Shrimp regulations in North Carolina

Shrimp · Shellfish & crabs · 2026 season

Is it a keeper? Shrimp has no size limit today, with 48 quarts heads-on (30 heads-off) per person or vessel per day.

Shrimp size limit, season and daily limit

Where	Season	Size limit	Daily limit
NC coastal and joint waters (to 3 mi)	Open year-round	No size limit	48 quarts heads-on (30 heads-off) per person or vessel per day

Notes

Shrimp trawls and other commercial gear need an RCGL. Check DMF proclamations for open/closed shrimping areas.

Exact NC Division of Marine Fisheries wording

Season: Open year-round (areas open/closed by proclamation)
Size: None
Limit: 48 quarts heads-on or 30 quarts heads-off per person per day, or per vessel per day; 96/60 quarts with two or more RCGL holders aboard
NC coastal waters (cast net) — as printed: “Shrimp — 48 quarts (heads on) or 30 quarts (heads off) per person per day, or per vessel per day if a vessel is used; 96 quarts (heads on) or 60 quarts (heads off) when more than one person aboard holds a valid Recreational Commercial Gear License. Cast net only.”

Source: NC Division of Marine Fisheries, captured 2026-09-29 (2026 season).

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About the shrimp

Species of crustacean

Litopenaeus setiferus is a species of prawn found along the Atlantic coast of North America and in the Gulf of Mexico. It was the subject of the earliest shrimp fishery in the United States.

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 Shrimp in North Carolina?

No size limit in North Carolina state waters.

How many Shrimp can you keep per day in North Carolina?

48 quarts heads-on (30 heads-off) per person or vessel per day.

When is Shrimp season in North Carolina?

Open year-round.

Is my Shrimp a keeper today?

Shrimp has no size limit today, with 48 quarts heads-on (30 heads-off) per person or vessel per day.