SlotGaugeCheck a catchGray Snapper regulations in North Carolina
Snappers · Saltwater · 2026 season
Gray 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 gray snapper
Species of fish
The mangrove snapper or gray snapper is a species of snapper native to the western Atlantic Ocean from Massachusetts to Brazil, the Gulf of Mexico, Bermuda, and the Caribbean Sea. The species can be found in a wide variety of habitats, including brackish and fresh waters. It is commercially important and is sought as a game fish. It can also be found in the aquarium trade.
Read more about Mangrove snapper 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 Gray Snapper in North Carolina?
12 inch minimum in North Carolina state waters.
How many Gray Snapper can you keep per day in North Carolina?
10-fish snapper aggregate per person per day.
When is Gray Snapper season in North Carolina?
Open year-round.
Is my Gray Snapper a keeper today?
A gray snapper is a keeper today if it measures at least 12 inches, with a daily limit of 10.