Spotted Seatrout (also known as Speckled Trout, Speck, Spotted Weakfish) 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 Spotted Seatrout is 14 in and the daily bag limit is 3. A slot limit applies: 14" min to 20" max TL slot, with 1 of the 3-fish daily bag allowed to be greater than 26" TL. There is no closed season in NC.
14" min to 20" max TL slot, with 1 of the 3-fish daily bag allowed to be greater than 26" TL
No closed season
Statewide. STATE coastal and joint waters (internal + 0-3 mi). No federal regulations. Mandatory harvest reporting (effective Dec 1, 2025): kept spotted seatrout must be reported at deq.nc.gov/report-my-fish.
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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