Species guide · North Carolina
Red snapper fishing in North Carolina
Lutjanus campechanus, an offshore species also called American red snapper, sow snapper and chicken snapper. Listed for the South Atlantic region. Shoulder season, about 32 more weeks.
Right now it scores best in Croatan and Roanoke Sounds at 59, one of 9 North Carolina bay systems where the Waterlands engine is scoring it.
Season now
Shoulder seasonSeason by month
From the Waterlands saltwater species research: when the fish are present and biting, not whether retention is open.
South Atlantic
Shoulder season, about 32 more weeks- Jan: Shoulder season
- Feb: Shoulder season
- Mar: Shoulder season
- Apr: Shoulder season
- May: Peak season
- Jun: Peak season
- Jul: Peak season
- Aug: Peak season
- Sep: Shoulder season
- Oct: Shoulder season
- Nov: Shoulder season
- Dec: Shoulder season
Peak: May to Aug. In season (shoulder or peak): all year.
Research notes, South Atlantic region
Common on ledges and live bottom from Northeast Florida to the Carolinas. Regulatory: the recreational harvest season has been a few days in July (July 11-12 in 2025); release fish with a descending device the rest of the year.
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 red snapper score this hour.
Best window today 8 PM-12 AM (60) · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 7 AM (65) · 49 named spots
Best window today 8-11 PM (59) · Best day Wed, Sep 16 at 7 AM (62) · 75 named spots
Best window today 8 PM-12 AM (59) · Best day Wed, Sep 16 at 5 PM (63) · 331 named spots
Best window today 10 PM-12 AM (59) · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 7 AM (64) · 21 named spots
Best window today 8 PM-12 AM (58) · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 7 PM (62) · 7 named spots
Best window today 8 PM-12 AM (57) · Best day Wed, Sep 16 at 5 PM (62) · 260 named spots
Best window today 10 PM-12 AM (59) · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 7 AM (65) · 26 named spots
Best window today 8 PM-12 AM (56) · Best day Wed, Sep 16 at 5 PM (61) · 134 named spots
Best window today 9 PM-12 AM (54) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 7 PM (62) · 1 named spot
How and where it feeds
- Water temperature
- Feeds from 58°F to 86°F, best between 64°F and 80°F.
- Water depth
- 40 to 350 ft of water.
- Structure
- Reef, wreck, ledge, bank and pinnacle, in that order of preference.
- Tide and current
- Prefers moving water, with light current.Tide stage matters little offshore. Light current carries chum to the fish and lets baits hold near the structure; strong current makes it hard to stay on a small reef or wreck.
- Light
- Some lift around dawn and dusk; feeds at night too.
- 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
Red snapper school over rigs, wrecks, artificial reefs and natural ledges, mostly in 60 to 250 feet. Anchor or drift over the structure, chum, and drop cut or live cigar minnows, sardines or squid on circle hooks, using as little weight as the current allows. Federal rules require circle hooks with natural bait in the Gulf and a descending device or venting tool on board.
- Methods
- bottom fishing, chumming, drifting, vertical jigging
- Lures
- butterfly jigs, bucktail jigs tipped with squid, flat-fall jigs
- Bait
- cigar minnows, Spanish sardines, squid, cut menhaden, live pinfish
Regulations
North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries. Synced with NCDMF Sep 16, 2026.
No reviewed red snapper rule for North Carolina is on file yet. Check with NCDMF before you keep one.
Other North Carolina species
- Atlantic croaker
- Atlantic tarpon
- Crevalle jack
- Gray snapper
- King mackerel
- Red drum
- Southern flounder
- Spot
- Spotted seatrout
- Summer flounder
- Black drum
- Black sea bass
- Cobia
- Florida pompano
- Gag grouper
- Gray triggerfish
- Greater amberjack
- Little tunny
- Mahi-mahi
- Red grouper
- Sheepshead
- Spanish mackerel
- Wahoo
- Weakfish
- Bluefish
- Sailfish
- Yellowfin tuna
- Atlantic bluefin tuna
- Striped bass