Spotted seatrout rules in North Carolina
Size, bag and season for recreational spotted seatrout in North Carolina waters, as published by NC Division of Marine Fisheries.
- Size
- 14"–20" total length slot; may keep one fish over 26"
- Bag
- 3 per person per day
- Season
- Open since July 1, 2026 (FF-31-2026)
Also on the agency page: Coastal and joint waters including the Atlantic Ocean. FF-31-2026 reopened harvest July 1, 2026 under Amendment 1 to the NC Spotted Seatrout FMP. (DMF summary table shows '1 greater than 26' TL' — apparent typo for 26".) Harvest must be reported to DMF.
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
Seatrout rules often combine a slot or minimum with a one-fish allowance over a set length. A hard winter cold snap can bring an emergency closure with little notice.
State water or federal water
North Carolina rules apply in state waters, generally out to 3 nautical miles. Spotted seatrout are managed by the states through ASMFC. The fishery is almost entirely in estuaries and nearshore state waters. ASMFC · spotted seatrout ↗
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 | 14" minimum | 4 per day | Openas of Oct 13 |
| Virginia | 14" minimum | 5 per person, only 1 may exceed 24" | Openas of Oct 13 |
| North Carolina | 14"–20" total length slot; may keep one fish over 26" | 3 per person per day | Openas of Oct 13 |
| South Carolina | 14" total length minimum | 10 per person per day | Openas of Oct 13 |
| Georgia | 14" total length minimum | 15 per person per day | Openas of Oct 13 |