Atlantic Needlefish
Strongylura marina
How to tell it
Pencil-thin chrome fish with BOTH jaws drawn into a toothy beak; rides just under the surface.
Rules for
Every state
| State | Size | Bag | Season | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | No size limit | No bag limit | Open year-roundNC DMF 2026 · checked | Open |
Not specifically regulated in Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida (Atlantic), Florida (Gulf), Georgia, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia: each state’s rule for unlisted species applies there (on its page).
State records
| State | Weight | When, where | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi | 0 lb 7.06 oz | 2023 | MDMR State Saltwater Records (Conventional) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Texas | 1.25 lb | 2015 · Lower Laguna Madre | TPWD State Records (Saltwater, Rod & Reel) · checked 2026-08-23 |
On the table
Edible — the green bones look alarming but are harmless.
In the app
Point the camera at a atlantic needlefish and the name appears before you take the picture, with these rules for the water you’re standing in. No signal needed, and every catch goes in the log.
Get the appQuestions anglers ask about atlantic needlefish
How do you tell atlantic needlefish from houndfish?
Atlantic Needlefish has this: Pencil-thin chrome fish with BOTH jaws drawn into a toothy beak; rides just under the surface.. Houndfish wrist-thick heavyweight version.
What is the record atlantic needlefish?
1.25 lb in Texas (2015), Lower Laguna Madre. Other states’ records are in the table.