Seafood Availability

This guide can give you a general idea of what seafood is available in North Carolina, when it is in season, and associated recipes. However, the best way to find out what’s fresh is to talk to your local fisherfolk and fishmongers. Species availability is subject to changing regulations and environmental conditions. Learn more about our state’s Fishery Management Plans at the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality website.

Our recipes are published throughout the year, and some may feature seafood that is not currently in season. This is because chefs often purchase large amounts of seafood and freeze it for future use. You can do the same, so you can enjoy your favorite recipes year-round. Retailers also purchase fish and freeze them for sale throughout the year.

fish

Bluefish

Available 
Year-round

Cooking Methods
Grill, Bake, Smoke, Deep-fry

See recipes

Flounder

Available 
Year-round

Cooking Methods
Bake, Broil, Grill, Deep-fry, Poach, Sautee

See recipes

Grouper

Available 
Year-round

Cooking Methods
Bake, Broil, Poach, Sautée, Steam, Deep-fry

See recipes

Kingfish / Sea Mullet

Available 
May through September

Cooking Methods
Bake, Sautee, Steam, Deep-fry

Lionfish

Available 
Invasive, limited availability / no season

Cooking Methods
Grill, Bake, Saute, Deep-Fry, Steam

See recipes

King Mackerel

Available 
May through September

Cooking Methods
Grill, Smoke, Sautee, Deep-fry, Bake

Spanish Mackerel

Available 
May through September

Cooking Methods
Grill, Smoke, Sautee, Deep-fry, Bake

See recipes

Mahi-mahi / Dolphinfish

Available 
May through July

Cooking Methods
Grill, Sautee, Bake

See recipes

Mullet

Available 
Year-round

Cooking Methods
Smoke, Sautée, Grill, Deep-fry

See recipes

Porgy

Available 
May through October

Cooking Methods
Steam, Bake, Sautee

Red Drum / Redfish

Available 
March through December

Cooking Methods
Deep-fry, Bake, Sautée, Broil

Black Sea Bass

Available 
Year-round

Cooking Methods
Bake, Steam, Sautee, Poach

See recipes

Speckled Sea Trout / Spotted Sea Trout

Available 
Year-round

Cooking Methods
Sautée, Steam, Deep-fry, Grill

See recipes

Snapper

Available 
Red Snapper, July
Vermillion Snapper, Year-round

Cooking Methods
Bake, Sautee, Steam, Poach, Deep-fry

See recipes

Spot

Available 
Year-round

Cooking Methods
Deep-fry, Sautee

Striped Bass

Available 
Aquaculture, Year-round
Wild, November through April

Cooking Methods
Sautée, Steam, Fry, Bake, Grill

See recipes

Swordfish

Available 
Year-round

Cooking Methods
Broil, Grill, Sautée, Bake

Tilefish

Available 
August through May

Cooking Methods
Bake, Sautee, Steam, Poach

Triggerfish

Available 
January through April, July through September

Cooking Methods
Deep-fry, Broil, Steam, Bake, Sautee

See recipes

Tuna (Bigeye / Yellowfin / Bluefin / Blackfin)

Available 
Year-round

Cooking Methods
Grill, Bake, Raw, Sautee

See recipes

Shellfish

Blue Crab

Available 
June through September

Cooking Methods
Steam

See recipes

Soft-shell Blue Crab

Available 
April, May, June

Cooking Methods
Deep-fry, Grill, Sautée

See recipes

Shrimp

Available 
July through November

Cooking Methods
Boil, Grill, Deep-fry, Bake, Sautée

See recipes

Bay Scallop

Available 
January through March

Cooking Methods
Grill, Deep-fry, Bake, Sautée

See recipes

Clam

Available 
Year-round

Cooking Methods
Grill, Deep-fry, Bake, Sautée, Steam

See recipes

Oyster

Available 
Aquaculture, Year-round
Wild, October through March

Cooking Methods
Raw, Grill, Deep-fry, Bake, Sautée

See recipes