SlotGaugeCheck a catchNorth Carolina fish species, A to Z
All 120 species named in the 2026 NC Division of Marine Fisheries regulations. Regulations opens the size limit, season and daily limit for every zone; About opens the species' Wikipedia article (identification, range, habits). Updated 2026-09-29.
Saltwater
Alewife and Blueback Herring · closed to harvest
American Eel · 9 inch minimum
American Shad · None
Atlantic Croaker · No size limit
Atlantic Sharpnose SharkSharks · No size limit
Atlantic SpadefishSpadefishes · No size limit
Bar JackJacks · No size limit
Bigeye TunaTunas · 27 inch minimum
Black Drum · 14–25 inch slot
Black GrouperGroupers · 24 inch minimum
Black Sea Bass · 13 inch minimum
Blackfin SnapperSnappers · No size limit
Blacknose SharkSharks · 54 inch minimum
Blue Marlin · 99" LJFL- no photoBluefin TunaTunas · No size limit
Bluefish · No size limit
Blueline TilefishTilefish · No size limit
Bonnethead SharkSharks · No size limit
Cobia · 36 inch minimum
ConeyGroupers · No size limit
Cubera SnapperSnappers · 12 inch minimum
Dolphin · None
Finetooth SharkSharks · 54 inch minimum
Flounder · 15 inch minimum
Gag GrouperGroupers · 24 inch minimum
Golden TilefishTilefish · closed to harvest
Goliath GrouperGroupers · closed to harvest
Gray SnapperSnappers · 12 inch minimum
Gray TriggerfishTriggerfish · 12 inch minimum
GraysbyGroupers · No size limit
Greater AmberjackJacks · 28 inch minimum
Grunts (white grunt, margate, sailor's choice)Grunts · No size limit
Hammerhead Sharks (great, scalloped, smooth)Sharks · 78 inch minimum
Hickory Shad · None
HogfishWrasses · 17 inch minimum
King Mackerel · 24 inch minimum
Lane SnapperSnappers · 8 inch minimum
Large Coastal Sharks (blacktip, bull, lemon, nurse, spinner, tiger)Sharks · 54 inch minimum
Misty GrouperGroupers · No size limit
Mullet · None
Mutton SnapperSnappers · 18 inch minimum
Nassau GrouperGroupers · closed to harvest
Other Jacks (almaco jack, banded rudderfish, lesser amberjack)Jacks · No size limit- no photoOther Porgies (jolthead, knobbed, whitebone, saucereye)Porgies · No size limit
Pelagic Sharks (blue, porbeagle, thresher)Sharks · 54 inch minimum
Prohibited SharksSharks · closed to harvest
Queen SnapperSnappers · No size limit
Red Drum · 18–27 inch slot
Red GrouperGroupers · 20 inch minimum
Red HindGroupers · No size limit
Red PorgyPorgies · 14 inch minimum
Red SnapperSnappers · closed to harvest
Rock HindGroupers · No size limit
Sailfish · 63 inch minimum
Sand TilefishTilefish · No size limit
ScampGroupers · 20 inch minimum
Scup · 9 inch minimum- Scup (South of Cape Hatteras)Porgies · No size limit
Sharks (coastal species) · See most recent DMF proclamations
Sheepshead · 14 inch minimum
Silk SnapperSnappers · No size limit
Smooth DogfishSharks · No size limit
Snapper-Grouper complex · See the most recent Snapper/Grouper Complex recreational DMF proclamation
Snowy GrouperGroupers · closed to harvest
Spanish Mackerel · 12 inch minimum
Speckled HindGroupers · closed to harvest
Spiny DogfishSharks · No size limit
Spot · No size limit
Spotted Seatrout · 14–20 inch slot
Striped Bass · 28–31 inch slot- Striped Bass (by management area) · closed to harvest
Sturgeon · closed to harvest
Tarpon · closed to harvest
Vermilion SnapperSnappers · 12 inch minimum
Wahoo · No size limit
Warsaw GrouperGroupers · closed to harvest
Weakfish · 12 inch minimum
White Marlin · 66" LJFL
WreckfishWreckfish · No size limit
Yellowedge GrouperGroupers · No size limit
Yellowfin GrouperGroupers · 20 inch minimum
Yellowfin Tuna · 27 inch minimum- no photoYellowmouth GrouperGroupers · 20 inch minimum
Yellowtail SnapperSnappers · 12 inch minimum
Freshwater
Alabama BassBlack bass · No size limit
Bartram's BassBlack bass · 14 inch minimum
Bodie Bass (Hybrid Striped Bass) · 20 inch minimum
Bullheads (black, brown, flat, snail, yellow, white catfish)Catfish · No size limit
Catfish (blue, channel, flathead)Catfish · No size limit
Crappie · None
CrayfishCrustaceans · No size limit
Freshwater Mussels (incl. Asian clam)Mollusks · closed to harvest
Grass Carp · No size limit
Kokanee Salmon · No size limit
Largemouth Bass · 14 inch minimum
Madtoms (margined and tadpole)Catfish · closed to harvest
Mountain Trout · None in Hatchery Supported waters; 7 inches in Wild Trout Waters
Muskellunge · 42 inch minimum- no photoPickerel · No size limit
- no photoProhibited Species (WRC live possession/stocking ban) · No size limit
Roanoke BassSunfish · No size limit
Rock Bass · None
Sauger · 15 inch minimum
Smallmouth Bass · 14 inch minimum
Spotted Bass · None
Sunfish · No size limit
Walleye · No size limit
White Bass · No size limit
White Perch · None
Yellow Perch · No size limit
Shellfish & crabs
Bay ScallopScallops · closed to harvest
Blue Crab · 5 inch minimum- no photoCalico Scallop · closed to harvest
Conchs and Whelks · No size limit
Hard Clam · 1 inch minimum
MusselsClams & oysters · No size limit
Oyster · 3 inch minimum
ShrimpShrimp · No size limit
Spiny Lobster · 3 inch minimum
Stone Crab · 2.75 inch minimum
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