Red grouperin North Carolina
Epinephelus morio
The rule in North Carolina
Federal rule (South Atlantic federal waters). North Carolina lists no rule of its own for red grouper, so the council's rule applies in state waters too.
Off GA and east FL the closure is Jan 1 – Apr 30 (opens May 1).
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 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red grouperThis page. | 20 in total length | 3 per person per day within 3-grouper aggregate | NC/SC federal waters: June 1 – Dec 31 (closed Jan 1 – May 31); GA/FL: May 1 – Dec 31 |
| Red snapperSnapper is brighter red with a snapper jaw and forked tail.Tell them apart | N/A | No harvest or possession | Closed year-round |
| Red hindSmaller, covered in discrete red spots.Tell them apart | No size limit | 3 per person per day within 3-grouper aggregate | May 1 – Dec 31 (spawning closure Jan 1 – Apr 30) |
North Carolina state record
37 lb 14.4 oz, Wilmington, 2019. NCDMF State Saltwater Records · checked 2026-08-22
How to tell it
Brick-red mottle, pale blotches, sloped straight head profile; inside of mouth washed red. More on the red grouper page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Red grouper in other states
In the app
Point the camera at a red grouper in North Carolina and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
Get the appRed grouper in North Carolina: the questions
What is the size limit for red grouper in North Carolina?
20 in total length. Measured as total length: snout to the tip of the tail, with the tail lobes squeezed together.
How many red grouper can you keep in North Carolina?
3 per person per day within 3-grouper aggregate. It counts toward an aggregate: 3-grouper/tilefish aggregate.
When is red grouper season in North Carolina?
NC/SC federal waters: June 1 – Dec 31 (closed Jan 1 – May 31); GA/FL: May 1 – Dec 31. As of Sep 21, 2026 it is open.
What is the North Carolina record red grouper?
37 lb 14.4 oz, Wilmington (2019).
How current is this North Carolina red 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.