1. (NC Fish Identification)+
(NC Fish Identification)
Mad Props:
Most fish illustrations by Duane Raver, Jr. from the book Fisherman's Guide Fishes of the Southeastern United States Actual photos contributed by Mrs. Cotton and various other individuals
Go to for photos

2. Almost all of the fish you are about to learn are important to the NC economy either commercially (for sale) or recreationally (for fun) and many are both.
To prevent overfishing and protect stocks for the future, rules and regulations must be put into place.
Fishermen and scientists don’t always agree on these regulations.
Commercial and recreational fishermen also often battle against each other for the same resource but don’t have to abide by the same regulations.
We will be discussing the Recreational size and bag limits.
Some things to know about these regulations you are about to learn:
There are TWO jurisdictions: Inshore waters out to 3 miles (State waters) and
Greater than 3 miles (EEZ)
Unless otherwise noted, we will be discussing State waters.
As of January 1, 2007 you must have a Coastal Recreational Fishing License (CRFL) if you are over 16 years old unless you are fishing on a charter boat, head boat, or fishing piers.

3. Also, there is a fun, free “tournament” you can enter each year in NC, here are the rules:
The Tournament begins January 1, 2015 and ends Midnight, December 31, 2015.
TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR AN AWARD, ALL APPLICATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY JANUARY 15, 2016.
Fish shall be caught in accordance with North Carolina State and Federal laws and regulations as well as the NC Saltwater Fishing Tournament rules. Everyone is eligible except a charter boat captain or a crewman of a for-hire boat or anyone who offers fish for sale. Weighmasters or their employees are eligible for awards, provided a witness signs verification. Eligible waters include all North Carolina sounds, estuaries, surf, and the Atlantic Ocean. No registration fee is required.

4. Certificate Qualifications: All fish must be caught on hook and line and landed or brought to gaff or net by the angler. No electric or hydraulic equipment is allowed. Fish must be weighed by an authorized weighmaster (or his/her representative) at an official weigh station. Each fish must be recorded on an official application form, signed by the angler and by a weighmaster. Snagged, mutilated, scaled, speared, frozen, or shot fish are not eligible. The weighmaster reserves the right to cut, open, or mark the fish after it has been weighed.
Release Rules: Angler or mate must touch the fish or the leader. Application must be completed with exception of length and weight (false albacore, amberjack, Atlantic bonito, barracuda, cobia, black drum, jack crevalle, king mackerel, shark, striped bass, gray trout, speckled trout and red drum must have the length recorded). A witness must sign the application.

6. Blue Marlin 99”LJFL 1/Vessel
(either Blue or White not both)
Must be reported
Permit required
State Record: 1,228 lbs. 8 oz Oregon Inlet
Citation Size: 400 lbs. Award for live release of fish, regardless of size
LJFL=Lower Jaw Forked Length
White Marlin 66” LJFL 1/Vessel
(either Blue or White not both)
Must be reported
Permit required
State Record: 118 lbs. 8oz Oregon inlet
Citation Size: Release only, regardless of size

7. Sailfish
Permit required
63” LJFL 1/Day in state waters (<3 miles)
State Record: 100 lbs Ocean Isle
Citation Size: Release only regardless of size
Swordfish
State Record: 441 lbs WB

8. CFL = Curved Forked Length
Bigeye Tuna 27” CFL
State Record: 311 lbs Oregon Inlet Citation Size: 100 lbs. Pectoral fin extends past the 1st dorsal fin
CFL = Curved Forked Length
Blackfin Tuna
State Record: 40 lbs Oregon Inlet
Citation Size: 20 lbs.
It’s black under its dorsal fins

9. Bluefin Tuna Permit required
State Record: 805 lbs!! 3/12/ Oregon Inlet
Citation Size: 200 lbs.
The largest Tuna – can grow to 14 ft., 1500 lbs.
Yellowfin Tuna, Longfin Tuna 27” CFL, 3/Day
State Record: 237 lbs Cape Lookout
Citation Size: 70 lbs.
Long yellow 2nd dorsal and anal fins

10. Albacore Tuna
State Record: 62 lbs.
2001
Oregon Inlet
Atlantic Bonito
Citation Size: 8lbs.,
award for live release
over 24 inches

