North Carolina Coastal and Joint Waters Limits
NCDMF creel and size limits for coastal and joint waters, the matching NCWRC joint water rows, the CRFL and pier license rules.
Photo of Fairmont: Gerry D, CC BY-SA 3.0
Licenses
Coastal Recreational Fishing License
North Carolina requires people 16 or older to hold a Coastal Recreational Fishing License to fish in coastal waters of the state.
The CRFL allows you to fish in coastal and joint fishing waters, but not in inland or fresh waters.
Yes, unless the public pier has purchased a blanket license.
The license authorizes the manager of an ocean fishing pier to charge the public a fee to fish from a pier within coastal waters. This license was combined with the Pier Blanket License and therefore patrons of the pier are not required to hold an individual Coastal Recreational Fishing License.
Many charter boats, head boats and fishing piers hold blanket licenses that cover the license requirement for their patrons. Blanket licenses are not required, so fishermen should check to see if they need an individual license before fishing.
NCDMF rows
Coastal and joint waters limits
| Species | Where | Daily creel | Size | Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red drum | Coastal and joint fishing waters | 1 a day | 18-27 in | Year-round |
| Flounder (all species) | Internal coastal and joint fishing waters and Atlantic Ocean | 1 a day | 15 in minimum | Sept. 1-14, 2026 |
| Spotted seatrout (speckled trout) | Coastal and joint fishing waters including the Atlantic Ocean | 3 a day | 14-20 in, plus 1 over 26 in | Open (reopened July 1, 2026) |
| Weakfish (gray trout) | Coastal and joint fishing waters | 1 a day | 12 in minimum | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| Black drum | Coastal and joint fishing waters | 10 a day | 14-25 in, plus 1 over 25 in | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| Sheepshead | Coastal and joint fishing waters | 5 a day | 14 in minimum | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| Striped bass (including hybrids) | Atlantic Ocean (0-3 miles) | 1 a day | 28-31 in harvest slot | Year-round |
| Striped bass (including hybrids) | Albemarle Sound Management Area (Albemarle, Currituck, Roanoke and Croatan sounds and joint/inland t | none may be kept | no size limit | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| Striped bass (including hybrids) | Central Southern Management Area internal coastal and joint waters: Tar-Pamlico (west of Gum Point-F | 1 a day | 22-27 in protected | April 1-30, 2026 |
| Striped bass (including hybrids) | Central Southern Management Area, all other internal coastal and joint waters (incl. Cape Fear River | none may be kept | no size limit | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| Cobia | Coastal and joint fishing waters | 1 a day | 36 in minimum | May 1 – Dec. 31, 2026 |
| Bluefish | Coastal and joint fishing waters | 5 a day | no size limit | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| King mackerel | Coastal and joint fishing waters | 3 a day | 24 in minimum | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| Spanish mackerel | Coastal and joint fishing waters | 15 a day | 12 in minimum | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| Dolphin | Coastal fishing waters | 10 a day | no size limit | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| Wahoo | Coastal fishing waters | 2 a day | no size limit | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| Yellowfin tuna | Coastal fishing waters | 3 a day | 27 in minimum | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| Bigeye tuna | Coastal fishing waters | no creel limit | 27 in minimum | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| Bluefin tuna | Coastal fishing waters | no creel limit | no size limit | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| Blue marlin / white marlin | Coastal fishing waters | no creel limit | 99 in minimum | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| Sailfish | Coastal fishing waters | 1 a day | 63 in minimum | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| Spiny dogfish | Coastal fishing waters | no creel limit | no size limit | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| Sharks: Atlantic sharpnose and bonnethead | Coastal and joint fishing waters | 1 a day | no size limit | Jan. 1 – Dec. 31 |
| Sharks: hammerheads (great, smooth, scalloped) | Coastal and joint fishing waters | 1 a day | 78 in minimum | Jan. 1 – Dec. 31 |
| Sharks: other permitted large coastal and pelagic sharks, blacknose, finetooth | Coastal and joint fishing waters | 1 a day | 54 in minimum | Jan. 1 – Dec. 31 |
| Tarpon | Coastal and joint fishing waters | none may be kept | no size limit | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| American shad / hickory shad | All other internal coastal and joint waters | 10 a day | no size limit | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| American shad / hickory shad | Pamlico and Pungo rivers and tributaries | 10 a day | no size limit | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| American shad / hickory shad | Cape Fear River and tributaries | 10 a day | no size limit | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| Hickory shad | Atlantic Ocean | 10 a day | no size limit | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| River herring (alewife and blueback herring) | Coastal and joint fishing waters | none may be kept | no size limit | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| American eel | Coastal and joint fishing waters | 25 a day | 9 in minimum | Jan. 1 – Aug. 31 (year-round when taken by baited pots) |
| Scup | Atlantic Ocean north of Cape Hatteras | 30 a day | 9 in minimum | No closed season |
