SlotGaugeCheck a catchWarsaw Grouper regulations in North Carolina
Groupers · Saltwater · 2026 season
Warsaw Grouper size limit, season and daily limit
| Where | Season | Size limit | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| NC coastal waters (to 3 mi) | Closed to harvest | — | — |
| Federal waters (3–200 mi, SAFMC) | Closed to harvest | — | — |
Notes
- Must be released immediately in all NC and South Atlantic federal waters; use a descending device.
- Snapper-grouper gear rules: non-offset, non-stainless circle hooks with natural bait; a dehooking tool and a descending device (16 oz weight, 60 ft line) must be on board; fish must be landed with heads and fins intact.
Exact NC Division of Marine Fisheries wording
- Season
- Possession prohibited
- Size
- Possession prohibited
- Limit
- Possession prohibited
- NC coastal waters (to 3 mi) — as printed
- “It shall be unlawful to possess speckled hind, warsaw grouper, Nassau grouper, and goliath grouper.”
Source: NC Division of Marine Fisheries, captured 2026-09-29 (2026 season).
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About the warsaw grouper
Species of fish
Hyporthodus nigritus, the Warsaw grouper, is a species of marine, ray-finned fish, a grouper from the subfamily Epinephelinae, which is part of the family Serranidae, which also includes the anthias and sea basses. It is found in the Western Atlantic from Massachusetts to the Gulf of Mexico, Cuba, Trinidad, and south to Brazil. Its natural habitats are open and shallow seas, subtidal aquatic beds, and coral reefs. It is threatened by habitat loss.
Read more about Hyporthodus nigritus 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 Warsaw Grouper in North Carolina?
No size limit in North Carolina state waters.
How many Warsaw Grouper can you keep per day in North Carolina?
Possession prohibited.
When is Warsaw Grouper season in North Carolina?
Open year-round.
Is my Warsaw Grouper a keeper today?
Warsaw Grouper is closed to harvest. Release it.