Cubera snapperin North Carolina
Lutjanus cyanopterus
The rule in North Carolina
Federal rule (South Atlantic federal waters). North Carolina lists no rule of its own for cubera snapper, so the council's rule applies in state waters too.
Off east FL, cubera 30 in TL or larger are limited to 2 per person, not to exceed 2 per vessel.
Counts toward an aggregate limit: 10-snapper 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
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cubera snapperThis page. | 12 in total length | 10 per person per day within 10-snapper aggregate | Open year-round |
| Mangrove snapperSmaller, warmer bronze, smaller teeth.Tell them apart | 12 in total length | 10 per person per day within 10-snapper aggregate | Open year-round |
North Carolina state record
85 lb, Off of Hatteras, 2026. NCDMF State Saltwater Records · checked 2026-08-28
How to tell it
Huge gray snapper with visible canines; adults offshore on wrecks. More on the cubera snapper page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Cubera snapper in other states
In the app
Point the camera at a cubera snapper in North Carolina and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
Get the appCubera snapper in North Carolina: the questions
What is the size limit for cubera snapper in North Carolina?
12 in total length. Measured as total length: snout to the tip of the tail, with the tail lobes squeezed together.
How many cubera 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 cubera snapper season in North Carolina?
Open year-round.
What is the North Carolina record cubera snapper?
85 lb, Off of Hatteras (2026).
How current is this North Carolina cubera 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.