SlotGaugeCheck a catchMisty Grouper regulations in North Carolina
Groupers · Saltwater · 2026 season
Misty Grouper size limit, season and daily limit
| Where | Season | Size limit | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| NC coastal waters (to 3 mi) | Open year-round | No size limit | 3-fish grouper/tilefish aggregate per person per day |
| Federal waters (3–200 mi, SAFMC) | Open year-round | No size limit | 3-fish grouper/tilefish aggregate per person per day |
Notes
- 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
- Open year-round
- Size
- None
- Limit
- 3 per person per day in the grouper/tilefish aggregate
- NC coastal waters (to 3 mi) — as printed
- “The Deepwater Complex includes yellowedge grouper, silk snapper, misty grouper ... Yellowedge grouper, misty grouper and sand tilefish are included in the three (3) fish aggregate”
Source: NC Division of Marine Fisheries, captured 2026-09-29 (2026 season).
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About the misty grouper
Species of fish
Hyporthodus mystacinus, the misty grouper, black grouper, convict grouper, eightbar grouper or moustache grouper, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a grouper from the subfamily Epinephelinae which is part of the family Serranidae, which also includes the anthias and sea basses. It is primarily found in the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico with populations present around the Galapagos Islands and Central American coastlines.
Read more about Hyporthodus mystacinus 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 Misty Grouper in North Carolina?
No size limit in North Carolina state waters.
How many Misty Grouper can you keep per day in North Carolina?
3-fish grouper/tilefish aggregate per person per day.
When is Misty Grouper season in North Carolina?
Open year-round.
Is my Misty Grouper a keeper today?
Misty Grouper has no size limit today, with a daily limit of 3.