Clearnose skatein North Carolina
Rostroraja eglanteria
Also called Brier skate.
The rule in North Carolina
North Carolina’s own rule for clearnose skate in state waters, out to 3 nautical miles.
NC DMF 2026· checked Open
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clearnose skateThis page. | No size limit | No bag limit | Open year-round |
| Winter skateNorthern; rounder wings, pale eye-spots.Tell them apart | Not listed by North Carolina: the default applies (No size limit, no bag limit) | ||
| Atlantic stingrayWhip tail with a venomous barb — skates have neither.Tell them apart | No size limit | No bag limit | Open year-round |
How to tell it
Translucent panes either side of a pointed snout; thorn row down the back; barred, spotted disc. More on the clearnose skate page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
In the app
Point the camera at a clearnose skate in North Carolina and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
Get the appClearnose skate in North Carolina: the questions
What is the size limit for clearnose skate in North Carolina?
No size limit.
How many clearnose skate can you keep in North Carolina?
No bag limit.
When is clearnose skate season in North Carolina?
Open year-round.
How current is this North Carolina clearnose skate 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.