SlotGaugeCheck a catchSturgeon regulations in North Carolina
· Saltwater · 2026 season
Sturgeon size limit, season and daily limit
| Where | Season | Size limit | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| NC coastal and joint waters (to 3 mi) | Closed to harvest | — | — |
| NC inland fishing waters (WRC) | Closed to harvest | — | — |
Notes
- Federally endangered; release immediately in all NC waters.
Exact NC Division of Marine Fisheries wording
- Season
- Possession prohibited
- Size
- Possession prohibited
- Limit
- Possession prohibited
- NC coastal and joint waters (to 3 mi) — as printed
- “Other finfish: river herring, Atlantic sturgeon, shortnose sturgeon, Nassau grouper, Goliath grouper, Warsaw grouper, speckled hind and red snapper.”
Source: NC Division of Marine Fisheries, captured 2026-09-29 (2026 season).
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About the sturgeon
Species of fish
The Atlantic sturgeon is a large species of sturgeon native to both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, and associated river basins. It is a member of the family Acipenseridae, and, along with other sturgeon, it is sometimes considered a living fossil. The main range of the Atlantic sturgeon is in eastern North America, extending from New Brunswick, Canada, to the eastern coast of Florida, United States. A highly endangered disjunct population occurs in the Baltic region of Europe.
Read more about Atlantic sturgeon 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 Sturgeon in North Carolina?
No size limit in North Carolina state waters.
How many Sturgeon can you keep per day in North Carolina?
Possession prohibited.
When is Sturgeon season in North Carolina?
Open year-round.
Is my Sturgeon a keeper today?
Sturgeon is closed to harvest. Release it.