SlotGaugeCheck a catchAtlantic Spadefish regulations in North Carolina
Spadefishes · Saltwater · 2026 season
Atlantic Spadefish size limit, season and daily limit
| Where | Season | Size limit | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| NC coastal waters (to 3 mi) | Open year-round | No size limit | 20-fish aggregate per person per day; no more than 10 of listed species |
| Federal waters (3–200 mi, SAFMC) | Open year-round | No size limit | 20-fish aggregate per person per day; no more than 10 of listed species |
Notes
- Counts toward the 20-fish per person per day aggregate; no more than 10 of the aggregate may be whitebone, jolthead, knobbed or saucereye porgy, scup (south of Cape Hatteras), gray triggerfish, bar jack, almaco jack, banded rudderfish, lesser amberjack, white grunt, margate, sailor's choice or spadefish combined.
- Snapper-grouper gear rules: non-offset, non-stainless circle hooks with natural bait; a dehooking tool and a descending device (16 oz weight, 60 ft line) must be on board; fish must be landed with heads and fins intact.
- Federal rules apply in both state and SAFMC waters; seasons can close early when catch limits are met — check safmc.net/regulations.
Exact NC Division of Marine Fisheries wording
- Season
- Open year-round
- Size
- None
- Limit
- 20 per person per day aggregate (no more than 10 of the listed species)
- NC coastal waters (to 3 mi) — as printed
- “white grunt, margate, sailor’s choice and spadefish. ... within the twenty (20) fish per person per day aggregate bag limit”
Source: NC Division of Marine Fisheries, captured 2026-09-29 (2026 season).
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Open SlotGauge for Atlantic SpadefishAbout the atlantic spadefish
Species of fish
The Atlantic spadefish is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Ephippidae, the spadefishes. It is the symbol of the North Carolina Aquariums.
Read more about Atlantic spadefish on Wikipedia →
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Regulations on this page come from NC Division of Marine Fisheries, not Wikipedia.
All 120 North Carolina species A–Z →
Frequently asked
What is the size limit for Atlantic Spadefish in North Carolina?
No size limit in North Carolina state waters.
How many Atlantic Spadefish can you keep per day in North Carolina?
20-fish aggregate per person per day; no more than 10 of listed species.
When is Atlantic Spadefish season in North Carolina?
Open year-round.
Is my Atlantic Spadefish a keeper today?
Atlantic Spadefish has no size limit today, with a daily limit of 20.