Gag grouperin North Carolina
Mycteroperca microlepis
Also called Gray grouper.
The rule in North Carolina
Federal rule (South Atlantic federal waters). North Carolina lists no rule of its own for gag grouper, so the council's rule applies in state waters too.
Recreational ACL met; closure effective Aug 2, 2026.
Counts toward an aggregate limit: 3-grouper/tilefish aggregate.
Measured as total length (TL): snout to the tip of the tail, with the tail lobes squeezed together.
SAFMC / NOAA SERO 2026· checked Closed
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gag grouperThis page. | 24 in total length | 1 per day (gag or black grouper combined; max 2 per vessel), within 3-grouper aggregate | 2026 season May 1 – Aug 1; quota-closed Aug 2, 2026 through Apr 30, 2027 |
| Black grouperRectangular dark blotches, brassy spots.Tell them apart | 24 in total length | 1 per day (gag or black grouper combined; max 2 per vessel), within 3-grouper aggregate | May 1 – Dec 31 (shallow-water grouper spawning closure Jan 1 – Apr 30) |
North Carolina state record
48 lb, Off Morehead City, 2018. NCDMF State Saltwater Records · checked 2026-08-22
How to tell it
Box-shaped worm markings in gray marble; darker fins with white edge on the anal. More on the gag grouper page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Gag grouper in other states
In the app
Point the camera at a gag grouper in North Carolina and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
Get the appGag grouper in North Carolina: the questions
What is the size limit for gag grouper in North Carolina?
24 in total length. Measured as total length: snout to the tip of the tail, with the tail lobes squeezed together.
How many gag grouper can you keep in North Carolina?
1 per day (gag or black grouper combined; max 2 per vessel), within 3-grouper aggregate. It counts toward an aggregate: 3-grouper/tilefish aggregate.
When is gag grouper season in North Carolina?
2026 season May 1 – Aug 1; quota-closed Aug 2, 2026 through Apr 30, 2027. As of Sep 21, 2026 it is closed.
What is the North Carolina record gag grouper?
48 lb, Off Morehead City (2018).
How current is this North Carolina gag grouper 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.