Jolthead Porgy
Calamus bajonado
How to tell it
Big blue-lined porgy with a steep head; bulldozes crabs.
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 CarolinaFederal 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 |
| South Carolina | No size limit | 20/day aggregate, max 10 of any one species | Open year-roundSC DNR 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, Virginia: each state’s rule for unlisted species applies there (on its page).
State records
| State | Weight | When, where | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 9 lb 5.2 oz | 2023 | Outdoor Alabama Saltwater State Records · checked 2026-08-23 |
| North Carolina | 16 lb | 2026 · Off Wrightsville Beach | NCDMF State Saltwater Records · checked 2026-09-03 |
| South Carolina | 18 lb 4 oz | 1984 · Charleston | SCDNR Saltwater Game Fish Records · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Texas | 1.62 lb | 2008 · Gulf of America | TPWD State Records (Saltwater, Rod & Reel) · checked 2026-08-23 |
On the table
Good panfish — sweet, bony.
In the app
Point the camera at a jolthead porgy 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 jolthead porgy
How many jolthead porgy 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: 10 per person per day within 20-fish snapper-grouper aggregate; South Carolina: 20/day aggregate, max 10 of any one species.
What is the record jolthead porgy?
18 lb 4 oz in South Carolina (1984), Charleston. Other states’ records are in the table.