King Mackerel Regulations in North Carolina (2026)

Where

Coastal Fishing Waters (ocean)

Size limit

It is unlawful to possess king mackerel less than 24 inches fork length in a commercial operation or for recreational purposes.

Bag limit

It is unlawful to possess or sell more than three (3) king mackerel per crew member when fishing from a vessel with both a valid Federal Commercial Directed Shark Permit and a valid King Mackerel Permit when engaged in a directed shark fishing with gill nets south of Cape Lookout (34° 37.3000’ N. latitude).; It is unlawful to possess more than three (3) king mackerel per person per day by hook and line except for persons holding a valid National Marine Fisheries Service King Mackerel Commercial Vessel Permit.; It is unlawful to possess aboard or land from a vessel, or combination of vessels that form a single operation, more than 3,500 pounds of Spanish or king mackerel, in the aggregate, in any one day.

• It is unlawful to possess more than three (3) king mackerel per person per day when fishing with gear other than automatic reel, bandit gear, handline, and rod and reel south of Cape Lookout (34° 37.3000’ N. latitude).
• It is unlawful to sell or offer for sale king mackerel taken with gill nets in the Atlantic Ocean south of Cape Lookout (34° 37.3000’ N. latitude), except in accordance with Section II. D. listed below.
• It is unlawful to sell or offer for sale king mackerel harvested by hook- and-line in a commercial fishing operation without a valid National Marine Fisheries Service Commercial King Mackerel Permit.
• It is unlawful to purchase king mackerel taken from waters under the jurisdiction of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council without a valid Federal Gulf and South Atlantic Dealer Permit.
• Proclamation FF-51-2022: KING MACKEREL – COMMERCIAL AND RECREATIONAL - COASTAL FISHING WATERS (effective 12:01 A.M., Monday, October 10, 2022).

Official source