Tomtate
Haemulon aurolineatum
How to tell it
Slim gray grunt with a brassy stripe ending in a tail-base spot.
Rules for
Every state
| State | Size | Bag | Season | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida (Atlantic)Federal rule (South Atlantic federal waters) | No size limit | No bag limit (excluded from the 20-fish aggregate) | Open year-roundSAFMC / NOAA SERO 2026 · checked | Open |
| GeorgiaFederal rule (South Atlantic federal waters) | No size limit | No bag limit (excluded from the 20-fish aggregate) | Open year-roundSAFMC / NOAA SERO 2026 · checked | Open |
| North CarolinaFederal rule (South Atlantic federal waters) | No size limit | No bag limit (excluded from the 20-fish 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 · likely · 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 | 1 lb 4.8 oz | 2014 | Outdoor Alabama Saltwater State Records · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Mississippi | 0 lb 12.96 oz | 2004 | MDMR State Saltwater Records (Conventional) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| North Carolina | 1 lb 4 oz | 2006 · Hatteras | NCDMF State Saltwater Records · checked 2026-08-22 |
| Texas | 3.26 lb | 2019 · Gulf of America | TPWD State Records (Saltwater, Rod & Reel) · checked 2026-08-23 |
On the table
Good panfish.
In the app
Point the camera at a tomtate 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 tomtate
How many tomtate can you keep?
South Carolina: 20/day aggregate, max 10 of any one species.
What is the record tomtate?
3.26 lb in Texas (2019), Gulf of America. Other states’ records are in the table.