Conger eelin North Carolina
Conger oceanicus
The rule in North Carolina
North Carolina’s own rule for conger eel in state waters, out to 3 nautical miles.
NC's eel rule covers American eel only — conger is unregulated.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conger eelThis page. | No size limit | No bag limit | Open year-round |
| American eelBrown-yellow, lower jaw juts out.Tell them apart | 9 in total length | 25 per day | Jan 1 – Aug 31 |
How to tell it
Gray scaleless eel whose dorsal starts right behind the pectorals; upper jaw overhangs the lower. More on the conger eel page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
In the app
Point the camera at a conger eel in North Carolina and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
Get the appConger eel in North Carolina: the questions
What is the size limit for conger eel in North Carolina?
No size limit.
How many conger eel can you keep in North Carolina?
No bag limit.
When is conger eel season in North Carolina?
Open year-round.
How current is this North Carolina conger 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.