SlotGaugeCheck a catchCubera Snapper regulations in North Carolina
Snappers · Saltwater · 2026 season
Cubera Snapper size limit, season and daily limit
| Where | Season | Size limit | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| NC coastal waters (to 3 mi) | Open year-round | 12 inch minimum | 10-fish snapper aggregate per person per day |
| Federal waters (3–200 mi, SAFMC) | Open year-round | 12 inch minimum | 10-fish snapper aggregate per person per day |
Notes
- Counts toward the 10-fish snapper aggregate per person per day (silk, blackfin, yellowtail, cubera, queen, gray, mutton, lane); no more than 5 may be mutton snapper.
- 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
- 12 inches total length
- Limit
- 10 per person per day snapper aggregate
- NC coastal waters (to 3 mi) — as printed
- “yellowtail snapper, cubera snapper, and gray snapper less than 12 inches total length ... It shall be unlawful to possess more than ten (10) of the following species of snappers in the aggregate per person per day”
Source: NC Division of Marine Fisheries, captured 2026-09-29 (2026 season).
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About the cubera snapper
Species of fish
The cubera snapper, also known as the Cuban snapper, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a snapper belonging to the family Lutjanidae. It is native to the western Atlantic Ocean. It is a commercially important species and is a sought-after game fish, though it has been reported to cause ciguatera poisoning.
Read more about Cubera snapper on Wikipedia →
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Regulations on this page come from NC Division of Marine Fisheries, not Wikipedia.
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Frequently asked
What is the size limit for Cubera Snapper in North Carolina?
12 inch minimum in North Carolina state waters.
How many Cubera Snapper can you keep per day in North Carolina?
10-fish snapper aggregate per person per day.
When is Cubera Snapper season in North Carolina?
Open year-round.
Is my Cubera Snapper a keeper today?
A cubera snapper is a keeper today if it measures at least 12 inches, with a daily limit of 10.