2024 NORTH CAROLINA RECREATIONAL COASTAL AND JOINT FISHING WATERS GUIDE FOR SPORTS FISHERMEN
June Version
**IMPORTANT** CHECK WITH DIVISION OF MARINE FISHERIES FOR MOST CURRENT MINIMUM LENGTHS AND CREEL LIMITS.
252-515-5500 OR 800-682-2632 OR www.ncmarinefisheries.net
You can also download the Fish Rules Mobile App at https://fishrulesapp.com/
Persons engaged in recreational fishing in North Carolina Coastal and Joint Fishing Waters are required to possess a Coastal Recreational Fishing License in accordance with G.S. 113-174.1
STATE COASTAL AND JOINT
FISHING WATERS
(Internal and 0-3 miles)
FEDERAL MANAGEMENT INFORMATION
FINFISH SPECIES
(note symbols)
Minimum
Length
Bag Limits
(per person)
Bluefish (M)
None
3/day (M)
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/bluefish
Cobia
See the most recent Cobia
DMF proclamation at
www.ncmarinefisheries.net
http://www.asmfc.org/species/cobia
Wahoo
None
2/Day
http://safmc.net/regulations/
Dolphin (B)
None
10/Day
King Mackerel (H)
24” FL
3/Day
Spanish Mackerel (H)
12” FL
15/Day
Tuna: Bluefin, Bigeye and
Yellowfin (G)
Bigeye and
Yellowfin tuna
27” Curved FL
Yellowfin tuna
3/Day
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/topic/atlantic-highly-migratory-species
Spiny Dogfish None None https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/atlantic-spiny-dogfish
Sharks (G)
See most recent DMF proclamation
at www.ncmarinefisheries.net
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/topic/atlantic-highly-migratory-species
Blue Marlin (G)
99” LJFL
1 per vessel per
trip, either blue
marlin or white
marlin
White Marlin (G) 66” LJFL
Sailfish (G) 63” LJFL 1/Day
Red Drum (Channel Bass,
Puppy Drum) (C) ▲▲
18” – 27” TL 1/Day https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CFR-2017-title50-vol13/pdf/CFR-2017-title50-vol13-sec697-7.pdf
Flounder ▲▲
CLOSED
UNLAWFUL TO POSSESS
https://www.deq.nc.gov/news/press-releases/2024/05/23/preserve-resource-recreational-flounder-season-
will-not-open-2024
Spotted Seatrout
(Speckled Trout) ▲
14” TL 4/Day No Federal Regulations
Weakfish (Gray Trout) ▲
12” TL
1/Day
https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CFR-2017-title50-vol13/pdf/CFR-2017-title50-vol13-sec697-7.pdf
Sheepshead
10” FL
10/Day
No Federal Regulations
Black Drum (C) ▲▲
14” – 25” TL
10/Day
No Federal Regulations
Tarpon
UNLAWFUL TO POSSESS
No Federal Regulations
Striped Bass(A)
UNLAWFUL TO POSSESS (A)
https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CFR-2017-title50-vol13/pdf/CFR-2017-title50-vol13-sec697-7.pdf
American Shad (D)
None
(D)
No Federal Regulations
Hickory Shad (D)
None
(D)
No Federal Regulations
Alewife and Blueback
Herring
UNLAWFUL TO POSSESS No Federal Regulations
American Eel (E)
9” TL
25/Day
No Federal Regulations
Scup (North of Cape
Hatteras only)
9” TL 30/Day
https://www.greateratlantic.
fisheries.noaa.gov/
sustainable/recfishing/regs/
index.html
Black Sea Bass
(North of Cape Hatteras)
13”TL 15/Day
SEASON OPEN May 15-Sept. 30 & Oct. 10-Dec. 31
https://www.greateratlantic.
