inshore

Red Drum (Redfish)

Sciaenops ocellatus

Tailing on the flats on low water, sight-fishing pattern.

Peak monthsSep, Oct, Nov

Holds onflats, oyster bars, marsh edges

In our regions

Northeast Florida — AtlanticCentral/Southeast Florida — AtlanticMiami & Keys — Atlantic sideSouthwest Florida — GulfFlorida Panhandle — GulfBig Bend — GulfNorth 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 2 of 11 regulations for North Carolina

NC_ATLANTIC

North Carolina — State waters (0–3 nm) · NCDMF

Currently OPENOpen year-round

Bag limit: 1 / angler / day
Slot: 18″–27″ TL (total length)

Slot 18-27" TL. 1/person/day. Statewide rule.

NC Division of Marine Fisheries.

FEDERAL

Federal Atlantic (3–200 nm) — SAFMC

Currently CLOSEDClosed

Red drum is closed to harvest in the South Atlantic EEZ (federal Atlantic). State waters (0-3 nm) only.

SAFMC manages closed federal harvest.