Sand Tilefish
Malacanthus plumieri
How to tell it
Long slim pale tilefish hovering over sand burrows.
Rules for
Every state
| State | Size | Bag | Season | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida (Atlantic)Federal rule (South Atlantic federal waters) | No size limit | 3 per person per day within 3-grouper aggregate | Open year-roundSAFMC / NOAA SERO 2026 · checked | Open |
| GeorgiaFederal rule (South Atlantic federal waters) | No size limit | 3 per person per day within 3-grouper aggregate | Open year-roundSAFMC / NOAA SERO 2026 · checked | Open |
| North CarolinaFederal rule (South Atlantic federal waters) | No size limit | 3 per person per day within 3-grouper aggregate | Open year-roundSAFMC / NOAA SERO 2026 · checked | Open |
| South Carolina | No size limit | 3/day, within 3-grouper aggregate | 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 | 2 lb 10.4 oz | 2023 | Outdoor Alabama Saltwater State Records · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Mississippi | 2 lb 1 oz | 2008 | MDMR State Saltwater Records (Conventional) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| North Carolina | 4 lb 5 oz | 2004 · Off Oak Island | NCDMF State Saltwater Records · checked 2026-08-22 |
| Texas | 3.5 lb | 2019 · Gulf of America | TPWD State Records (Saltwater, Rod & Reel) · checked 2026-08-23 |
On the table
Good.
In the app
Point the camera at a sand tilefish 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 sand tilefish
How many sand tilefish can you keep?
Florida (Atlantic): 3 per person per day within 3-grouper aggregate; Georgia: 3 per person per day within 3-grouper aggregate; North Carolina: 3 per person per day within 3-grouper aggregate; South Carolina: 3/day, within 3-grouper aggregate.
What is the record sand tilefish?
4 lb 5 oz in North Carolina (2004), Off Oak Island. Other states’ records are in the table.