Red drumin North Carolina
Sciaenops ocellatus
Also called Redfish, Puppy drum, Channel bass, Spottail bass.
The rule in North Carolina
North Carolina’s own rule for red drum in state waters, out to 3 nautical miles.
Unlawful to possess over 27" TL or to gig, spear, or gaff red drum.
Measured as total length (TL): snout to the tip of the tail, with the tail lobes squeezed together.
NC DMF 2026· checked Open
Mandatory harvest reporting
Every red drum, flounder, speckled trout, striped bass, or weakfish you keep in North Carolina waters must be reported to NC DMF — state law since Dec 1, 2025. Report as soon as the trip is over (the moment the boat reaches shore) in the NC DMF iPhone app or the online form; paper report cards are due by midnight the next day.
How to report · NC DMF · checked 2026-09-04
Beyond 3 miles: federal waters
A different rule past the 3-mile line, written by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council. Where the two differ, the water you are in decides.
Harvest and possession prohibited in the Atlantic EEZ (3–200 mi); state waters have their own rules.
SAFMC / NOAA SERO 2026 · checked 2026-09-16
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red drumThis page. | 18–27" TL slot | 1 per person per day | Year-round |
| Black drumHas chin barbels, no tail spot.Tell them apart | 14–25" TL slot | 10 per person per day | Year-round |
North Carolina state record
94 lb 2 oz, Hatteras Island, 1984. NCDMF State Saltwater Records · checked 2026-08-22
How to tell it
Black spot (sometimes several) at the tail base, coppery-bronze back, no chin barbels. More on the red drum page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Red drum in other states
In the app
Point the camera at a red drum in North Carolina and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
Get the appRed drum in North Carolina: the questions
What is the size limit for red drum in North Carolina?
18–27" TL slot. Measured as total length: snout to the tip of the tail, with the tail lobes squeezed together.
How many red drum can you keep in North Carolina?
1 per person per day.
When is red drum season in North Carolina?
Year-round.
Do I have to report red drum in North Carolina?
Yes. Every red drum, flounder, speckled trout, striped bass, or weakfish you keep in North Carolina waters must be reported to NC DMF — state law since Dec 1, 2025. Report as soon as the trip is over (the moment the boat reaches shore) in the NC DMF iPhone app or the online form; paper report cards are due by midnight the next day.
What is the North Carolina record red drum?
94 lb 2 oz, Hatteras Island (1984).
How current is this North Carolina red drum 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.