SlotGaugeCheck a catchOther Porgies (jolthead, knobbed, whitebone, saucereye) regulations in North Carolina
Porgies · Saltwater · 2026 season
Other Porgies (jolthead, knobbed, whitebone, saucereye) size limit, season and daily limit
| Where | Season | Size limit | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| NC coastal waters (to 3 mi) | Open year-round | No size limit | 20-fish aggregate per person per day; no more than 10 of listed species |
| Federal waters (3–200 mi, SAFMC) | Open year-round | No size limit | 20-fish aggregate per person per day; no more than 10 of listed species |
Notes
- Counts toward the 20-fish per person per day aggregate; no more than 10 of the aggregate may be whitebone, jolthead, knobbed or saucereye porgy, scup (south of Cape Hatteras), gray triggerfish, bar jack, almaco jack, banded rudderfish, lesser amberjack, white grunt, margate, sailor's choice or spadefish combined.
- 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
- 20 per person per day aggregate (no more than 10 of the listed species)
- NC coastal waters (to 3 mi) — as printed
- “The Porgies Complex includes jolthead porgy, knobbed porgy, whitebone porgy, saucereye porgy, and scup. These species are included in the twenty (20) fish in the aggregate per person per day recreational bag and possession limit in Section XVII. C.”
Source: NC Division of Marine Fisheries, captured 2026-09-29 (2026 season).
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About the other porgies
There are 3878 species and 18 subspecies in the order Perciformes assessed as least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Read more about List of least concern perciform fishes 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 Other Porgies (jolthead, knobbed, whitebone, saucereye) in North Carolina?
No size limit in North Carolina state waters.
How many Other Porgies (jolthead, knobbed, whitebone, saucereye) can you keep per day in North Carolina?
20-fish aggregate per person per day; no more than 10 of listed species.
When is Other Porgies (jolthead, knobbed, whitebone, saucereye) season in North Carolina?
Open year-round.
Is my Other Porgies (jolthead, knobbed, whitebone, saucereye) a keeper today?
Other Porgies (jolthead, knobbed, whitebone, saucereye) has no size limit today, with a daily limit of 20.