Tomtatein North Carolina
Haemulon aurolineatum
The rule in North Carolina
Federal rule (South Atlantic federal waters). North Carolina lists no rule of its own for tomtate, so the council's rule applies in state waters too.
50 CFR 622.187 explicitly excludes tomtate from the aggregate bag limit.
SAFMC / NOAA SERO 2026· checked Open
North Carolina state record
1 lb 4 oz, Hatteras, 2006. NCDMF State Saltwater Records · checked 2026-08-22
How to tell it
Slim gray grunt with a brassy stripe ending in a tail-base spot. More on the tomtate page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Tomtate in other states
In the app
Point the camera at a tomtate in North Carolina and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
Get the appTomtate in North Carolina: the questions
What is the size limit for tomtate in North Carolina?
No size limit.
How many tomtate can you keep in North Carolina?
No bag limit (excluded from the 20-fish aggregate).
When is tomtate season in North Carolina?
Open year-round.
What is the North Carolina record tomtate?
1 lb 4 oz, Hatteras (2006).
How current is this North Carolina tomtate rule?
Source: SAFMC / NOAA SERO 2026, last checked Sep 16, 2026. A watchman re-reads the agency's pages nightly. Rules change mid-season by proclamation; the official rulebook is the final word.