Spanish Mackerel Regulations in North Carolina (2026)

Where

Coastal and Joint Fishing Waters (all waters)

Size limit

It shall be unlawful to possess Spanish mackerel less than 12 inches fork length in a commercial operation or for recreational purposes.

Bag limit

During the commercial harvest period for North Carolina Coastal and Joint Fishing Waters referenced in II.A. above, it shall be unlawful to possess aboard or land from a vessel, or combination of vessels that form a single operation, more than 500 pounds of Spanish mackerel in any one day or trip, whichever is more restrictive.; It shall be 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.

Season

In North Carolina Coastal and Joint Fishing Waters, the Spanish mackerel commercial fishery will remain open until 8:00 P.M., Friday, November 13, 2026, unless closed earlier by proclamation.

• The Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic Fishery Management Councils approved Amendment 20A to the Fishery Management Plan for Coastal Migratory Pelagics prohibiting the sale of king and Spanish mackerel caught under the bag limit without a valid federal commercial permit.
• Proclamation FF-35-2026: SPANISH MACKEREL – COMMERCIAL AND RECREATIONAL – COMMERCIAL HARVEST PERIOD WITH 500 POUND POSSESSION LIMIT (effective 12:01 A.M., Tuesday, August 25, 2026).

Official source

Where

Federal waters (EEZ) (ocean)

Size limit

It shall be unlawful to possess Spanish mackerel less than 12 inches fork length in a commercial operation or for recreational purposes.

Season

The Spanish mackerel commercial fishery in Federal Waters will close from 12:01 A.M., Tuesday, August 25, 2026, until March 1, 2027.

• The federal Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is defined as waters of the Atlantic Ocean from three to 200 miles seaward of the shoreline.
• Proclamation FF-35-2026: SPANISH MACKEREL – COMMERCIAL AND RECREATIONAL – COMMERCIAL HARVEST PERIOD WITH 500 POUND POSSESSION LIMIT (effective 12:01 A.M., Tuesday, August 25, 2026).

Official source