SlotGaugeCheck a catchRed Hind regulations in North Carolina
Groupers · Saltwater · 2026 season
Red Hind size limit, season and daily limit
| Where | Season | Size limit | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| NC coastal waters (to 3 mi) | May 1 – December 31 | No size limit | 3-fish grouper/tilefish aggregate per person per day |
| Federal waters (3–200 mi, SAFMC) | May 1 – December 31 | No size limit | 3-fish grouper/tilefish aggregate per person per day |
Notes
- Closed Jan 1 – Apr 30 (shallow-water grouper closure).
- 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
- May 1 – December 31
- Size
- None
- Limit
- 3 per person per day in the grouper/tilefish aggregate
- NC coastal waters (to 3 mi) — as printed
- “It shall be unlawful to possess the following grouper species taken from the waters under the jurisdiction of North Carolina or the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council except from May 1 through December 31 each year: gag grouper, black grouper, rock hind, red hind, coney, graysby, yellowfin grouper, scamp and yellowmouth grouper.”
Source: NC Division of Marine Fisheries, captured 2026-09-29 (2026 season).
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About the red hind
Species of fish
The red hind, also known as the koon or lucky grouper in Caribbean vernacular, 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 native to the western Atlantic Ocean where it ranges from the eastern United States to Brazil. It is the most common species of Epinephelus in the Caribbean and Bermuda.
Read more about Red hind 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 Red Hind in North Carolina?
No size limit in North Carolina state waters.
How many Red Hind can you keep per day in North Carolina?
3-fish grouper/tilefish aggregate per person per day.
When is Red Hind season in North Carolina?
May 1 – December 31.
Is my Red Hind a keeper today?
Red Hind has no size limit today, with a daily limit of 3.