Greater Amberjack (also known as Amberjack, AJ, Reef Donkey) 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 Greater Amberjack is 28 in and the daily bag limit is 1 per person. Season note: Open seasons and these size and bag limits are reviewed at least annually and can change in-season — always confirm the current North Carolina rules (including open dates, depth and area) before keeping fish.
Open seasons and these size and bag limits are reviewed at least annually and can change in-season — always confirm the current North Carolina rules (including open dates, depth and area) before keeping fish.
Annual spawning closure April 1-April 30; otherwise open. Lesser amberjack is in the separate 'Other Jacks' 20-fish aggregate complex, not this rule. STATE coastal + joint waters (0-3 mi) and the federal EEZ (3-200 mi) follow the same SAFMC-aligned rule. Open year-round EXCEPT an annual spawning closure April 1 through April 30. Confirm the current open depth/area + closure dates against the latest Snapper Grouper proclamation.
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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