Spot regulations in North Carolina

· Saltwater · 2026 season

Is it a keeper? Spot has no size limit today, with a daily limit of 50.

Spot 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	50 per person per day

Exact NC Division of Marine Fisheries wording

Season: Open year-round
Size: None
Limit: 50/Day
statewide — as printed: “Spot | None | 50/Day”

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

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About the spot

Species of fish

The spot ,Norfolk spot and the Virginia spot, is a species of small short-lived saltwater fish in the family Sciaenidae. The species inhabits estuary and coastal waters from Massachusetts to Texas, and derives its name from the prominent dark spot behind each gill. It is the only species in the genus Leiostomus. Spot are frequently caught by recreational anglers and are good to eat.

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 Spot in North Carolina?

No size limit in North Carolina state waters.

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

50 per person per day.

When is Spot season in North Carolina?

Open year-round.

Is my Spot a keeper today?

Spot has no size limit today, with a daily limit of 50.