Blackfin snapperin North Carolina
Lutjanus buccanella
The rule in North Carolina
Federal rule (South Atlantic federal waters). North Carolina lists no rule of its own for blackfin snapper, so the council's rule applies in state waters too.
12 in TL minimum removed in 2020.
Counts toward an aggregate limit: 10-snapper aggregate.
SAFMC / NOAA SERO 2026· checked Open
How to tell it
Crimson with a black crescent at the pectoral base. More on the blackfin snapper page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Blackfin snapper in other states
In the app
Point the camera at a blackfin snapper in North Carolina and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
Get the appBlackfin snapper in North Carolina: the questions
What is the size limit for blackfin snapper in North Carolina?
No size limit.
How many blackfin snapper can you keep in North Carolina?
10 per person per day within 10-snapper aggregate. It counts toward an aggregate: 10-snapper aggregate.
When is blackfin snapper season in North Carolina?
Open year-round.
How current is this North Carolina blackfin snapper 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.