| Black sea bass | North of Cape Hatteras | 15 a day | 13 in minimum | May 1 – Dec. 31, 2026 |
| Black sea bass | South of Cape Hatteras | 7 a day | 13 in minimum | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| Mullet (striped and white) | Coastal and joint fishing waters including the Atlantic Ocean | 100 a day | no size limit | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| Spot | Coastal and joint fishing waters | 50 a day | no size limit | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| Atlantic croaker | Coastal and joint fishing waters | 50 a day | no size limit | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| Gag grouper | State and federal waters off North Carolina (snapper-grouper complex) | 1 a day | 24 in minimum | May 1 – Aug. 1, 2026 |
| Black grouper | State and federal waters off North Carolina (snapper-grouper complex) | 1 a day | 24 in minimum | May 1 – Dec. 31 |
| Red grouper | State and federal waters off North Carolina (snapper-grouper complex) | no creel limit | 20 in minimum | June 1 – Dec. 31 |
| Scamp / yellowmouth grouper | State and federal waters off North Carolina (snapper-grouper complex) | 1 a day | 20 in minimum | May 1 – Dec. 31 |
| Yellowfin grouper | State and federal waters off North Carolina (snapper-grouper complex) | no creel limit | 20 in minimum | May 1 – Dec. 31 |
| Rock hind, red hind, coney, graysby | State and federal waters off North Carolina (snapper-grouper complex) | no creel limit | no size limit | May 1 – Dec. 31 |
| Snowy grouper | State and federal waters off North Carolina (snapper-grouper complex) | none may be kept | no size limit | Reopens May 1, 2027 |
| Grouper/tilefish aggregate | State and federal waters off North Carolina (snapper-grouper complex) | 3 a day | no size limit | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| Speckled hind, warsaw, Nassau and goliath grouper | State and federal waters off North Carolina (snapper-grouper complex) | none may be kept | no size limit | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| Greater amberjack | State and federal waters off North Carolina (snapper-grouper complex) | 1 a day | 28 in minimum | May 1 – March 31 |
| Red snapper | State and federal waters off North Carolina (snapper-grouper complex) | 1 a day | no size limit | Oct. 9-11, 2026 only |
| Vermilion snapper | State and federal waters off North Carolina (snapper-grouper complex) | 5 a day | 12 in minimum | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| Hogfish | State and federal waters off North Carolina (snapper-grouper complex) | 2 a day | 17 in minimum | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| Yellowtail, cubera and gray snapper | State and federal waters off North Carolina (snapper-grouper complex) | no creel limit | 12 in minimum | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| Mutton snapper | State and federal waters off North Carolina (snapper-grouper complex) | 5 a day | 18 in minimum | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| Lane snapper | State and federal waters off North Carolina (snapper-grouper complex) | no creel limit | 8 in minimum | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| Snapper aggregate | State and federal waters off North Carolina (snapper-grouper complex) | 10 a day | no size limit | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| Red porgy | State and federal waters off North Carolina (snapper-grouper complex) | 1 a day | 14 in minimum | May 1 – June 30 |
| Golden tilefish | State and federal waters off North Carolina (snapper-grouper complex) | none may be kept | no size limit | Reopens Jan. 1, 2027 |
| Blueline tilefish | State and federal waters off North Carolina (snapper-grouper complex) | 2 a day | no size limit | May 1 – Aug. 31 |
| Gray triggerfish | State and federal waters off North Carolina (snapper-grouper complex) | no creel limit | 12 in minimum | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| Wreckfish | State and federal waters off North Carolina (snapper-grouper complex) | no creel limit | no size limit | July 1 – Aug. 31 |
| 20-fish aggregate (porgies, triggerfish, jacks, grunts, spadefish) | State and federal waters off North Carolina (snapper-grouper complex) | 20 a day | no size limit | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| Blue crab | Coastal waters (shellfish and crustaceans) | 50 a day | no size limit | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| Spiny lobster | Coastal waters (shellfish and crustaceans) | 2 a day | no size limit | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| Stone crab claws | Coastal waters (shellfish and crustaceans) | no creel limit | no size limit | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| Hard clam | Coastal waters (shellfish and crustaceans) | 100 a day | no size limit | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| Oyster | Coastal waters (shellfish and crustaceans) | none may be kept | no size limit | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| Bay scallop | Coastal waters (shellfish and crustaceans) | none may be kept | no size limit | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| Conchs and whelks | Coastal waters (shellfish and crustaceans) | 10 a day | no size limit | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| Mussels | Coastal waters (shellfish and crustaceans) | 100 a day | no size limit | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| Shrimp | Coastal waters (shellfish and crustaceans) | no creel limit | no size limit | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| Unregulated / other finfish | Coastal and joint fishing waters | no creel limit | no size limit | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
NCDMF recreational size and bag limits and proclamations in force on October 2026.
