Sharksuckerin North Carolina
Echeneis naucrates
Also called Remora.
The rule in North Carolina
North Carolina’s own rule for sharksucker 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| SharksuckerThis page. | No size limit | No bag limit | Open year-round |
| CobiaThe famous mix-up — same shape and stripe, but no disc.Tell them apart | 36" FL min | 1/person/day; private vessel 2/vessel/day May 1-Jun 30 then 1/vessel/day Jul 1-Dec 31; for-hire 4/vessel/day | May 1 - Dec 31, 2026 |
How to tell it
The suction disc on top of the head is the whole story; brown-white-brown racing stripe along the side. More on the sharksucker page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
In the app
Point the camera at a sharksucker in North Carolina and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
Get the appSharksucker in North Carolina: the questions
What is the size limit for sharksucker in North Carolina?
No size limit.
How many sharksucker can you keep in North Carolina?
No bag limit.
When is sharksucker season in North Carolina?
Open year-round.
How current is this North Carolina sharksucker 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.