Black Drum (also known as Drum, Puppy Drum, Bull Drum) in North Carolina. Minimum legal size, daily bag limit, possession limit, slot rule — verified against the NCDMF guide, 2026.
In North Carolina, the minimum legal size for Black Drum is 14 in and the daily bag limit is 10 per person. A slot limit applies: Harvest slot 14–25 in (one over-slot fish allowed per person/day). There is no closed season in NC.
Harvest slot 14–25 in (one over-slot fish allowed per person/day).
No closed season
Atlantic / coastal & joint waters statewide. State coastal & joint waters (internal + Atlantic 0-3 mi). No federal regulations. Inland-water size/creel same as adjacent coastal/joint waters.
These limits are pulled from the NCDMF recreational size and bag limits. Last verified June 2026.
Always check the official guide before keeping any fish. Regulations change. North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries updates its guide annually and occasionally mid-year. Fines for over-bag or undersized fish are significant.
North Carolina requires a Coastal Recreational Fishing License (CRFL) for anyone aged 16 or older fishing coastal or joint waters — there is no general shoreline exemption. NC fishing licences.
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