SlotGaugeCheck a catchGag Grouper regulations in North Carolina
Groupers · Saltwater · 2026 season
Gag Grouper size limit, season and daily limit
| Where | Season | Size limit | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| NC coastal waters (to 3 mi) | May 1 – August 1 | 24 inch minimum | 1 per person per day (gag or black grouper, not both); 2 gag/black combined per private vessel per day; for-hire 2 per vessel per trip |
| Federal waters (3–200 mi, SAFMC) | May 1 – August 1 | 24 inch minimum | 1 per person per day (gag or black grouper, not both); 2 gag/black combined per private vessel per day; for-hire 2 per vessel per trip |
Notes
- 2026 gag season ran May 1 – Aug 1, 2026; it is closed now. The general shallow-water grouper window is May 1 – Dec 31 but gag has its own shorter season set by proclamation.
- Only one gag OR one black grouper per person, and no more than two gag/black combined on a private boat per day (two per trip on a charter/headboat).
- For-hire captains and crew may not keep gag or black grouper.
- Counts toward the 3-fish grouper/tilefish aggregate per person per day (gag, black, snowy, misty, red, rock hind, red hind, coney, graysby, yellowedge, yellowfin, scamp, yellowmouth, blueline tilefish, golden tilefish, sand tilefish).
- 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
- May 1, 2026 – August 1, 2026 (currently closed)
- Size
- 24 inches total length
- Limit
- 1 per person per day (gag or black grouper, not both); 2 gag/black grouper combined per private vessel per day; 2 per for-hire vessel per trip
- NC coastal waters (to 3 mi) — as printed
- “It shall be unlawful to possess black grouper or gag grouper less than 24 inches total length. ... It shall be unlawful to possess gag grouper except from 12:01 A.M. on May 1, 2026 through 11:59 P.M. on August 1,2026, subject to the bag and vessel limits in Section XVII. B”
Source: NC Division of Marine Fisheries, captured 2026-09-29 (2026 season).
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About the gag grouper
Species of fish
The gag grouper, also known as velvet rockfish, the gag, or charcoal belly, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a grouper from the subfamily Epinephelinae which is part of the family Serranidae, which also includes the anthias and sea basses. It comes from warmer parts of the West Atlantic, including the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. It is a drab, mottled-gray fish lacking the distinguishing features of most other groupers. Its pattern of markings resemble the box-shaped spots of the black grouper. It lacks the streamer-points on the tail fin that scamp and yellowmouth grouper have and lacks yellow coloration around the mouth.
Read more about Mycteroperca microlepis 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 Gag Grouper in North Carolina?
24 inch minimum in North Carolina state waters.
How many Gag Grouper can you keep per day in North Carolina?
1 per person per day (gag or black grouper, not both); 2 gag/black combined per private vessel per day; for-hire 2 per vessel per trip.
When is Gag Grouper season in North Carolina?
May 1 – August 1.
Is my Gag Grouper a keeper today?
The gag grouper season is closed today. It is open May 1 – August 1.