(Hog snapper) 		12" FL5/Day 12" FL 
Mackerel, king (I)
Species Identification		24" FL3/Day24" FL3/Day
Mackerel, Spanish (I)
Species Identification		12" FL15/Day12" FL15/Day
Marlin, blue (G)99" LJFL1/vessel/trip either Blue or White Marlin99" LJFL 
Marlin, white (G)66" LJFL1/vessel/trip either Blue or White Marlin66" LJFL 
Mullet
(Striped and White)		None200/Day
(species combined)		None 
Porgy, red
(Silver snapper, pinky)		14" TL3/Day14" TL3/Day
Reef Complex Species Includes  spadefish, gray triggerfish, white grunt, knobbed porgy and more (see notes H and I)  20/Day 20/Day
Sailfish (G)63" LJFL1/Day63" LJFL 
Scup
(North of Cape Hatteras) (D)		(D)(D)(D)(D)
Seatrout, spotted (speckled)14" TL
4/day
  
Sea bass, black
(North of Cape Hatteras) (D)

12 1/2" TL and 20/day

12 1/2" TL and 20/day

Sea bass, black
(South of Cape Hatteras) (D)		13" TL5/Day13" TL5/Day

Shad, American (O)		None10/Day
No possession
in ocean waters		UNLAWFUL TO POSSESS
Shad, hickory (O)None10/DayNone10/Day
Sharks (I)
(excluding spiny and smooth dogfish)		(E, L)1/Vessel/Day54"FL (E, L)1/Vessel/Day
Sharks, Atlantic sharpnose and bonnethead (E)None(E)(E, L)1/Day
Snappers;
Dog, gray, cubera, mahogany, queen, yellowtail, silk and blackfin		 12" TL10/Day
(Species combined)		12" TL10/Day
(Species combined)
Snappers, mutton 16" TLSee Above16" TLSee Above
Snappers; Lane8" TLSee Above8" TLSee Above
Snapper, redUNLAWFUL TO POSSESSUNLAWFUL TO POSSESS
Snapper, vermilion (J) 12" TL5/Day12" TL 5/Day
TarponNone1/DayNone1/Day
Tuna (I); bluefin (G), yellowfin and bigeye Yellowfin 27" CFL
Bigeye 27" CFL		Bigeye and Yellowfin 3 per dayBigeye and Yellowfin tuna
27" CFL 		Yellowfin Tuna
3 per day
Wahoo None2/DayNone2/Day
Weakfish
(gray trout)		12" TL

1/Day
see FF-54-2010

12" TL 
Wreckfish (P)None1/vessel/dayNone
1/vessel/day
N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries • 3441 Arendell Street • Morehead City, NC 28557 • 252-726-7021 or 800-682-2632

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N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries • 3441 Arendell Street • Morehead City, NC 28557 • 252-726-7021 or 800-682-2632

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