Sand tilefishin North Carolina
Malacanthus plumieri
The rule in North Carolina
Federal rule (South Atlantic federal waters). North Carolina lists no rule of its own for sand tilefish, so the council's rule applies in state waters too.
Counts toward an aggregate limit: 3-grouper/tilefish aggregate.
SAFMC / NOAA SERO 2026· checked Open
North Carolina state record
4 lb 5 oz, Off Oak Island, 2004. NCDMF State Saltwater Records · checked 2026-08-22
How to tell it
Long slim pale tilefish hovering over sand burrows. More on the sand tilefish page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Sand tilefish in other states
In the app
Point the camera at a sand tilefish in North Carolina and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
Get the appSand tilefish in North Carolina: the questions
What is the size limit for sand tilefish in North Carolina?
No size limit.
How many sand tilefish 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 sand tilefish season in North Carolina?
Open year-round.
What is the North Carolina record sand tilefish?
4 lb 5 oz, Off Oak Island (2004).
How current is this North Carolina sand tilefish 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.