Species guide · North Carolina
Gag grouper fishing in North Carolina
Mycteroperca microlepis, an offshore species also called gag and gray grouper. Listed for the South Atlantic region. Peak season, about 8 more weeks.
Right now it scores best in Pamlico Sound at 70, one of 9 North Carolina bay systems where the Waterlands engine is scoring it.
Season now
Peak seasonSeason by month
From the Waterlands saltwater species research: when the fish are present and biting, not whether retention is open.
South Atlantic
Peak season, about 8 more weeks- Jan: Shoulder season
- Feb: Shoulder season
- Mar: Shoulder season
- Apr: Shoulder season
- May: Shoulder season
- Jun: Off season
- Jul: Off season
- Aug: Off season
- Sep: Shoulder season
- Oct: Shoulder season
- Nov: Peak season
- Dec: Peak season
Peak: Nov to Dec. In season (shoulder or peak): Sep to May.
Research notes, South Atlantic region
Ledges and live bottom off Northeast Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas in 60-200 ft. Regulatory: shallow-water grouper close Jan 1-Apr 30 for spawning; NOAA sets the gag season length each year from May 1.
Seasons and limits in these notes are background. The regulations below and the regulator’s own page govern.
Where it's scoring now · 9
North Carolina bay systems ranked by the Waterlands engine's gag grouper score this hour.
Best window today 4-8 PM (70) · Best day Thu, Nov 5 at 8 AM (73) · 331 named spots
Best window today 4-9 PM (69) · Best day Tue, Nov 3 at 7 AM (72) · 49 named spots
Best window today 4-6 PM (68) · Best day Wed, Nov 11 at 7 AM (72) · 26 named spots
Best window today 4-6 PM (67) · Best day Wed, Nov 11 at 7 AM (72) · 21 named spots
Best window today 4-8 PM (67) · Best day Wed, Nov 11 at 7 AM (72) · 7 named spots
Best window today 4-8 PM (69) · Best day Thu, Nov 5 at 8 AM (72) · 75 named spots
Best window today 4-9 PM (69) · Best day Tue, Nov 3 at 7 AM (72) · 260 named spots
Best window today 5-8 PM (69) · Best day Tue, Nov 10 at 1 PM (72) · 134 named spots
Best window today 5-9 PM (66) · Best day Tue, Nov 10 at 1 PM (71) · 1 named spot
How and where it feeds
- Water temperature
- Feeds from 56°F to 84°F, best between 62°F and 76°F.
- Water depth
- 10 to 250 ft of water.
- Structure
- Ledge, reef, wreck, bank and pinnacle, in that order of preference.
- Tide and current
- Prefers moving water, with light current.No published tide effect. Light current makes it easier to hold a live bait or trolled plug tight to the rocks; tide stage matters less than finding the right rock pile.
- Light
- Some lift around dawn and dusk.
- Pressure
- Little response to pressure changes.
- Wind and sea limits
- 20 kt of wind and 5 ft of sea. The Waterlands engine scores hours down as conditions pass them.
Tackle and technique
Gag hold on ledges, rock piles and wrecks, from 15 to 40 feet in the fall on Florida's Gulf coast out to 250 feet the rest of the year. Troll deep-diving plugs to find productive rocks, then anchor and drop or freeline live pinfish or pigfish on a strong circle hook. Keep the drag tight and turn the fish in the first few seconds or it will reach the rocks.
- Methods
- bottom fishing, trolling deep-diving plugs, freelining live bait, vertical jigging
- Lures
- deep-diving trolling plugs (30-ft class), bucktail jigs, heavy jigs tipped with squid
- Bait
- live pinfish, pigfish, grunts, cigar minnows, squid, octopus
Regulations
North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries. Synced with NCDMF Nov 3, 2026.
No reviewed gag grouper rule for North Carolina is on file yet. Check with NCDMF before you keep one.
Other North Carolina species
- Black sea bass
- Bluefish
- Florida pompano
- Little tunny
- Red drum
- Southern flounder
- Spotted seatrout
- Wahoo
- Weakfish
- Atlantic bluefin tuna
- Atlantic croaker
- Black drum
- Crevalle jack
- Greater amberjack
- King mackerel
- Red snapper
- Sailfish
- Sheepshead
- Spot
- Striped bass
- Summer flounder
- Yellowfin tuna
- Atlantic tarpon
- Cobia
- Gray snapper
- Gray triggerfish
- Mahi-mahi
- Red grouper
- Spanish mackerel