NC_ATLANTIC
North Carolina — State waters (0–3 nm) · NCDMF
Currently CLOSEDClosed
- Bag limit
- 0 / angler / day
Recreational closed Mar 27 - Dec 31, 2026.
NC golden tilefish: closed for 2026.
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Golden Tilefish
Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps
Lives in self-dug burrows on soft bottom along the shelf edge. Cold water (50-60°F at depth) — the 10°C isotherm tells you the floor temp. Long drops, big sinkers, electric reels.
Preferred water temp50–62°F
Preferred depth400–1500 ft
Holds onsoft mud bottom with burrows, continental shelf break
In our regions
Big Bend — GulfNortheast Florida — AtlanticCentral/Southeast Florida — AtlanticMiami & Keys — Atlantic sideSouthwest Florida — GulfFlorida Panhandle — GulfBahamas — Bimini & Grand BahamaBahamas — Abaco & AndrosBahamas — Eleuthera, Exuma & Cat IslandNorth Carolina (Outer Banks + Cape Lookout)South Carolina CoastGeorgia CoastAlabama GulfMississippi GulfLouisiana GulfTexas Gulf
Regulations
⚠️ BETA: best-effort current as of May 31, 2026. Confirm with the linked FWC / NOAA source before keeping a fish.
Showing 6 of 6 regulations
STATE
FL Gulf — State waters (0–9 nm)
Currently OPENOpen year-round
- Bag limit
- 2 / angler / day
Gulf state: 100 lb or 2/person whichever is more. Federal year-round 20 aggregate.
FL Gulf golden tilefish: 2/day or 100 lbs.
AL_GULF
Alabama — State waters (0–3 nm) · AL CNR-MRD
Currently OPENOpen year-round
- Bag limit
- 2 / angler / day
Gulf year-round.
Alabama golden tilefish: 2/day or 100 lbs.
STATE
FL Atlantic — State waters (0–3 nm)
Currently CLOSEDClosed
- Bag limit
- 0 / angler / day
Closed Mar 27 - Dec 31, 2026 in federal Atlantic. 1/person within 3-grouper/tilefish aggregate when open.
FL Atlantic golden tilefish: closed for 2026.
SC_ATLANTIC
South Carolina — State waters (0–3 nm) · SCDNR
Currently CLOSEDClosed
- Bag limit
- 0 / angler / day
Closed Mar 21 - Dec 31, 2025.
SC golden tilefish: closed.
FEDERAL
Federal Atlantic (3–200 nm) — SAFMC
Currently OPENSeasonal
- Bag limit
- 1 / angler / day
- Minimum
- 24″ TL (total length)
- Season
- Jan 1, 2026 → Sep 30, 2026Recreational season; closes when ACL hit
Federal Atlantic ACL-based season — closes early when quota is met. 1/person, 24" TL min. Most FL anglers fish this in federal water; state-water golden tilefish are rare.