Yellowfin grouperin North Carolina
Mycteroperca venenosa
Also called Fireback, Princess rockfish.
The rule in North Carolina
Federal rule (South Atlantic federal waters). North Carolina lists no rule of its own for yellowfin grouper, so the council's rule applies in state waters too.
Counts toward an aggregate limit: 3-grouper/tilefish aggregate.
Measured as total length (TL): snout to the tip of the tail, with the tail lobes squeezed together.
SAFMC / NOAA SERO 2026· checked Open
North Carolina state record
45 lb 9.6 oz, Off Carolina Beach, 2026. NCDMF State Saltwater Records · checked 2026-08-22
How to tell it
Rectangular dark blotches plus bright yellow outer pectoral third. More on the yellowfin grouper page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Yellowfin grouper in other states
In the app
Point the camera at a yellowfin grouper in North Carolina and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
Get the appYellowfin grouper in North Carolina: the questions
What is the size limit for yellowfin grouper in North Carolina?
20 in total length. Measured as total length: snout to the tip of the tail, with the tail lobes squeezed together.
How many yellowfin grouper can you keep in North Carolina?
3 per person per day within 3-grouper aggregate. It counts toward an aggregate: 3-grouper/tilefish aggregate.
When is yellowfin grouper season in North Carolina?
May 1 – Dec 31 (spawning closure Jan 1 – Apr 30). As of Sep 21, 2026 it is open.
What is the North Carolina record yellowfin grouper?
45 lb 9.6 oz, Off Carolina Beach (2026).
How current is this North Carolina yellowfin grouper 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.