Spiny dogfishin North Carolina
Squalus acanthias
The rule in North Carolina
North Carolina’s own rule for spiny dogfish in state waters, out to 3 nautical miles.
SizeNo size limit
BagNo bag limit
SeasonYear-round
NC DMF 2026· checked Open
How to tell it
White spots on gray, a spine before each dorsal, no anal fin. More on the spiny dogfish page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Spiny dogfish in other states
In the app
Point the camera at a spiny dogfish in North Carolina and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
Get the appSpiny dogfish in North Carolina: the questions
What is the size limit for spiny dogfish in North Carolina?
No size limit.
How many spiny dogfish can you keep in North Carolina?
No bag limit.
When is spiny dogfish season in North Carolina?
Year-round.
How current is this North Carolina spiny dogfish 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.