fisheries.noaa.gov/
sustainable/recfishing/regs/
index.html
Black Sea Bass
(South of Cape Hatteras)
13” TL 7/Day http://safmc.net/regulations/
Snappers, Groupers,
Porgys, Triggerfish, Jacks,
Tilefish, Grunts,
Spadefishes, Wrasses and
Sea Basses (H)
See the most recent
Snapper/Grouper Complex
recreational DMF proclamation at
www.ncmarinefisheries.net
http://safmc.net/regulations/
Mullet (striped and white)
(O)▲▲
100/Day (species combined) No Federal Regulations
Spot
None
50/Day
http://www.asmfc.org/species/spot
Atlantic Croaker
None
50/Day
http://www.asmfc.org/species/atlantic-croaker
PROHIBITED FINFISH SPECIES
COASTAL AND JOINT FISHING WATERS (Internal waters and Atlantic Ocean out to 3 miles)
Sharks: whale, basking, white, sand tiger, bigeye sand tiger, Atlantic angel shark, bigeye sixgill, bigeye thresher, bignose, Caribbean reef, Caribbean sharpnose, dusky,
Galapagos, longfin mako, shortfin mako, narrowtooth, night, sandbar, silky, sevengill, sixgill, and smalltail. Other finfish: river herring, Atlantic sturgeon, shortnose sturgeon,
Nassau grouper, Goliath grouper, Warsaw grouper, speckled hind and red snapper.
SHELLFISH and
CRUSTACEANS
STATE COASTAL FISHING AND EEZ WATERS (Internal waters and 0-200 miles)
Bag Limits (per person)
BLUE CRAB (F)
5” Carapace
Width
UNLAWFUL TO POSSESS from January 1-31 North of Highway 58 bridge
UNLAWFUL TO POSSESS from March 1-15 South of the Highway 58 bridge
50 Crabs/Day not to exceed 100 Crabs/Vessel/Day
STONE CRAB CLAWS (J)
2 ¾ “ Propodus
Length
UNLAWFUL TO POSSESS from June 15 – August 15
(no possession limit during open season)
SPINY LOBSTER (K)
2/Trip
HARD CLAM (I)
100 Clams/Day not to exceed 200 Clams/Vessel/Day
OYSTER (I)
UNLAWFUL TO POSSESS
BAY SCALLOP
CLOSED
UNLAWFUL TO POSSESS
CONCHS and WHELKS None 10/Day not to exceed 20/Vessel/Day
MUSSELS None 100/Day not to exceed 200/Vessel/Day
SHRIMP
(N)
Closed
Shrimping
Area
None
48 quarts (heads on) or 30 quarts (heads off) of shrimp per person per day or if a vessel is used, per vessel per day (Cast Net
Only)
Open
Shrimping
Area
None
48 quarts (heads on) or 30 quarts (heads off) of shrimp per person per day or if a vessel is used, per vessel per day (Cast Net
Only). Recreational Commercial Gear License (RCGL) holders are allowed up to 96 quarts (heads on) or 60 quarts (heads off)
of shrimp if more than one person aboard a vessel possesses a valid RCGL.
SYMBOLS TO LOOK FOR:
(A) Albemarle Sound Management Area: SEASON CURRENTLY CLOSED; Central Southern Management Area: Unlawful to possess striped bass (including hybrid bass). 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; see the most recent DMF proclamation at www.ncmarinefisheries.net .
(B) Limit of 10 per person per day or 54 per trip, whichever is less. On head boats, limit is 10 per person per day. No sale of recreational bag limit on vessels operating as charter or head boats.
(C) Unlawful to possess red drum greater than 27” TL. Unlawful to gig, spear, or gaff red drum. One black drum per person per day over 25” TL is allowed.
(D) For aggregate creel limits for American shad and hickory shad, see the most recent DMF proclamation at www.ncmarinefisheries.net. Unlawful to take or possess American shad from the Atlantic Ocean.
(E) Season open January 1 – August 31, except year-round when taken by baited pots.
(F) It is illegal to possess immature female crabs at any time and it is illegal to possess dark sponge crabs from April 1 – April 30.
(G) In state or federal waters, federal permit required for Highly Migratory Species, tunas, billfishes, swordfish and sharks (excluding Atlantic bonito, little tunny (false albacore), and blackfin tuna):
https://hmspermits.noaa.gov/ 978-281-9370. Prior to removal from vessel, all billfishes, swordfish and bluefin tuna must be reported at NC HMS reporting stations. See the DMF website for more details. For
seasons, bag limits, size limits or closures for tunas, billfishes, and sharks contact NMFS Highly Migratory Species Division 800-894-5528.
(H) For seasons, bag limits and size limits on snapper, grouper, and mackerels contact the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council 843-571-4366 or www.safmc.net, and see the most recent Snapper Grouper
or Mackerel recreational DMF proclamation at www.ncmarinefisheries.net
(I) Contact DMF or visit www.ncmarinefisheries.net to see the most recent DMF shellfish and polluted area proclamations for seasons, areas, or other restrictions. An interactive map of areas closed to the
harvest of shellfish due to water quality monitoring by DMF’s Shellfish Sanitation section can be viewed at,
https://ncdenr.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=5759aa19d7484a3b82a8e440fba643aa. Oyster season is October 15 – March 31 unless closed earlier by proclamation.
