SlotGaugeCheck a catchSand Tilefish regulations in North Carolina
Tilefish · Saltwater · 2026 season
Sand Tilefish 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
- “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 sand tilefish
Species of fish
The blue blanquillo, also known as the banded blanquillo, striped blanquillo, false whiting, sand tilefish or eye of the sea, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a tilefish belonging to the family Malacanthidae. It is found in the Indo-Pacific.
Read more about Blue blanquillo 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 Sand Tilefish in North Carolina?
No size limit in North Carolina state waters.
How many Sand Tilefish can you keep per day in North Carolina?
3-fish grouper/tilefish aggregate per person per day.
When is Sand Tilefish season in North Carolina?
Open year-round.
Is my Sand Tilefish a keeper today?
Sand Tilefish has no size limit today, with a daily limit of 3.