Weakfish regulations in North Carolina

· Saltwater · 2026 season

Is it a keeper? A weakfish is a keeper today if it measures at least 12 inches, with a daily limit of 1.

Weakfish size limit, season and daily limit

Where	Season	Size limit	Daily limit
NC coastal and joint waters (to 3 mi)	Open year-round	12 inch minimum	1 per person per day

Exact NC Division of Marine Fisheries wording

Season: Open year-round
Size: 12" TL
Limit: 1/Day
statewide — as printed: “Weakfish (Gray Trout) | 12" TL | 1/Day”

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

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About the weakfish

Genus of fishes

Cynoscion is a genus of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family, Sciaenidae, the drums and croakers. These fish are found off the coasts of North and South America in the western Atlantic and eastern Pacific Oceans. Many fish in this genus have been given the common name weakfish.

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 Weakfish in North Carolina?

12 inch minimum in North Carolina state waters.

How many Weakfish can you keep per day in North Carolina?

1 per person per day.

When is Weakfish season in North Carolina?

Open year-round.

Is my Weakfish a keeper today?

A weakfish is a keeper today if it measures at least 12 inches, with a daily limit of 1.