FEDERAL
Federal Atlantic (3–200 nm) — SAFMC
Currently OPENOpen year-round
- Bag limit
- 1 / angler / day
- Minimum
- 16″ FL (fork length)
Federal South Atlantic (FL east coast): 16" FL min, 1/angler/day. Different from FL state Atlantic 14" min.
reef
Hogfish (Hog Snapper)
Lachnolaimus maximus
Sight-spearfishing target — also takes shrimp on a knocker rig over sandy hard bottom. Different rules Atlantic vs Gulf.
Preferred water temp65–82°F
Preferred depth20–150 ft
Holds onhard bottom, sandy reefs, rubble
In our regions
Northeast Florida — AtlanticCentral/Southeast Florida — AtlanticMiami & Keys — Atlantic sideSouthwest Florida — GulfFlorida Panhandle — GulfBig Bend — GulfBahamas — Bimini & Grand BahamaBahamas — Abaco & AndrosBahamas — Eleuthera, Exuma & Cat IslandNorth Carolina (Outer Banks + Cape Lookout)South Carolina CoastAlabama GulfMississippi GulfTexas GulfLouisiana Gulf
Regulations
⚠️ BETA: best-effort current as of May 26, 2026. Confirm with the linked FWC / NOAA source before keeping a fish.
Showing 2 of 12 regulations for North Carolina
NC_ATLANTIC
North Carolina — State waters (0–3 nm) · NCDMF
Currently OPENOpen year-round
- Bag limit
- 2 / angler / day
- Minimum
- 17″ FL (fork length)
- Season
- Invalid Date → Invalid Date
State 2/day, 17" FL. Closed Jan-Apr and Nov-Dec.
NC hogfish: 2/day, 17" FL.