Red Snapper regulations
North Carolina · Curated reference from cited public sources · listings, not permission to fish or retain a catch · This selected North Carolina saltwater reference subset is not a complete rulebook.
SPECIES LINKS
FIELD GUIDE
Lutjanus campechanus
speciesBASICThe northern red snapper, native to the western Atlantic, Caribbean, and Gulf of Mexico, inhabiting reef-associated environments. Long-lived, with an oldest reported age over 57 years.
HABITAT
Reef-associated environments of the western Atlantic, Caribbean, and Gulf of Mexico.
SIZE
common 60 cm (24 in); up to 100 cm
TEXT CONDENSED FROM WIKIPEDIA, AVAILABLE UNDER CC BY-SA 4.0
Red Snapper identification is educational; species identification does not establish legal applicability for North Carolina.
- LAST LISTED/REFERENCE LIMITS
- Possession prohibited
- APPLICABILITY
- Red snapper is explicitly listed among prohibited finfish species for coastal and joint waters (internal waters and Atlantic Ocean out to 3 miles).
- SOURCE AUTHORITY
- North Carolina DEQ Division of Marine Fisheries, Recreational Size and Bag Limits (effective July 1, 2026)
UPDATED July 1, 2026 · CHECKED Aug 25, 2026, 12:00 PM UTC · EFFECTIVE YEAR 2026
NC Division of Marine Fisheries size and bag limits ↗The NCDMF page is an informational summary; proclamations and the applicable state rules are authoritative.
LAUNCH SITES
Curated launch sites in North Carolina (3)
This reference does not grant permission to fish or retain a catch. Location, method, vessel, species identification, and emergency closures can change what applies. Verify the applicable official rules.