Atlantic Spadefish
Chaetodipterus faber
How to tell it
Silver disc with faint dark bars; travels in spirals.
Rules for
Every state
| State | Size | Bag | Season | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida (Atlantic)Federal rule (South Atlantic federal waters) | No size limit | 10 per person per day within 20-fish snapper-grouper aggregate | Open year-roundSAFMC / NOAA SERO 2026 · checked | Open |
| GeorgiaFederal rule (South Atlantic federal waters) | No size limit | 10 per person per day within 20-fish snapper-grouper aggregate | Open year-roundSAFMC / NOAA SERO 2026 · checked | Open |
| North Carolina | No size limit | 20/day aggregate (max 10 spadefish) | Open year-roundNC DMF 2026 · checked | Open |
| South Carolina | 14 in total length | 30 per boat per day | Open year-roundSC DNR 2026 · checked | Open |
| Virginia | No size limit | 4 per person | Open year-roundVMRC 2026 · checked | Open |
Not specifically regulated in Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida (Gulf), Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Texas: each state’s rule for unlisted species applies there (on its page).
State records
| State | Weight | When, where | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 8 lb 8 oz | 2007 | Outdoor Alabama Saltwater State Records · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Georgia | 13 lb 2.08 oz | 2004 | GA DNR CRD Saltwater Records · checked 2026-08-23 · GA keeps men's/women's records; heavier taken as overall |
| Louisiana | 10.31 lb | 1989 | LOWA Louisiana State Fish Records (Saltwater, Rod & Reel) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Maryland | 11.4 lb | 2004 · Triple Wrecks | MD DNR Sport Fish State Records · checked 2026-08-23 · MD Atlantic division record |
| Mississippi | 9 lb 8 oz | 2013 | MDMR State Saltwater Records (Conventional) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| New Jersey | 11 lb 6 oz | 1998 · Delaware Bay | NJ DEP Fish & Wildlife State Record Saltwater Fish · checked 2026-09-04 |
| North Carolina | 11 lb 3 oz | 2009 · Off Hatteras Village | NCDMF State Saltwater Records · checked 2026-08-22 |
| South Carolina | 14 lb 2 oz | 2005 · Beaufort | SCDNR Saltwater Game Fish Records · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Texas | 12.94 lb | 2002 · Gulf of America | TPWD State Records (Saltwater, Rod & Reel) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Virginia | 14 lb 14 oz | 2009 · The Cell (Ches. Bay) | VMRC Saltwater Fishing Tournament, 2025 brochure · checked 2026-09-04 |
On the table
Good, crab-sweet.
In the app
Point the camera at a atlantic spadefish and the name appears before you take the picture, with these rules for the water you’re standing in. No signal needed, and every catch goes in the log.
Get the appQuestions anglers ask about atlantic spadefish
What is the size limit for atlantic spadefish?
It depends on the state. South Carolina: 14 in total length.
How many atlantic spadefish can you keep?
Florida (Atlantic): 10 per person per day within 20-fish snapper-grouper aggregate; Georgia: 10 per person per day within 20-fish snapper-grouper aggregate; North Carolina: 20/day aggregate (max 10 spadefish); South Carolina: 30 per boat per day; Virginia: 4 per person.
What is the record atlantic spadefish?
14 lb 14 oz in Virginia (2009), The Cell (Ches. Bay). Other states’ records are in the table.