Gray Snapper (also known as Mangrove Snapper, Mango Snapper) in North Carolina. Minimum legal size, daily bag limit, possession limit — verified against the NCDMF guide, 2026.
In North Carolina, the minimum legal size for Gray Snapper is 12 in and the daily bag limit is 10 per person (shared within a 10-fish snapper aggregate). Season note: Open; governed by the annually-issued Snapper-Grouper Complex DMF proclamation (FF-10-2026). No distinct gray-snapper closed season.
Open; governed by the annually-issued Snapper-Grouper Complex DMF proclamation (FF-10-2026). No distinct gray-snapper closed season.
Atlantic / snapper-grouper complex; state + federal South Atlantic. State coastal/joint waters (0-3 mi) AND federal South Atlantic waters — same rule. Managed via the Snapper-Grouper Complex proclamation; the substantial fishery is offshore/federal.
These limits are pulled from the NCDMF recreational size and bag limits. Last verified September 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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