Sheepsheadin North Carolina
Archosargus probatocephalus
Also called Convict fish.
The rule in North Carolina
North Carolina’s own rule for sheepshead in state waters, out to 3 nautical miles.
Tightened effective Mar 1, 2026 (was 10" FL / 10 per day); measured total length like black drum.
Measured as total length (TL): snout to the tip of the tail, with the tail lobes squeezed together.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| SheepsheadThis page. | 14" TL min | 5/day | Open year-round |
| Black drumJuvenile drum bars fade; drum has chin barbels.Tell them apart | 14–25" TL slot | 10 per person per day | Year-round |
| Atlantic spadefishRounder, disc-shaped, small mouth.Tell them apart | No size limit | 20/day aggregate (max 10 spadefish) | Open year-round |
North Carolina state record
19 lb 4 oz, Off Oregon Inlet, 1999. NCDMF State Saltwater Records · checked 2026-08-22
How to tell it
Bold black vertical bars and startlingly human-like teeth. More on the sheepshead page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Sheepshead in other states
In the app
Point the camera at a sheepshead in North Carolina and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
Get the appSheepshead in North Carolina: the questions
What is the size limit for sheepshead in North Carolina?
14" TL min. Measured as total length: snout to the tip of the tail, with the tail lobes squeezed together.
How many sheepshead can you keep in North Carolina?
5/day.
When is sheepshead season in North Carolina?
Open year-round.
What is the North Carolina record sheepshead?
19 lb 4 oz, Off Oregon Inlet (1999).
How current is this North Carolina sheepshead 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.