Oyster Regulations in North Carolina (2026)

Where

Internal Coastal Fishing Waters (public bottom, hand harvest) (bays & inshore)

Size limit

It shall be unlawful to possess oysters less than three (3) inches shell length for oysters taken on public or private bottom (see General Information Section IV.D.).

Bag limit

It shall be unlawful for persons holding a Standard Commercial Fishing License with an endorsement to sell shellfish to take or possess more than five (5) bushels of oysters per day and shall not exceed a total of ten (10) bushels in any combined commercial fishing operation, regardless of the number of persons holding a Standard Commercial Fishing License with an endorsement to sell shellfish or vessels that may be involved, in Internal Coastal Fishing Waters from public bottom.; It shall be unlawful for persons holding a Standard Commercial Fishing License with an endorsement to sell shellfish to take or possess more than fifteen (15) bushels in any combined commercial fishing operation, regardless of the number of persons holding a Standard Commercial Fishing License with an endorsement to sell shellfish or vessels that may be involved, in Internal Coastal Fishing Waters from public bottom.; It shall be unlawful for persons holding a Standard Commercial Fishing License with an endorsement to sell shellfish to take or possess more than five (5) bushels of oysters per day and shall not exceed a total of seven (7) bushels per vessel in any combined commercial fishing operation, if others in the combined fishing operation hold a Shellfish License regardless of the number of Shellfish License holders onboard the vessel that may be involved, in Internal Coastal Fishing Waters from public bottom statewide.; It shall be unlawful for persons holding a Shellfish License to take or possess more than two (2) bushels of oysters per day and shall not exceed a total of four (4) bushels per vessel in any combined commercial fishing operation from public bottom, regardless of the number of persons holding a Shellfish License onboard the vessel in Internal Coastal Fishing Waters statewide.; It shall be unlawful for persons holding a Standard Commercial Fishing License with an endorsement to sell shellfish to take or possess more than ten (10) bushels of oysters per commercial fishing operation from public bottom per day in the following areas regardless of the number of persons holding a Standard Commercial Fishing License with an endorsement to sell shellfish or vessels involved: A. Wysocking Bay – northwest of a line beginning at a point 35° 22.9684' N - 76° 03.7129' W on Benson Point, running northeasterly to a point 35° 24.6895' N - 76° 01.3155' W on Long Point; B. East Bluff Bay – northwest of a line beginning at a point 35° 19.5333’ N - 76° 09.3333’ W on Bluff Point; running northeasterly to a point 35° 21.

Season

It shall be unlawful to take or possess oysters from public bottom except from October 15 through March 31.

• Oysters may be taken by hand and hand operated implements only (excluding dredges pulled by hand except as described below in (5); see General Information Section IV. for further gear restrictions).
• It shall be unlawful to use any dredge to take oysters except on shellfish leases and franchises by permit or in an area that is open for mechanical harvest of oysters.
• It shall be unlawful to possess commercial and recreational limits of oysters aboard the same vessel.
• It shall be unlawful to sell oysters on Saturday and Sunday taken from public bottom.
• Proclamation SF-1-2026: 2026-2027 OYSTER HAND HARVEST RESTRICTIONS (effective Sunrise, October 15, 2026 MAPS SF-1-2026); season from 15A NCAC 03K .0201 (http://reports.oah.state.nc.us/ncac/title%2015a%20-%20environmental%20quality/chapter%2003%20-%20marine%20fisheries/subchapter%20k/15a%20ncac%2003k%20.0201.pdf). Mechanical-harvest openings are set by separate SF proclamations.

Official source