Vermilion snapperin North Carolina
Rhomboplites aurorubens
Also called Beeliner, B-liner.
The rule in North Carolina
Federal rule (South Atlantic federal waters). North Carolina lists no rule of its own for vermilion snapper, so the council's rule applies in state waters too.
Measured as total length (TL): snout to the tip of the tail, with the tail lobes squeezed together.
SAFMC / NOAA SERO 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vermilion snapperThis page. | 12 in total length | 5 per person per day (separate from 10-snapper aggregate) | Open year-round |
| Red snapperHeavier head and jaw, angular anal fin.Tell them apart | N/A | No harvest or possession | Closed year-round |
North Carolina state record
7 lb 4 oz, Off Morehead City, 2025. NCDMF State Saltwater Records · checked 2026-08-22
How to tell it
Slender vermilion body, series of short diagonal blue lines on the back, deeply forked tail. More on the vermilion snapper page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Vermilion snapper in other states
In the app
Point the camera at a vermilion snapper in North Carolina and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
Get the appVermilion snapper in North Carolina: the questions
What is the size limit for vermilion snapper in North Carolina?
12 in total length. Measured as total length: snout to the tip of the tail, with the tail lobes squeezed together.
How many vermilion snapper can you keep in North Carolina?
5 per person per day (separate from 10-snapper aggregate).
When is vermilion snapper season in North Carolina?
Open year-round.
What is the North Carolina record vermilion snapper?
7 lb 4 oz, Off Morehead City (2025).
How current is this North Carolina vermilion snapper 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.