NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Marine Fisheries - Recreational Fishing Size and Bag Limits
Marine Fisheries
Current Version Effective: Oct. 15, 2020 |
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| STATE of N.C. | FEDERAL | |||||
FINFISH SPECIES | N.C. | N.C. Bag |
| ||||
Bluefish (M) | None | 3/day (M) | Federal Management Information: | ||||
Cobia | See the most recent Cobia | Federal Management Information: | |||||
Wahoo | None | 2/Day | |||||
Dolphin (B) | None | 10/Day | |||||
King Mackerel (H) | 24” FL | 4/Day | |||||
Spanish Mackerel (H) | 12” FL | 15/Day | |||||
Tuna: Bluefin, Bigeye and Yellowfin (G) | Bigeye and | Yellowfin tuna | Federal Management Information: | ||||
Smoothhounds, Smooth Dogfish and Spiny Dogfish | None | None | Federal Management Information: | ||||
Sharks (G) | See most recent DMF | Federal Management Information: | |||||
Blue Marlin (G) | 99” LJFL | 1 per vessel | |||||
White Marlin (G) | 66” LJFL | ||||||
Sailfish (G) | 63” LJFL | 1/Day | |||||
Red Drum | 18” – 27” TL | 1/Day | Federal Management Information: | ||||
Flounder  | SEASON CLOSED | FEDERAL MANAGEMENT INFORMATION: |
| ||||
Spotted Seatrout | 14" TL | 4/Day | No Federal Regulations | ||||
Weakfish | 12” TL | 1/Day | Federal Management Information: | ||||
Sheepshead | 10” FL | 10/Day | No Federal Regulations | ||||
Black Drum (C) | 14” – 25” TL | 10/Day | No Federal Regulations | ||||
Tarpon | None | 1/Day | No Federal Regulations | ||||
Striped Bass | (A) | (A) | Federal Management Information: | ||||
American Shad (D) | None | No Federal Regulations | |||||
Hickory Shad (D) | None | No Federal Regulations | |||||
Alewife and Blueback Herring | UNLAWFUL | No Federal Regulations | |||||
American Eel (E) | 9” TL | 25/Day | No Federal Regulations | ||||
Scup | 8” TL | 50/Day | Federal Management Information: | ||||
| Black Sea Bass (North of Cape Hatteras) | SEASON CLOSED | Federal Management Information: https://www.greateratlantic. fisheries.noaa.gov/ sustainable/recfishing/regs/ index.html | |||||
| Black Sea Bass (South of Cape Hatteras) | 13” TL | 7/Day | Federal Management Information: http://safmc.net/regulations/ | ||||
Snappers, Groupers, Porgys, Triggerfish, Jacks, Tilefish, Grunts, Spadefishes, Wrasses and Sea Basses (H) | See the most recent | Federal Management Information: | |||||
Mullet | 200/Day (species combined) | No Federal Regulations | |||||
PROHIBITED FINFISH SPECIES | |||||||
COASTAL WATERS (Internal waters and Atlantic Ocean out to 3 miles) | |||||||
Sharks: whale, basking, white, sand tiger, bigeye sand tiger, Atlantic angel shark, bigeye sixgill, bigeye thresher, bignose, Caribbean reef, Caribbean sharpnose, dusky, Galapagos, longfin mako, narrowtooth, night, sandbar, silky, sevengill, sixgill, and smalltail. Other finfish: river herring, Atlantic sturgeon, shortnose sturgeon, Nassau grouper, Goliath grouper, Warsaw grouper, speckled hind and red snapper. | |||||||
SHELLFISH and CRUSTACEANS | STATE COASTAL AND EEZ WATERS (Internal and 0-200 miles) | ||||||
Minimum Size | Bag Limits (per person) | ||||||
BLUE CRAB (F) | 5” Carapace Width | 50 Crabs/Day not to exceed 100 Crabs/Vessel/Day | |||||
STONE CRAB CLAWS (J) | 2 ¾ Propodus Length | UNLAWFUL TO POSSESS from June 15 – August 15 | |||||
| SPINY LOBSTER (K) | 3” Carapace Length (L) | 2/Day | |||||
HARD CLAM | 1” Thick | 100 Clams/Day not to exceed 200 Clams/Vessel/Day | |||||
OYSTER (I) | 3" Shell Length | 1 Bushel Oysters/Day not to exceed 2 Bushels/Vessel/Day
| |||||
BAY SCALLOP | SEASON CLOSED – UNLAWFUL TO POSSESS | ||||||
CONCHS and WHELKS | None | 10/Day not to exceed 20/Vessel/Day | |||||
MUSSELS | None | 100/Day not to exceed 200/Vessel/Day | |||||
SHRIMP | Closed Shrimping Area | None | 4 quarts (heads on) or 2 ½ quarts (heads off) of shrimp per person per day (Cast Net Only) | ||||
Open Shrimping Area | None | 48 quarts (heads on) or 30 quarts (heads off) of shrimp per person per day or if vessel is used, per vessel per day (RCGL max. limit of 2/Vessel) | |||||
