Mangrove snapperin North Carolina
Lutjanus griseus
Also called Gray snapper, Mango.
The rule in North Carolina
Federal rule (South Atlantic federal waters). North Carolina lists no rule of its own for mangrove snapper, so the council's rule applies in state waters too.
Listed as gray snapper in federal regulations.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mangrove snapperThis page. | 12 in total length | 10 per person per day within 10-snapper aggregate | Open year-round |
| Lane snapperPink-yellow stripes and a dark side spot.Tell them apart | 8 in total length | 10 per person per day within 10-snapper aggregate | Open year-round |
North Carolina state record
15 lb 3.2 oz, Near Frying Pan Tower, 2023. NCDMF State Saltwater Records · checked 2026-08-22
How to tell it
Gray-bronze with reddish tinge, two canine fangs up top, dark stripe through the eye on juveniles. More on the mangrove snapper page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Mangrove snapper in other states
In the app
Point the camera at a mangrove snapper in North Carolina and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
Get the appMangrove snapper in North Carolina: the questions
What is the size limit for mangrove 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 mangrove 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 mangrove snapper season in North Carolina?
Open year-round.
What is the North Carolina record mangrove snapper?
15 lb 3.2 oz, Near Frying Pan Tower (2023).
How current is this North Carolina mangrove 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.