SlotGaugeCheck a catchStriped Bass (by management area) regulations in North Carolina
· Saltwater · 2026 season
Striped Bass (by management area) size limit, season and daily limit
| Where | Season | Size limit | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albemarle Sound Management Area (Albemarle, Currituck, Roanoke, Croatan sounds and tributaries) | Closed to harvest | — | — |
| Roanoke River Management Area (Roanoke Rapids Dam to Albemarle Sound incl. Cashie, Middle, Eastmost rivers) — WRC | Closed to harvest | — | — |
| Central Southern Management Area — all waters except the April Tar-Pamlico/Neuse opening (incl. Pungo, lower Cape Fear, Pamlico Sound) | Closed to harvest | — | — |
| CSMA: Tar-Pamlico River above Gum Point–Fork Point line and Neuse River above Cooper Point–Fisher Landing Point line | April 1 – April 30 | 18–22 inch slot; 27 inch minimum | 1 per person per day or per trip, April 1–30 by proclamation (FF-19-2026 for 2026) |
| Cape Fear River and tributaries incl. Snow's Cut | Closed to harvest | — | — |
| WRC inland impoundments and tributaries (except listed lakes) | Open year-round | 20 inch minimum | 4 in combination with Bodie bass (striped bass hybrid) |
Notes
- Where you are matters more than anything else for striped bass in NC: ocean = 1 fish 28–31 inches year-round; Albemarle Sound, the CSMA and the Cape Fear are closed; the Roanoke River season is set each spring by WRC proclamation (18–22 inch slot, 1 fish).
- Upper Tar-Pamlico and Neuse rivers opened April 1–30, 2026 only (18 inch minimum, nothing 22–27 inches, 1 per person). Expect a new proclamation each spring.
- Inland reservoirs (WRC): 20 inch minimum, 4 per day striped/Bodie bass combined; Lake Gaston, Roanoke Rapids, Kerr, Dan River, Chatuge and several city lakes have their own rules (see WRC warm-water table).
- Recreational harvest of striped bass must be reported to DMF (deq.nc.gov/report-my-fish). No gigs, spears or gaffs; circle hooks with natural bait in the ocean.
Exact NC Division of Marine Fisheries wording
- Season
- Varies by management area (see zones)
- Size
- Varies by management area
- Limit
- Varies by management area
- Albemarle Sound Management Area (Albemarle, Currituck, Roanoke, Croatan sounds and tributaries) — as printed
- “Albemarle Sound Management Area ... Season Closed; no harvest allowed. ... Slot limit 18 inches to 25 inches TL ... Illegal to possess | Central Southern Management Area ... Closed; no harvest allowed. See Proclamation FF-6-2019 | Roanoke River Management Area ... Size Limit (TL) 18 inches TL to 22 inches TL. ... Contact the Wildlife Resources Commission | Cape Fear River ... Closed; no harvest allowed”
Source: NC Division of Marine Fisheries, captured 2026-09-29 (2026 season).
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About the striped bass
Species of fish
The striped bass, also called the Atlantic striped bass, striper, linesider, rock, or rockfish, is an anadromous perciform fish of the family Moronidae found primarily along the Atlantic coast of North America. It has also been widely introduced into inland recreational fisheries across the United States. Striped bass found in the Gulf of Mexico are a separate strain referred to as Gulf Coast striped bass.
Read more about Striped bass 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 Striped Bass (by management area) in North Carolina?
18–25 inch slot in North Carolina state waters.
How many Striped Bass (by management area) can you keep per day in North Carolina?
Possession prohibited — season closed.
When is Striped Bass (by management area) season in North Carolina?
Open year-round.
Is my Striped Bass (by management area) a keeper today?
Striped Bass (by management area) is closed to harvest. Release it.