(J) Propodus (forearm) length is measured by a straight line from elbow to the tip of the lower immoveable finger. The propodus (forearm) is defined as the largest section of the claw assembly that has both a
moveable and immovable finger and is located farthest from the body of the crab. Unlawful to possess stone crab bodies or fail to immediately return to the waters from which taken. Unlawful to use a device to
take stone crabs that can puncture, crush, or injure the crab body, such as gigs, spears, grabs, hooks, or similar devices. Unlawful to remove, take or possess stone crab claws from June 15 through August 15
(no possession limit during open season).
(K) See the most recent DMF proclamation at www.ncmarinefisheries.net it is unlawful to possess an egg bearing spiny lobster or a spiny lobster which eggs have been scrubbed or removed. It is unlawful to
possess aboard a vessel or land detached spiny lobster tails, or to use a gaff hook, spear, or similar device to take spiny lobsters.
(L) The carapace is measured beginning at the forward edge between the rostral horns and eyes, excluding any soft tissue, and proceeding along the middle to the rear edge of the carapace.
(M) Creel limit for bluefish is set by proclamation see the most recent DMF proclamation at www.ncmarinefisheries.net The recreational creel limit for bluefish is 3 fish per person per day in all private (non for-hire)
recreational fisheries. Recreational anglers engaged on a for-hire vessel can possess up to 5 bluefish per person per day.
(N) Areas open to the taking of shrimp are set by proclamation, see the most recent DMF proclamation at www.ncmarinefisheries.net.
(O) The recreational individual bag limit for mullet (striped and white combined) is 100 fish per person per day. The recreational vessel limit is 100 fish per angler fishing up to a maximum of 400 fish per vessel. For
Hire Operations may possess the 100 fish individual bag limit for all anglers fishing on the boat up to the 400 fish vessel limit, including in advance of a trip.
▲ Size and creel limits for spotted seatrout and weakfish taken in inland waters are the same as the recreational limits for those species in adjacent joint and coastal waters.
▲▲For size, creel, season, and other requirements for fish taken in inland waters, please see www.ncwildlife.org
Total length (TL) is measured from tip of snout with mouth closed to top of compressed tail. Fork length (FL) is measured from tip of snout to middle of fork in tail. Lower jaw fork length (LJFL) is measured from lower
jaw to middle of fork in tail. Curved fork length (CFL) is the measurement of the length taken in a line tracing the contour of the body from the tip of the upper jaw to the fork of the tail. Anglers cannot catch both a
federal and state bag limit for the same species on the same trip.
Ocean boundary is defined as water seaward of the COLREGS Demarcation Lines as indicated on National Ocean Service navigations charts.
No one may possess aboard a vessel or while engaged in fishing any fish subject to limits without head and tail attached, except for mullet when used for bait and hickory shad when used for bait provided not more
than two fish per boat/operation may be cut at any one time – Reference 15A NCAC 03M_0101
Morehead City Office (24 hours)
800-682-2632 or
252-515-5500
Elizabeth City Office
800-338-7805 or
252-381-6000
Manteo Office
252-473-5734
Washington Office
800-338-7804 or
252-948-3800
Wilmington Office
800-248-4536 or
910-796-7215
NMFS (Fed. Reg.)
301-427-8505
THIS FLYER IS EFFECTIVE June 20, 2024 AND IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES AND HAS NO LEGAL FORCE OR EFFECT. FISHERY RULES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. THESE
RESTRICTIONS APPLY TO FISH TAKEN FOR RECREATIONAL PURPOSES AND INCLUDE HOOK AND LINE. Updated State regulations can be found at https://deq.nc.gov/recreational-size-bag-limits and updated
Recreational Commercial Gear License information can be found at https://deq.nc.gov/recreational-commercial-gear-license. FOR INLAND WATER FISHING REGULATIONS, CALL WILDLIFE RESOURCES
COMMISSION 919-707-0220 OR WWW.NCWILDLIFE.ORG
STATE AND FEDERAL REGULATIONS CAN ALSO BE FOUND AT www.FishRulesApp.com