SlotGaugeCheck a catchNassau Grouper regulations in North Carolina
Groupers · Saltwater · 2026 season
Nassau 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 nassau grouper
Species of fish
The Nassau grouper is one of the large number of perciform fishes in the family Serranidae commonly referred to as groupers. It is the most important of the groupers for commercial fishery in the West Indies, but has been endangered by overfishing.
Read more about Nassau grouper on Wikipedia →
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Regulations on this page come from NC Division of Marine Fisheries, not Wikipedia.
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Frequently asked
What is the size limit for Nassau Grouper in North Carolina?
No size limit in North Carolina state waters.
How many Nassau Grouper can you keep per day in North Carolina?
Possession prohibited.
When is Nassau Grouper season in North Carolina?
Open year-round.
Is my Nassau Grouper a keeper today?
Nassau Grouper is closed to harvest. Release it.