SlotGaugeCheck a catchStriped Bass regulations in North Carolina
· Saltwater · 2026 season
Striped Bass size limit, season and daily limit
| Where | Season | Size limit | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic Ocean (to 3 mi) | Open year-round | 28–31 inch slot | 1 per person per day |
| Internal coastal waters (sounds, rivers) | Closed to harvest | — | — |
| NC inland impoundments (statewide; listed lakes differ) | Open year-round | 20 inch minimum | 4 striped bass + hybrids combined |
Notes
- A 2026-10-31 check against the official source found a discrepancy in this species' zone (Internal coastal waters). Read the official wording before keeping the fish: https://www.deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/marine-fisheries/rules-proclamations-and-size-and-bag-limits/recreational-size-and-bag-limits
- Albemarle Sound Management Area: season closed; Central Southern Management Area: unlawful to possess (including hybrids). Unlawful to gig, spear, or gaff striped bass.
- Inland impoundments (WRC): 20 in minimum, 4 per day; Roanoke River and coastal rivers follow their own management-area rules.
Exact NC Division of Marine Fisheries wording
- Season
- Open year-round
- Size
- harvest slot limit of 28 inches to 31 inches TL
- Limit
- 1 per person per day
- Atlantic Ocean — as printed
- “Atlantic Ocean: Year-round: 1 per person per day and a harvest slot limit of 28 inches to 31 inches TL. Unlawful to gig, spear, or gaff striped bass”
- Internal coastal waters — as printed
- “Striped Bass | UNLAWFUL TO POSSESS (A) … Albemarle Sound Management Area: SEASON CURRENTLY CLOSED; Central Southern Management Area (CSMA): Unlawful to possess striped bass (including hybrid bass)”
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 in North Carolina?
28–31 inch slot in North Carolina state waters.
How many Striped Bass can you keep per day in North Carolina?
1 per person per day.
When is Striped Bass season in North Carolina?
Open year-round.
Is my Striped Bass a keeper today?
A striped bass is a keeper today if it measures between 28 and 31 inches, with a daily limit of 1.