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Fishing regulations at Wrightsville Beach, NC
Disclaimer: Always check local fishing regulations, water access rights and land ownership before fishing, regardless of any catches logged in that area by the Fishbrain community. Fishbrain has mapped millions of acres of government-owned land across the USA to help you identify potential fishing access, but you are responsible for ensuring compliance with all legal requirements.
Fishing regulations in North Carolina can change throughout the year. Make sure to check this page before fishing for the most up to date rules and regulations for the current season. Local regulations govern when you can fish, the max size of the fish you can keep, how many fish you can keep, and more.
Regulations for top species
Bluefish
Bag limit5
The maximum number of individual fish legally harvested per harvester per day. Bag limits are only for properly licensed anglers actively harvesting the species. People who are not actively harvesting or are not properly licensed (if a license is required) may NOT be counted for the purpose of bag limits.
Required licenses
Additional information
No minimum size. Recreational anglers engaged on a for-hire vessel can possess up to 5 bluefish per person per day.
For seasons, bag limits, size limits, or closures see Current Fisheries Proclamations.
Edibility
Synonyms
Pinfish
Additional information
Edibility
Synonyms
Summer flounder
Bag limit1
The maximum number of individual fish legally harvested per harvester per day. Bag limits are only for properly licensed anglers actively harvesting the species. People who are not actively harvesting or are not properly licensed (if a license is required) may NOT be counted for the purpose of bag limits.
Min size15" (Total Length)
No person shall harvest any individual fish less than the minimum size limit.
Total length means the straight line distance from the most forward point of the head with the mouth closed, to the farthest tip of the tail with the tail compressed or squeezed, while the fish is lying on its side.
Restrictions & requirements
Hook & Line Only
Allowable gear: hook and line.
Required licenses
Additional information
The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality's Division of Marine Fisheries today announced that the 2026 recreational flounder season will open in Coastal and Joint waters of the state Sept. 1 at 12:01 a.m. and close Sept. 14 at 11:59 p.m.
The two-week season will open with the following provisions for both the recreational hook-and-line and gig fisheries:
- A one-fish per person per day creel limit.
- A 15-inch total length minimum size limit (from the tip of the snout to the tip of the tail).
Harvest of flounder with a Recreational Commercial Gear License will be prohibited.
- Season: Opens Sept. 1 at 12:01 a.m. and closes Sept. 14 at 11:59 p.m.
- Bag Limit: One-fish per person per day.
- Minimum Size Limit: 15-inch total length (from the tip of the snout to the tip of the tail).
- Mandatory Harvest Reporting Requirement: All flounder that are kept must be reported to the Division of Marine Fisheries through an online form or iPhone App. Learn more.
- Gears: Hook and line and gig fisheries only. Harvest of flounder with a Recreational Commercial Gear License prohibited.
The season, size and bag limits comply with provisions of the N.C. Southern Flounder Fishery Management Plan Amendment 4. The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission's flounder season will open Sept. 1-14 as well, so the season, size limit and daily bag limit will be consistent across jurisdictions.
For more specifics on the recreational flounder season in Coastal and Joint Fishing Waters, see Proclamation FF-27-2026.
The commercial flounder season for internal Coastal and Joint Fishing Waters (rivers, creeks and sounds) will be announced in the coming weeks through a separate news release and proclamation.
Edibility
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