Weakfish Regulations in North Carolina (2026)

Where

Coastal and Joint Fishing Waters (all waters)

Size limit

It is unlawful to take, possess, sell, or offer for sale weakfish less than 12 inches total length in N.C. Coastal and Joint Fishing Waters except as provided in Section I.B. below. From April 1 through November 15, weakfish 10 inches total length or greater may lawfully be taken in N.C. Internal Coastal and Joint Fishing Waters by use of long-haul seines or pound nets only and possessed, transported, sold, or offered for sale.

Bag limit

It is unlawful for commercial fishing operations using finfish trawls to land more than 100 weakfish less than 12 inches total length.; It is unlawful to possess more than 100 pounds of weakfish in a commercial fishing operation per day or trip, whichever is more restrictive, in N.C. Coastal or Joint Fishing Waters, except: A. It is unlawful for a commercial fishing operation using hook and line to possess more than one (1) weakfish per person per day or per person per trip, whichever is more restrictive.; It is unlawful for a commercial fishing operation using gill nets with a stretched mesh length less than 2 7/8 inches to take or possess weakfish that exceeds 50 percent of the total weight of the combined catch, not to exceed 100 pounds of weakfish.; It is unlawful for a commercial fishing operation using shrimp or crab trawls to possess weakfish that exceeds 50 percent of the total weight of the combined catch, not to exceed 100 pounds of weakfish.; It is unlawful for a commercial fishing operation using finfish trawls to possess weakfish that exceeds 50 percent of the total weight of the combined catch, not to exceed 100 pounds of weakfish, unless fishing with nets that have a minimum stretched mesh size throughout the body of the net and tailbag of 3 1/2 inches hung on the square or 3 3/4 inches hung on a diamond.

• Proclamation FF-11-2024: WEAKFISH – COMMERCIAL - COASTAL AND JOINT FISHING WATERS (effective 12:01 A.M., January 1, 2024).

Official source