Weakfish across North Carolina
Finding and keeping weakfish, by North Carolina rules.
- 1 a daydaily creel
- 14 lb. 14 oz.record
Photo of Asheboro: Upstateherd, CC BY-SA 4.0
Where weakfish fit in North Carolina
Weakfish lives in North Carolina’s saltwater habitat. NCWRC sets a creel of 1 a day with 12 in minimum where inland and joint fishing waters (ncwrc, hook and line).
The state record is 14 lb. 14 oz., taken at Nags Head Surf in 1980. NCDMF citation: Award for harvest of fish, 5 pounds or larger. Award for live release of fish, 24 inches or longer.
How NCDMF describes weakfish
“Weakfish are dark olive-green on top and silvery below, burnished on the back and sides with purple, lavender, green, blue, golden or copper. The sides are flecked with dark blotches that form wavy lines running down and forward, but not into the fins. The fins are yellow, and there are two large canine-like teeth in the upper jaw. The spot pattern distinguishes weakfish from the spotted seatrout because the spots do not appear on the tail or second dorsal fins.”
- SizeWeakfish grow to 36 inches, but most catches range between 12 inches and 16 inches.
- HabitatWeakfish are found in coastal waters from Nova Scotia to northeast Florida but are more abundant between New York and North Carolina. They migrate seasonally, moving south and offshore in autumn and winter, and north and inshore during spring and summer.
- DietThey are an omnivorous fish that adapt to available food conditions. Smaller fish usually eat shrimp, crabs and small clams on the bottom, and larger fish eat butterfish, herrings and other fish.
- Fishing tipsAnglers catch weakfish with natural or artificial baits by a variety of techniques including bottom fishing and jigging. They commonly use sting silvers and spec rigs. The weakfish have soft mouths. Anglers should keep the line tight, yet not pull too hard because the hook could rip through the lip.
- Also calledgray trout, trout
- Confused withspotted seatrout
Quoted from the NCDMF species profile, checked October 2026.
Creel limits for weakfish
| Agency | Where | Daily creel | Size | Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NCWRC | Inland and joint fishing waters (NCWRC, hook and line) | 1 a day | 12 in minimum | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| NCDMF | Coastal and joint fishing waters | 1 a day | 12 in minimum | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
NCWRC 2026-27 digest and NCDMF proclamations. All North Carolina limits.
North Carolina record weakfish
| Category | Weight | Where | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| all tackle by weight | 14 lb. 14 oz. | Nags Head Surf | 1980 |
NCWRC and NCDMF state records. Angler names left out.
Species that pair with weakfish
- Red drumsalt
- Spotted seatroutsalt
- Southern floundersalt
- Summer floundersalt
- Gulf floundersalt
- Black drumsalt
- Sheepsheadsalt
- Atlantic croakersalt
- Spotsalt
- Kingfishessalt
- Bluefishsalt
- Cobiasalt
- King mackerelsalt
- Spanish mackerelsalt
Places to fish near Weakfish, pictured
Photo: Domenic R. Merenda at en.wikipedia, CC BY 2.5
Photo: DiscoA340, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Photo: user:netanel_h, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Mark Fickett, CC BY 3.0
Worth knowing about weakfish
Which rules govern keeping weakfish?
1 a day (Inland and joint fishing waters (NCWRC, hook and line)), size 12 in minimum.
Which water gave up the record weakfish?
14 lb. 14 oz. from Nags Head Surf (1980).
Which waters produce weakfish?
Weakfish are found in coastal waters from Nova Scotia to northeast Florida but are more abundant between New York and North Carolina. They migrate seasonally, moving south and offshore in autumn and winter, and north and inshore during spri
Does NCWRC stock weakfish?
Not on this year’s list.
How do I tell weakfish apart?
Weakfish grow to 36 inches, but most catches range between 12 inches and 16 inches.
Can weakfish be kept this month?
open all year unless closed by proclamation
What license do weakfish anglers buy?
Coastal waters take a Coastal Recreational Fishing License from age 16 ($20 resident, $40 nonresident).
Which captains list weakfish?
None list it by name; see the guides page.
Seek out weakfish
Pick a water from the lists on this page.