SlotGaugeCheck a catchQueen Snapper regulations in North Carolina
Snappers · Saltwater · 2026 season
Queen Snapper size limit, season and daily limit
| Where | Season | Size limit | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| NC coastal waters (to 3 mi) | Open year-round | No size limit | 10-fish snapper aggregate per person per day |
| Federal waters (3–200 mi, SAFMC) | Open year-round | No size limit | 10-fish snapper aggregate per person per day |
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
- None
- Limit
- 10 per person per day snapper aggregate
- NC coastal waters (to 3 mi) — as printed
- “Silk snapper, queen snapper and blackfin snapper are included in the ten (10) fish aggregate”
Source: NC Division of Marine Fisheries, captured 2026-09-29 (2026 season).
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About the queen snapper
Species of fish
The queen snapper, also known as the night snapper or brim snapper, is a species of ray-finned fish, a snapper belonging to the family Lutjanidae. It is native to the western Atlantic Ocean, and is the only species in the genus Etelis found outside the Indo-Pacific region.
Read more about Queen 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 Queen Snapper in North Carolina?
No size limit in North Carolina state waters.
How many Queen Snapper can you keep per day in North Carolina?
10-fish snapper aggregate per person per day.
When is Queen Snapper season in North Carolina?
Open year-round.
Is my Queen Snapper a keeper today?
Queen Snapper has no size limit today, with a daily limit of 10.