reef

Tautog (Blackfish)

Tautoga onitis

Cool-water wrasse targeted around wrecks/jetties/rocky structure from Nova Scotia to SC; most abundant Cape Cod to Cape Hatteras. Premier NC winter/early-spring wreck species north of Hatteras.

In our regions

North Carolina (Outer Banks + Cape Lookout)

Regulations

⚠️ BETA: best-effort current as of May 31, 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 CLOSED (seasonal)Seasonal

NC: southernmost tautog range. NC DMF manages via Snapper-Grouper Complex / nongame; specific size/bag set by proclamation. Verify current NC DMF proclamation.

Check current NC proclamation.

FEDERAL

Federal Atlantic (3–200 nm) — SAFMC

Currently OPENOpen year-round

Federal: managed by states via ASMFC Tautog FMP — federal waters generally follow state limits adjacent.

State-managed via ASMFC.