Coneyin North Carolina
Cephalopholis fulva
The rule in North Carolina
Federal rule (South Atlantic federal waters). North Carolina lists no rule of its own for coney, so the council's rule applies in state waters too.
Counts toward an aggregate limit: 3-grouper/tilefish aggregate.
SAFMC / NOAA SERO 2026· checked Open
How to tell it
Small grouper in freckled brown, red, or golden phases. More on the coney page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Coney in other states
In the app
Point the camera at a coney in North Carolina and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
Get the appConey in North Carolina: the questions
What is the size limit for coney in North Carolina?
No size limit.
How many coney can you keep in North Carolina?
3 per person per day within 3-grouper aggregate. It counts toward an aggregate: 3-grouper/tilefish aggregate.
When is coney season in North Carolina?
May 1 – Dec 31 (spawning closure Jan 1 – Apr 30). As of Sep 21, 2026 it is open.
How current is this North Carolina coney 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.