Speckled hindin North Carolina
Hyporthodus drummondhayi
The rule in North Carolina
North Carolina’s own rule for speckled hind in state waters, out to 3 nautical miles.
Prohibited in NC coastal and joint waters; also protected under SAFMC federal rules.
NC DMF 2026· checked Put it back
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.
Must be released immediately.
SAFMC / NOAA SERO 2026 · checked 2026-09-16
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speckled hindThis page. | N/A | No harvest or possession | Closed year-round |
| Red hindRed spots on pale body — the inverse pattern.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
28 lb 8 oz, Off Topsail Beach, 1972. NCDMF State Saltwater Records · checked 2026-08-22
How to tell it
Chocolate body absolutely covered in tiny white speckles. More on the speckled hind page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Speckled hind in other states
In the app
Point the camera at a speckled hind in North Carolina and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
Get the appSpeckled hind in North Carolina: the questions
Can you keep speckled hind in North Carolina?
No. Harvest is prohibited in North Carolina. Release it in the water where you can. Prohibited in NC coastal and joint waters; also protected under SAFMC federal rules.
What is the North Carolina record speckled hind?
28 lb 8 oz, Off Topsail Beach (1972).
How current is this North Carolina speckled hind 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.