Striped bassin North Carolina
Morone saxatilis
Also called Striper, Rockfish.
The rule in North Carolina
North Carolina’s own rule for striped bass in state waters, out to 3 nautical miles.
Atlantic Ocean only: 1/day in 28-31 in TL harvest slot; Albemarle Sound Management Area season closed and Central Southern Management Area unlawful to possess.
Measured as total length (TL): snout to the tip of the tail, with the tail lobes squeezed together.
NC DMF 2026· checked Open
Mandatory harvest reporting
Every red drum, flounder, speckled trout, striped bass, or weakfish you keep in North Carolina waters must be reported to NC DMF — state law since Dec 1, 2025. Report as soon as the trip is over (the moment the boat reaches shore) in the NC DMF iPhone app or the online form; paper report cards are due by midnight the next day.
How to report · NC DMF · checked 2026-09-04
North Carolina state record
64 lb, Off Oregon Inlet, 2011. NCDMF State Saltwater Records · checked 2026-08-22
How to tell it
7–8 unbroken dark stripes on silver; two separated dorsal fins. More on the striped bass page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Striped bass in other states
In the app
Point the camera at a striped bass in North Carolina and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
Get the appStriped bass in North Carolina: the questions
What is the size limit for striped bass in North Carolina?
28-31 in TL slot (Atlantic Ocean). Measured as total length: snout to the tip of the tail, with the tail lobes squeezed together.
How many striped bass can you keep in North Carolina?
1/day (ocean).
When is striped bass season in North Carolina?
Ocean open year-round; internal waters closed.
Do I have to report striped bass in North Carolina?
Yes. Every red drum, flounder, speckled trout, striped bass, or weakfish you keep in North Carolina waters must be reported to NC DMF — state law since Dec 1, 2025. Report as soon as the trip is over (the moment the boat reaches shore) in the NC DMF iPhone app or the online form; paper report cards are due by midnight the next day.
What is the North Carolina record striped bass?
64 lb, Off Oregon Inlet (2011).
How current is this North Carolina striped bass 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.