Northern stargazerin North Carolina
Astroscopus guttatus
The rule in North Carolina
North Carolina’s own rule for northern stargazer in state waters, out to 3 nautical miles.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern stargazerThis page. | No size limit | No bag limit | Open year-round |
| Oyster toadfishMouth on the front of the face, not the top.Tell them apart | Not listed by North Carolina: the default applies (No size limit, no bag limit) | ||
How to tell it
Buried head-up in the sand: eyes and a fringed mouth on TOP of a blunt head, white-spotted black body — and an electric organ behind the eyes, so use pliers. More on the northern stargazer page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
In the app
Point the camera at a northern stargazer in North Carolina and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
Get the appNorthern stargazer in North Carolina: the questions
What is the size limit for northern stargazer in North Carolina?
No size limit.
How many northern stargazer can you keep in North Carolina?
No bag limit.
When is northern stargazer season in North Carolina?
Open year-round.
How current is this North Carolina northern stargazer 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.