SlotGaugeCheck a catchGraysby regulations in North Carolina
Groupers · Saltwater · 2026 season
Graysby size limit, season and daily limit
| Where | Season | Size limit | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| NC coastal waters (to 3 mi) | May 1 – December 31 | No size limit | 3-fish grouper/tilefish aggregate per person per day |
| Federal waters (3–200 mi, SAFMC) | May 1 – December 31 | No size limit | 3-fish grouper/tilefish aggregate per person per day |
Notes
- Closed Jan 1 – Apr 30 (shallow-water grouper closure).
- 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 – December 31
- Size
- None
- Limit
- 3 per person per day in the grouper/tilefish aggregate
- NC coastal waters (to 3 mi) — as printed
- “It shall be unlawful to possess the following grouper species taken from the waters under the jurisdiction of North Carolina or the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council except from May 1 through December 31 each year: gag grouper, black grouper, rock hind, red hind, coney, graysby, yellowfin grouper, scamp and yellowmouth grouper.”
Source: NC Division of Marine Fisheries, captured 2026-09-29 (2026 season).
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About the graysby
Species of fish
The graysby is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a grouper from the subfamily Epinephelinae which is in the family Serranidae which also includes the anthias and sea basses. It is found in the western Atlantic. It is associated with reefs and is a quarry species for commercial and recreational fisheries.
Read more about Graysby 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 Graysby in North Carolina?
No size limit in North Carolina state waters.
How many Graysby can you keep per day in North Carolina?
3-fish grouper/tilefish aggregate per person per day.
When is Graysby season in North Carolina?
May 1 – December 31.
Is my Graysby a keeper today?
Graysby has no size limit today, with a daily limit of 3.