SlotGaugeCheck a catchYellowmouth Grouper regulations in North Carolina
Groupers · Saltwater · 2026 season
Yellowmouth Grouper size limit, season and daily limit
| Where | Season | Size limit | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| NC coastal waters (to 3 mi) | May 1 – December 31 | 20 inch minimum | 1 per person per day (scamp or yellowmouth, not both) within 3-fish grouper aggregate |
| Federal waters (3–200 mi, SAFMC) | May 1 – December 31 | 20 inch minimum | 1 per person per day (scamp or yellowmouth, not both) within 3-fish grouper aggregate |
Notes
- Closed Jan 1 – Apr 30 (shallow-water grouper closure).
- Only one scamp OR one yellowmouth grouper per person per day.
- Counts toward the 3-fish grouper/tilefish aggregate per person per day (gag, black, snowy, misty, red, rock hind, red hind, coney, graysby, yellowedge, yellowfin, scamp, yellowmouth, blueline tilefish, golden tilefish, sand tilefish).
- 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.
- Federal rules apply in both state and SAFMC waters; seasons can close early when catch limits are met — check safmc.net/regulations.
Exact NC Division of Marine Fisheries wording
- Season
- May 1 – December 31
- Size
- 20 inches total length
- Limit
- 1 per person per day (scamp or yellowmouth grouper, not both) within the 3-fish grouper/tilefish aggregate
- NC coastal waters (to 3 mi) — as printed
- “It shall be unlawful to possess red grouper, yellowfin (fireback) grouper, yellowmouth grouper or scamp less than 20 inches total length. ... No more than one (1) may be a scamp or yellowmouth grouper (but not both) per person per day.”
Source: NC Division of Marine Fisheries, captured 2026-09-29 (2026 season).
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About the yellowmouth grouper
Species of fish
The yellowmouth grouper, also known as the crossband rockfish, grey mannock, hamlet, harlequin rockfish, princess rockfish, rockfish, salmon grouper, salmon rock fish or scamp, 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 Caribbean and in the tropical waters of the Atlantic Ocean. It is also found in pockets in Brazil. It is a fairly large fish and it gets its name from the yellow around its mouth.
Read more about Mycteroperca interstitialis on Wikipedia →
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 Yellowmouth Grouper in North Carolina?
20 inch minimum in North Carolina state waters.
How many Yellowmouth Grouper can you keep per day in North Carolina?
1 per person per day (scamp or yellowmouth, not both) within 3-fish grouper aggregate.
When is Yellowmouth Grouper season in North Carolina?
May 1 – December 31.
Is my Yellowmouth Grouper a keeper today?
A yellowmouth grouper is a keeper today if it measures at least 20 inches, with a daily limit of 1.