American eelin North Carolina
Anguilla rostrata
Also called Yellow eel, Silver eel.
The rule in North Carolina
North Carolina’s own rule for American eel in state waters, out to 3 nautical miles.
One of the few small species NC does regulate; the hook-and-line season closes Aug 31.
Measured as total length (TL): snout to the tip of the tail, with the tail lobes squeezed together.
NC DMF 2026· checked Closed
Often mistaken for, and their North Carolina rules
Keep the wrong fish and the rule that applies is the other one’s.
| Fish | Size | Bag | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| American eelThis page. | 9 in total length | 25 per day | Jan 1 – Aug 31 |
| Conger eelGray, with the upper jaw overhanging instead.Tell them apart | No size limit | No bag limit | Open year-round |
| Atlantic cutlassfishRibbon-flat and fanged, no tail fin at all.Tell them apart | Not listed by North Carolina: the default applies (No size limit, no bag limit) | ||
How to tell it
A true eel — one continuous fin running from mid-back around the tail; lower jaw juts past the upper. More on the American eel page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
American eel in other states
In the app
Point the camera at an American eel in North Carolina and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
Get the appAmerican eel in North Carolina: the questions
What is the size limit for American eel in North Carolina?
9 in total length. Measured as total length: snout to the tip of the tail, with the tail lobes squeezed together.
How many American eel can you keep in North Carolina?
25 per day.
When is American eel season in North Carolina?
Jan 1 – Aug 31. As of Sep 21, 2026 it is closed.
How current is this North Carolina American eel rule?
Source: NC DMF 2026, last checked Sep 20, 2026. A watchman re-reads the agency's pages nightly. Rules change mid-season by proclamation; the official rulebook is the final word.