11. Skipjack Tuna, Albacore, Oceanic Bonito
State Record: 32 lbs Gulf Stream off Hatteras
Stripes on belly, looks like it was “skipped” across the water
Little Tunny, False Albacore, Spotted Bonito
State Record: 26 lbs. 8 oz WB
Citation size: release only >34 in
“Saddle” on back

12. Citation Size: 30 lbs. award for live release >45 in.
King Mackerel, Kingfish, King 24" FL 3/Day State Record: 82 lbs. 4oz Oregon Inlet
Citation Size: 30 lbs. award for live release >45 in.
Big “dip” in lateral line
Spanish Mackerel, Spanish
12" FL 15/Day State Record: 13lbs Ocracoke Inlet
World All-Tackle Record Citation Size: 6lbs
Has spots (but so do baby Kings so be careful or “The Man” will ticket you!)
Look for the black section on the 1st dorsal

13. Wahoo 2/Day
State Record: 150 lbs Ocracoke Inlet Citation Size: 40 lbs.
So fun to catch , makes you say WA HOO!!!
OOH… Barracuda
State Record: 67 lbs. 7 oz Cape Lookout
Citation Size: Release only >45 in.

14. Greater Amberjack 28" FL 1/Day State Record: 126 lbs. 7 oz
Greater Amberjack 28" FL 1/Day State Record: 126 lbs. 7 oz Swansboro
Citation Size: 50 lbs Award for live release >50 in.

15. Jack Crevalle, Crevalle Jack State Record: 49 lbs, Wrightsville Beach, 2014
Citation Size: Release only, 32 inches+
This is a member of a group called Reef Complex Species (explained later)

16. Dolphin, Mahi mahi, Dorado 10/Day
State Record: 79 lbs Cape Hatteras
Citation Size: 35 lbs.
Only males have the funny head.
Pompano, Florida Pompano State Record: 8 lbs CB
Citation Size: 2 lbs.

17. Bluefish, Snapper, Blue, Chopper Blue (big ones!)
15/Day Only 5 greater than 24" TL (inshore waters only <3 mi) State Record: 31 lbs. 12 oz Cape Hattteras
World All Tackle Record Citation Size: 15 lbs.

18. Cobia, Crab Eater, Lemonfish
33" FL 2/Day State Record: 116 lbs. 8 oz Oregon Inlet Citation Size: 40 lbs., Award for live release >33 in.
Tarpon
1/Day State Record: 193 lbs. 5 oz Citation Size: Release only regardless of size.

19. Atlantic Menhaden, Pogy, Bunker
Jumping Mullet, Striped Mullet, Finger Mullet
200/day
Juveniles used for bait

20. Striped Bass, Rock 28” TL 1/Day – Atlantic Ocean
Black Sea Bass, Sea Bass
North of Cape Hatteras: unlawful to possess
South of Cape Hatteras: 13” TL 5/day!!!
State Record: 8 lbs. 12 oz Oregon Inlet
Citation Size: 4 lbs.
Striped Bass, Rock 28” TL 1/Day – Atlantic Ocean
(Contact NCDMF for seasons & limits in inshore waters) Unlawful to possess >3mi
State Record: 64 lbs Oregon Inlet
Citation Size: 35 lbs., Award for release >45 in.

21. Croaker
State Record: 5 lbs Oregon Inlet Citation Size: 3 lbs.
Spot State Record: 1 lb. 13 oz Citation Size: 1 lb.

22. Speckled Trout, spotted sea trout 14” TL 4/Day
State Record: 12 lbs. 4 oz WB Citation Size: 5 lbs., Award for release >24 in.
Gray Trout, Weakfish
12" TL 1/Day
State Record: 14 lbs oz Nags Head
Citation Size: 5 lbs. ., Award for release >24 in.

