Spotted Bass regulations in North Carolina

· Freshwater · 2026 season

Is it a keeper? Not yet converted to a keeper check. As printed: season Open year-round; size None; limit No limit. Read the exact wording below.

Spotted Bass size limit, season and daily limit

Where	Season	Size limit	Daily limit
NC inland waters (statewide; listed waters differ)	Open year-round	None	No limit

Notes

A 2026-10-31 check against the official source found a discrepancy in this species' aliases/notes. Read the official wording before keeping the fish: https://www.eregulations.com/northcarolina/fishing/warm-water-game-fish-regulations

Exact NC Division of Marine Fisheries wording

Season: Open year-round
Size: None
Limit: No limit
Inland waters — as printed: “Alabama Bass And Spotted Bass — All public waters except those listed below: None | None”

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

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About the spotted bass

Species of fish

The spotted bass, also called spotty, or spots in various fishing communities, is a species of North American freshwater fish belonging to the sunfish family (Centrarchidae) of the order Centrarchiformes. It is noted for the rows of dark spots below the lateral line, which give it its common name. One of the black basses, it is native to the Mississippi River basin and across the Gulf states, from central Texas through the Florida panhandle. Its native range extends into the western Mid-Atlantic states and it has been introduced into western North Carolina and Virginia. It has also been introduced to southern Africa, where it has become established in some isolated waters as an invasive species.

Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Regulations on this page come from NC Division of Marine Fisheries, not Wikipedia.

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Frequently asked

What is the size limit for Spotted Bass in North Carolina?

None in North Carolina state waters.

How many Spotted Bass can you keep per day in North Carolina?

No limit.

When is Spotted Bass season in North Carolina?

Open year-round.

Is my Spotted Bass a keeper today?

Not yet converted to a keeper check. As printed: season Open year-round; size None; limit No limit. Read the exact wording below.