White gruntin North Carolina
Haemulon plumierii
Also called Gray grunt, Key West grunt.
The rule in North Carolina
Federal rule (South Atlantic federal waters). North Carolina lists no rule of its own for white grunt, so the council's rule applies in state waters too.
Counts toward an aggregate limit: 20-fish snapper-grouper aggregate.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| White gruntThis page. | No size limit | 10 per person per day within 20-fish snapper-grouper aggregate | Open year-round |
| Lane snapperBody stripes and a dark side spot.Tell them apart | 8 in total length | 10 per person per day within 10-snapper aggregate | Open year-round |
North Carolina state record
5 lb 3.2 oz, Frying Pan Towers, 2024. NCDMF State Saltwater Records · checked 2026-08-22
How to tell it
Blue and yellow stripes on the head, bright orange mouth lining, grunts when landed. More on the white grunt page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
White grunt in other states
In the app
Point the camera at a white grunt in North Carolina and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
Get the appWhite grunt in North Carolina: the questions
What is the size limit for white grunt in North Carolina?
No size limit.
How many white grunt can you keep in North Carolina?
10 per person per day within 20-fish snapper-grouper aggregate. It counts toward an aggregate: 20-fish snapper-grouper aggregate.
When is white grunt season in North Carolina?
Open year-round.
What is the North Carolina record white grunt?
5 lb 3.2 oz, Frying Pan Towers (2024).
How current is this North Carolina white grunt 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.