SlotGaugeCheck a catchGolden Tilefish regulations in North Carolina
Tilefish · Saltwater · 2026 season
Golden Tilefish size limit, season and daily limit
| Where | Season | Size limit | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| NC coastal waters (to 3 mi) | Closed to harvest | — | — |
| Federal waters (3–200 mi, SAFMC) | Closed to harvest | — | — |
Notes
- Closed for the rest of 2026; re-opens Jan 1, 2027 at 1 per person per day. The federal season typically closes again once the catch limit is met.
- 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
- Closed until January 1, 2027
- Size
- None
- Limit
- 1 per person per day when open, within the 3-fish grouper/tilefish aggregate
- NC coastal waters (to 3 mi) — as printed
- “It shall be unlawful to possess golden tilefish taken from waters under the jurisdiction of North Carolina or the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council. The golden tilefish recreational season will re-open January 1, 2027. ... No more than one (1) golden tilefish per person per day.”
Source: NC Division of Marine Fisheries, captured 2026-09-29 (2026 season).
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About the golden tilefish
Species of fish
The great northern tilefish or golden tile, is the largest species in the family Malacanthidae (tilefishes). It grows to a length of between 38 and 44 inches. The great northern tilefish is a slow-growing and long-lived species that has four stages of life. After hatching from eggs, the larvae are found in plankton. As they grow into juveniles, the individuals seek shelter until finding or making their own burrows. As adults, the tilefish continue to expand their burrows in the sediment throughout their lives. The diet of the larvae is unknown, but presumed to consist of zooplankton; juveniles and adults feed upon various benthic invertebrates, crustaceans, and fish. After reaching sexual maturity between 5 and 7 years of age, females lay eggs throughout the mating season for the male to fertilize, with each female laying an average of 2.3 million eggs.
Read more about Great northern tilefish 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 Golden Tilefish in North Carolina?
No size limit in North Carolina state waters.
How many Golden Tilefish can you keep per day in North Carolina?
Possession prohibited until Jan 1, 2027 (then 1 per person per day).
When is Golden Tilefish season in North Carolina?
Open year-round.
Is my Golden Tilefish a keeper today?
Golden Tilefish is closed to harvest. Release it.