NCWRC joint rows
NCWRC rows for coastal species in inland and joint waters
| Species | Daily creel | Size | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flounder | 1 a day | 15 in minimum | Sept. 1-14 (2026) |
| Red drum | 1 a day | 18 to 27 in | No closed season |
| Spotted seatrout | 3 a day | 20-26 in protected; only 1 over 26 in | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| Atlantic croaker | 50 a day | no size limit | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| Black drum | 10 a day | 14 to 25 in | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| Bluefish | 5 a day | no size limit | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| Cobia | 1 a day | 36 in minimum | May 1 – Dec. 31 |
| King mackerel | 3 a day | 24 in minimum | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| Mullet (striped and white) | 100 a day | no size limit | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| Sheepshead | 5 a day | 14 in minimum | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| Spanish mackerel | 15 a day | 12 in minimum | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| Spot | 50 a day | no size limit | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| Weakfish (gray trout) | 1 a day | 12 in minimum | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| Sharks | none may be kept | no size limit | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| Tarpon | none may be kept | no size limit | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
New for 2026-2027 (NCWRC change table): state law requires recreational harvest reporting for red drum, flounder, spotted seatrout, striped bass and weakfish taken from inland or joint fishing waters adjacent to coastal waters (and from coastal and joint waters under 15A NCAC 03I .0124). Report at deq.nc.gov/report-my-fish.
Sharks: whale, basking, white, sand tiger, bigeye sand tiger, Atlantic angel, bigeye sixgill, bigeye thresher, bignose, Caribbean reef, Caribbean sharpnose, dusky, Galapagos, longfin mako, oceanic whitetip, shortfin mako, narrowtooth, night, sandbar, silky, sevengill, sixgill, smalltail. Other finfish: river herring, Atlantic sturgeon, shortnose sturgeon, Nassau grouper, Goliath grouper, Warsaw grouper, speckled hind and red snapper (red snapper open Oct. 9-11, 2026 only per FF-40-2026).
Pictures
North Carolina waters, pictured
Photo: Mark Fickett, CC BY 3.0
Photo: User:Dincher, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Indy beetle, CC0 1.0
Photo: NatalieMaynor from Jackson, Mississippi, USA, CC BY 2.0
Answers
North Carolina Coastal and Joint Waters Limits questions
What is the red drum limit in North Carolina?
1 a day, 18 to 27 inches, year-round.
When is flounder season in 2026?
September 1-14, 2026: 1 fish, 15-inch minimum, all waters.
What is the speckled trout limit?
3 a day, 14-inch minimum, with protections for larger fish; open since July 1, 2026.
Can I keep red snapper in 2026?
Only October 9-11, 2026, 1 fish per person.
Do I need to report my catch?
Yes, for red drum, flounder, spotted seatrout, striped bass and weakfish, at deq.nc.gov/report-my-fish.
Does an ocean pier cover my license?
Ocean piers hold blanket privileges with their pier license; check each pier.
What is the black sea bass limit?
15 north of Cape Hatteras and 7 south, 13-inch minimum.
Are sharks open?
Yes for permitted species with size limits; many sharks are prohibited.
More
Other North Carolina limits pages
- Inland Waters LimitsNCWRC limits for inland waters
- Striped Bass Management AreasAtlantic Ocean, Albemarle, Roanoke and Central Southern areas
- Mountain Trout Classes and SeasonsHatchery Supported, Delayed Harvest, Wild and Catch and Release rules
- License and feeswho needs one, prices