Black sea bass rules in North Carolina
Size, bag and season for recreational black sea bass in North Carolina waters, as published by NC Division of Marine Fisheries.
- Size
- 13" total length minimum (excluding tail filament)
- Bag
- North of Cape Hatteras: 15 per person per day; South of Cape Hatteras: 7 per person per day
- Season
- North of Cape Hatteras: May 1–Dec 31, 2026; South of Cape Hatteras: no season stated in the state proclamation (FF-40-2026)
Also on the agency page: Split at Cape Hatteras (35° 15.3' N). North: FF-24-2026 (13", 15/day, May 1–Dec 31, 2026). South: Snapper Grouper recreational proclamation FF-40-2026 (13" TL excluding filament, 7/day); federal South Atlantic rules govern beyond 3 mi.
This rule has area, mode or permit conditions that do not fit in a summary. Read the agency page before you keep a fish.
Stale: this row was last checked Oct 10, 2026, past our 30-day limit. Treat it as history and go to the agency page.
Rules change in season, sometimes by emergency notice. This page summarizes the agency page on the date shown. If this summary and the agency page disagree, the agency page controls.
What to know before you keep one
Black sea bass seasons often come in several windows with different bag limits. Read the whole season line, not the first date.
State water or federal water
North Carolina rules apply in state waters, generally out to 3 nautical miles. North of Cape Hatteras, federal recreational measures come from the Mid-Atlantic Council and NOAA Fisheries. South of Cape Hatteras, black sea bass is a South Atlantic snapper-grouper species with its own federal rules. NOAA Fisheries · black sea bass ↗
Across the state line
Rules for the same fish change at the state line. If you run across it or land in the next state, those rules apply.
| State | Size | Bag | Status as of Oct 13, 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | 12.5" (excluding tail filament) | 15 per day | Openas of Oct 13 |
| Virginia | 13" minimum | 15 | Openas of Oct 13 |
| North Carolina | 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 | Openas of Oct 13 |
| South Carolina | 13" total length minimum | 7 per person per day | Openas of Oct 13 |
| Georgia | 12" total length minimum (state waters) | 15 per person per day (state waters) | Openas of Oct 13 |