Lesser amberjackin North Carolina
Seriola fasciata
The rule in North Carolina
Federal rule (South Atlantic federal waters). North Carolina lists no rule of its own for lesser amberjack, so the council's rule applies in state waters too.
Counts toward an aggregate limit: 20-fish snapper-grouper aggregate.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lesser amberjackThis page. | No size limit | 10 per person per day within 20-fish snapper-grouper aggregate | Open year-round |
| Greater amberjackEye stripe runs into the first dorsal.Tell them apart | 28 in fork length | 1 per person per day | Closed April 1–30 annually; open rest of year |
How to tell it
Smallest amberjack; eye stripe ends before the dorsal, big eye. More on the lesser amberjack page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Lesser amberjack in other states
In the app
Point the camera at a lesser amberjack in North Carolina and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
Get the appLesser amberjack in North Carolina: the questions
What is the size limit for lesser amberjack in North Carolina?
No size limit.
How many lesser amberjack can you keep in North Carolina?
10 per person per day within 20-fish snapper-grouper aggregate. It counts toward an aggregate: 20-fish snapper-grouper aggregate.
When is lesser amberjack season in North Carolina?
Open year-round.
How current is this North Carolina lesser amberjack 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.