23. Sea Mullet, Whiting, Southern Kingfish
State Record: 3 lbs. 8 oz Bogue Banks Pier
Citation Size: 1 1/2 lbs.
Inshore Lizardfish
American Eel
9” TL 25/day
Jan. 1-Aug. 31

24. See next pages for more info
Black Drum 14-25”TL; 10/Day
1>25”/person
State Record: 100 lbs. 1 oz Cape Fear River Citation Size: 35 lbs., Award for release >40 in.
Red Drum, Channel Bass, Puppy Drum, Redfish N.C.'s State Saltwater Fish 18-27" TL 1/Day No Possession of Fish over 27“
Unlawful to possess >3 mi out State Record: 94 lbs. 2 oz World All Tackle Record Citation Size: Release Only, >40 in
See next pages for more info

25. Did you know that in 1971 the North Carolina General Assembly designated red drum the state saltwater fish?
In 1984, David G. Deuel caught a giant red drum off Hatteras Island that weighed 94 pounds, 2 ounces; aside from being the state record red drum, this is also a world record for all tackle.
The Tar Heel State is famous for its trophy-sized red drum that weigh in excess of 40 pounds, traditionally caught in the surf and sound between Oregon Inlet and Cape Lookout.
North Carolina has produced 10 out of 16 current world records for red drum.

26. CHARACTERISTICS Red drum derive their name from their color and the fact that during spawning time, males produce a drum-like noise by vibrating a muscle in their swim bladder. The color of red drum ranges from a deep blackish, coppery color to nearly silver. The most common color is reddish-bronze.
Red drum is the accepted common name for this species by the American Fisheries Society, but they are also called channel bass, spottail bass and redfish. Juvenile red drum, those aged 1 to 4 years, are called puppy drum. Red drum are related to black drum, spotted seatrout, weakfish, sea mullets, croaker and spot, most of which also make drum sounds.
Fisheries scientists refer to the species as Sciaenops ocellatus; Sciaenops is Greek for perch-like marine fish and ocellatus is Latin for eye-like colored spot. The Latin term refers to the black spot (usually one, but sometimes two or more) on either side near the base of the tail. Scientists believe that the spots may fake predators into attacking the red drum toward their tails instead of near their eyes, allowing the drum to escape.

27. Northern Searobin
Northern Puffer, Swell Toad, Blowfish
Oyster Toadfish

28. Pinfish
State Record: 2 lbs. 14 oz Beaufort Inlet
Pigfish, Hogfish
State Record: 2 lbs. 4 oz. 1991

29. Spottail Pinfish, Ringtail Pinfish
As many as you want!
Tomtate, Redmouth
No size limit in NC but under the Federal Snapper/Grouper Complex Management

30. Summer Flounder Distinctive 5 spots 15” TL 6/day
State Record: 20 lbs. 8 oz CB
Citation Size: 5 lbs.

31. Total groupers = 3/day combined species
Unlawful to take groupers
Jan 1-April 30
Speckled Hind, Strawberry Grouper, Kitty Mitchell
Unlawful to possess
State Record: 28 lbs. 8 oz off Topsail Beach
Total groupers = 3/day combined species
Citation size (all groupers) : 20 lbs.
Gag 24” TL 1/day
Red Grouper, Grouper
20” TL 3/Day
State Record: 33lbs. 8oz Atlantic Beach

32. Vermillion Snapper, Beeliner 12”TL 5/day
Red Snapper, American Red Snapper As of 1/4/2010, these are unlawful to possess, sell, or purchase if taken from the waters under the jurisdiction of NC or the South Atlantic Fisheries Management Council!
State Record: 40 lbs Cape Lookout
Vermillion Snapper, Beeliner
12”TL 5/day
State Record: 6 lbs. 9 oz Ocean Isle

33. 10/day combined snappers
Yellowtail Snapper
12” TL (> 3 miles out)
10/day combined snappers
Reef Complex Species = 20 per person per day in combo with others designated as reef complex species
Gray Triggerfish
State Record: 11 lbs. 6 oz Morehead City Citation Size: 5 lbs.
Reef Complex Species

34. Whitebone Porgy
Reef Complex Species
Knobbed Porgy
Reef Complex Species

35. White Grunt, Grunt, Redmouth
State Record: 4 lbs. 8 oz Cape Lookout
Reef Complex Species
Hogfish, Hog snapper
12” FL 5/day
State Record: 21 lbs. 6oz Frying Pan Shoals World All Tackle Record Reef Complex Species

36. Sheepshead
State Record: 19 lbs. 4 oz Oregon Inlet Citation Size: 8 lbs.
Reef Complex Species
Atlantic Spadefish, Angelfish
State Record: 11 lbs. 3 oz. Cape Hatteras 2009
Reef Complex Species