SlotGaugeCheck a catchGoliath Grouper regulations in North Carolina
Groupers · Saltwater · 2026 season
Goliath Grouper 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
- Must be released immediately in all NC and South Atlantic federal waters; use a descending device.
- 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.
Exact NC Division of Marine Fisheries wording
- Season
- Possession prohibited
- Size
- Possession prohibited
- Limit
- Possession prohibited
- NC coastal waters (to 3 mi) — as printed
- “It shall be unlawful to possess speckled hind, warsaw grouper, Nassau grouper, and goliath grouper.”
Source: NC Division of Marine Fisheries, captured 2026-09-29 (2026 season).
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About the goliath grouper
Species of fish
The Atlantic goliath grouper, the jewfish or itajara, is a saltwater fish of the grouper family and one of the largest species of bony fish. The species can be found in the West Atlantic ranging from northeastern Florida, south throughout the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, and along South America to Brazil. In the East Pacific it ranges from Mexico to Peru. In the East Atlantic, the species ranges in West Africa from Senegal to Cabinda. The species has been observed at depths ranging from 1 to 100 meters.
Read more about Atlantic goliath grouper 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 Goliath Grouper in North Carolina?
No size limit in North Carolina state waters.
How many Goliath Grouper can you keep per day in North Carolina?
Possession prohibited.
When is Goliath Grouper season in North Carolina?
Open year-round.
Is my Goliath Grouper a keeper today?
Goliath Grouper is closed to harvest. Release it.