Groupers Regulations in North Carolina (2026)

Recreational groupers rules in North Carolina saltwater, as published by the NC Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Marine Fisheries. Last checked November 7, 2026.

Size limit

It shall be unlawful to possess black grouper or gag grouper less…

Bag limit

It shall be unlawful to possess from a private vessel more than two…

Season

It shall be unlawful to possess the following grouper species taken…

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Recreational Groupers rules in North Carolina

Where: Waters under the jurisdiction of North Carolina or the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (ocean)
Size limit: It shall be unlawful to possess black grouper or gag grouper less than 24 inches total length.; It shall be unlawful to possess red grouper, yellowfin (fireback) grouper, yellowmouth grouper or scamp less than 20 inches total length.
Bag limit: It shall be unlawful to possess from a private vessel more than two (2) gag grouper or two (2) black grouper in any combination per day not to exceed the daily limit of one (1) gag or one (1) black grouper (but not both) per person per day, whichever is more restrictive, subject to the bag limits in Section XVII.; It shall be unlawful to possess from a charter/headboat (for-hire) vessel more than two (2) gag grouper or two (2) black grouper in any combination per vessel per trip, subject to the bag limits in Section XVII.
Season: It shall be unlawful to possess the following grouper species taken from the waters under the jurisdiction of North Carolina or the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council except from May 1 through December 31 each year : gag grouper, black grouper, rock hind, red hind, coney, graysby, yellowfin grouper, scamp and yellowmouth grouper.; It shall be unlawful to possess snowy grouper taken from waters under the jurisdiction of North Carolina or the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council.; It shall be unlawful to possess red grouper except from June 1 through December 31 each year, subject to the bag limits in Section XVII.; It shall be unlawful to possess gag grouper except from 12:01 A.

It shall be unlawful to fail to use non-offset, non-stainless steel circle hooks (50 CFR Part §622.2) while fishing for or possessing snapper-grouper species while using natural baits as specified in 50 CFR Part §622.
It shall be unlawful to fail to possess a descending device on board which is readily available for use while fishing for or possessing snapper -grouper species as specified in 50 CFR Part §622.188.
Section III of proclamation FF-45-2026 (SNAPPER GROUPER COMPLEX – RECREATIONAL – ESTABLISH GAG AND BLACK GROUPER AGGREGATE VESSEL LIMIT - REGULATORY AMENDMENT 36 NEW MANAGEMENT MEASURES).
Subject to aggregate bag limits (Section XVII): XVII. Combined Bag Limits A. It shall be unlawful to possess more than ten (10) of the following species of snappers in the aggregate per person per day when the recreational season for each species is open: silk snapper, blackfin snapper, yellowtail snapper, cubera snapper, queen snapper, gray snapper, mutton snapper and lane snapper. No more than five (5) may be mutton snapper per person per day within the ten (10) fish snapper aggregate. B. It shall be unlawful to possess more than three (3) of the following species of groupers or tilefish in the aggregate per person per day when the recreational season for each species is open: gag grouper, black grouper, snowy grouper, misty grouper, re
XVIII. Harvest Restrictions A. It shall be unlawful to fail to use dehooking tools in the snapper grouper fisheries when the fish is to be released as specified in 50 CFR Part §622.188. B. It shall be unlawful to possess any species of the snapper grouper complex without heads and fins intact as specified in 50 CFR Part §622.186.

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Commercial rules

Show 1 commercial rule

Where: Waters under the jurisdiction of North Carolina or the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (ocean)
Size limit: It shall be unlawful to possess black grouper or gag grouper less than 24 inches total length.; It shall be unlawful to possess yellowfin (fireback) grouper, yellowmouth grouper or scamp less than 20 inches total length.
Bag limit: It shall be unlawful to possess more than 300 pounds (gutted weight) of gag grouper per trip.; It shall be unlawful to possess more than 200 pounds (gutted weight) of snowy grouper per trip.; It shall be unlawful to possess more than 300 pounds (gutted weight) combined of scamp or yellowmouth grouper per trip.

It shall be unlawful to fail to use non -offset, non-stainless steel circle hooks (50 CFR Part §622.2) while fishing for or possessing snapper grouper species while using natural baits as specified in 50 CFR Part §622.188.
It shall be unlawful to fail to possess a descending device on board which is readily available for use while fishing for or possessing snapper grouper species as specified in 50 CFR Part §622.188.
Section IV (Other Groupers) of proclamation FF-46-2026 (SNAPPER GROUPER COMPLEX – COMMERCIAL – MODIFY BLACK SEA BASS POT STOWAGE REQUIREMENTS – REGULATORY AMENDMENT 36).
It shall be unlawful to sell, offer for sale, or exceed the recreational bag limits of any species of the Snapper-Grouper complex specified in 50 CFR Part §622.187(b) unless the vessel owner has been issued a valid Federal Commercial South Atlantic Snapper Grouper Permit.
For a vessel with both a valid Federal South Atlantic Charter/Headboat Permit for Snapper Grouper and a valid Federal Commercial South Atlantic Snapper Grouper Permit it shall be unlawful to exceed the recreational bag limits for snapper grouper species when fishing with more than four persons (including captain and mate) on board, or when carrying paying customers.
For a vessel with both a valid Federal South Atlantic Charter/Headboat Permit for Snapper Grouper and a valid Federal Commercial South Atlantic Snapper Grouper Permit it shall be unlawful to sell or offer for sale any species of the Snapper Grouper Complex harvested when fishing with more than four persons (including captain and mate) on board or when carrying paying customers.
It shall be unlawful to possess any species of the Snapper Grouper complex except snowy grouper, yellowedge grouper, misty grouper, blueline tilefish, golden tilefish, and sand tilefish while having longline gear aboard a vessel during open harvest seasons.
It shall be unlawful to possess any species of the snapper grouper complex without heads and fins intact as specified in 50 CFR Part §622.186.

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Quick answers

What is the groupers size limit in North Carolina?

It shall be unlawful to possess black grouper or gag grouper less than 24 inches total length.; It shall be unlawful to possess red grouper, yellowfin (fireback) grouper, yellowmouth grouper or scamp less than 20 inches total length..

How many groupers can I keep in North Carolina?

It shall be unlawful to possess from a private vessel more than two (2) gag grouper or two (2) black grouper in any combination per day not to exceed the daily limit of one (1) gag or one (1) black grouper (but not both) per person per day, whichever is more restrictive, subject to the bag limits in Section XVII.; It shall be unlawful to possess from a charter/headboat (for-hire) vessel more than two (2) gag grouper or two (2) black grouper in any combination per vessel per trip, subject to the bag limits in Section XVII..

When is groupers season in North Carolina?

It shall be unlawful to possess the following grouper species taken from the waters under the jurisdiction of North Carolina or the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council except from May 1 through December 31 each year : gag grouper, black grouper, rock hind, red hind, coney, graysby, yellowfin grouper, scamp and yellowmouth grouper.; It shall be unlawful to possess snowy grouper taken from waters under the jurisdiction of North Carolina or the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council.; It shall be unlawful to possess red grouper except from June 1 through December 31 each year, subject to the bag limits in Section XVII.; It shall be unlawful to possess gag grouper except from 12:01 A.. Whether it is open on a specific day can change by emergency rule — check today's status in the app.

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Source: NC Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Marine Fisheries. Most anglers need a North Carolina saltwater license or registry: get one here.