Black grouperin North Carolina
Mycteroperca bonaci
The rule in North Carolina
Federal rule (South Atlantic federal waters). North Carolina lists no rule of its own for black grouper, so the council's rule applies in state waters too.
Vessel limit 2 per day.
Counts toward an aggregate limit: 3-grouper/tilefish aggregate.
Measured as total length (TL): snout to the tip of the tail, with the tail lobes squeezed together.
SAFMC / NOAA SERO 2026· checked Open
How to tell it
Rectangular dark blotches over brassy-bronze spots; gently rounded preopercle (no gag notch). More on the black grouper page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Black grouper in other states
In the app
Point the camera at a black grouper in North Carolina and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
Get the appBlack grouper in North Carolina: the questions
What is the size limit for black grouper in North Carolina?
24 in total length. Measured as total length: snout to the tip of the tail, with the tail lobes squeezed together.
How many black grouper can you keep in North Carolina?
1 per day (gag or black grouper combined; max 2 per vessel), within 3-grouper aggregate. It counts toward an aggregate: 3-grouper/tilefish aggregate.
When is black grouper season in North Carolina?
May 1 – Dec 31 (shallow-water grouper spawning closure Jan 1 – Apr 30). As of Sep 21, 2026 it is open.
How current is this North Carolina black grouper rule?
Source: SAFMC / NOAA SERO 2026, last checked Sep 16, 2026. A watchman re-reads the agency's pages nightly. Rules change mid-season by proclamation; the official rulebook is the final word.