North Carolina saltwater fishing rules
Recreational size, bag and season for Outer Banks, the sounds, and the southern coast to Calabash, from NC Division of Marine Fisheries. Open as of Oct 13, 2026: striped bass, black sea bass, bluefish, red drum, scup, spotted seatrout, weakfish, black drum, sheepshead, cobia, spanish mackerel.
| Species | Size | Bag | Season | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Striped bassChecked Oct 10, 2026 · STALE | 28"–31" total length (slot) — Atlantic Ocean | 1 fish per person per day — Atlantic Ocean | Atlantic Ocean (0–3 mi): open year-round | Openas of Oct 13 |
| Summer flounderChecked Oct 10, 2026 · STALE | 15" total length minimum | 1 flounder per person per day (all flounder species) | Sept 1–Sept 14, 2026 only; closed all other dates in 2026 | Closedas of Oct 13 |
| Black sea bassChecked Oct 10, 2026 · STALE | 13" total length minimum (excluding tail filament) | North of Cape Hatteras: 15 per person per day; South of Cape Hatteras: 7 per person per day | North of Cape Hatteras: May 1–Dec 31, 2026; South of Cape Hatteras: no season stated in the state proclamation (FF-40-2026) | Openas of Oct 13 |
| BluefishChecked Oct 10, 2026 · STALE | No minimum size (DMF page lists 'None') | 5 per person per day (private); 7 per person per day on for-hire vessels | No closed season listed | Openas of Oct 13 |
| Red drumChecked Oct 10, 2026 · STALE | 18"–27" total length (slot) | 1 fish per person per day | No closed season listed on DMF size/bag page | Openas of Oct 13 |
| ScupChecked Oct 10, 2026 · STALE | 9" total length minimum | 30 per person per day | No closed season | Openas of Oct 13 |
| Spotted seatroutChecked Oct 10, 2026 · STALE | 14"–20" total length slot; may keep one fish over 26" | 3 per person per day | Open since July 1, 2026 (FF-31-2026) | Openas of Oct 13 |
| WeakfishChecked Oct 12, 2026 · STALE | 12" minimum total length | 1 fish per person per day | No closed season listed | Openas of Oct 13 |
| Black drumChecked Oct 12, 2026 · STALE | 14"–25" total length (slot) | 10 fish per person per day | No closed season listed | Openas of Oct 13 |
| SheepsheadChecked Oct 12, 2026 · STALE | 14" minimum total length | 5 fish per person per day | No closed season listed | Openas of Oct 13 |
| CobiaChecked Oct 12, 2026 · STALE | 36" minimum fork length | 1 fish per person per day | May 1 – December 31, 2026 | Openas of Oct 13 |
| Spanish mackerelChecked Oct 12, 2026 · STALE | 12" minimum fork length | 15 fish per person per day | No closed season listed | Openas of Oct 13 |
This table summarizes NC Division of Marine Fisheries pages on the dates shown, and status is derived from each row's season dates on Oct 13, 2026. Rules change in season. The agency page controls:NC Division of Marine Fisheries ↗
Not on this list?
We publish a row only after checking it against the agency's own page. A species missing here is one we have not verified yet. That does not mean it has no rule. Use the agency link above, and see how we source.
North Carolina portsOregon Inlet / Nags HeadHatterasMorehead City / Beaufort InletWrightsville BeachSouthport / Cape Fear