North Carolina’s Spotted Seatrout fishery will reopen to recreational and commercial harvest in joint and coastal waters on July 1, 2025, following a cold stun closure. Upon reopening of the fishery, new management from Amendment 1 to the Spotted Seatrout Fishery Management Plan will be implemented.

The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission adopted the amendment in March 2025. Management changes include:

Recreational
•    A 14- to 20-inch slot limit with an allowance for one fish over 26 inches
•    A 3-fish individual bag limit

Commercial 
•    An 11:59 p.m. Friday through 12:01 a.m. Monday commercial harvest closure from Jan. 1 through Sept. 30
•    An 11:59 p.m. Friday through 12:01 a.m. Tuesday closure from Oct. 1 through Dec. 31

For specific recreational and commercial regulations, see proclamation FF-22-2025.

Changes to cold stun management include extending the harvest closure by 15 days, through June 30, following a cold stun event.

For more information see the Spotted Seatrout Amendment 1 Information Page.