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Lane Snapper regulations in North Carolina

Snappers · Saltwater · 2026 season

Lane Snapper size limit, season and daily limit

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

8 inches total length

Limit

10 per person per day snapper aggregate

NC coastal waters (to 3 mi) — as printed

“It shall be unlawful to possess lane snapper less than 8 inches total length.”

Source: NC Division of Marine Fisheries, captured 2026-09-29 (2026 season).

More snappers

About the lane snapper

Species of fish

The lane snapper, Mexican snapper, redtail snapper or spot snapper is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a snapper belonging to the family Lutjanidae. It is native to the western Atlantic Ocean.

Read more about Lane 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 Lane Snapper in North Carolina?

8 inch minimum in North Carolina state waters.

How many Lane Snapper can you keep per day in North Carolina?

10-fish snapper aggregate per person per day.

When is Lane Snapper season in North Carolina?

Open year-round.

Is my Lane Snapper a keeper today?

A lane snapper is a keeper today if it measures at least 8 inches, with a daily limit of 10.