Scupin North Carolina
Stenotomus chrysops
The rule in North Carolina
North Carolina’s own rule for scup in state waters, out to 3 nautical miles.
South of Cape Hatteras scup is a porgies-complex species inside the 20-fish snapper-grouper aggregate (max 10).
Measured as total length (TL): snout to the tip of the tail, with the tail lobes squeezed together.
NC DMF 2026· checked Open
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.
South Atlantic federal rule; different rules apply north of Cape Hatteras (Mid-Atlantic).
SAFMC / NOAA SERO 2026 · checked 2026-09-16
How to tell it
Small northern porgy; dusky fins, concave forehead. More on the scup page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Scup in other states
In the app
Point the camera at a scup in North Carolina and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
Get the appScup in North Carolina: the questions
What is the size limit for scup in North Carolina?
9 in TL min (N of Cape Hatteras). Measured as total length: snout to the tip of the tail, with the tail lobes squeezed together.
How many scup can you keep in North Carolina?
30/day N of Cape Hatteras; S of Hatteras in 20-fish snapper-grouper aggregate.
When is scup season in North Carolina?
Open year-round.
How current is this North Carolina scup 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.