Blue marlinin North Carolina
Makaira nigricans
The rule in North Carolina
North Carolina’s own rule for blue marlin in state waters, out to 3 nautical miles.
HMS permit required; billfish must be reported at NC HMS reporting stations before removal from vessel.
Measured as lower-jaw fork length (LJFL): tip of the lower jaw to the fork of the tail.
NC DMF 2026· checked Open
North Carolina state record
1,228 lb 8 oz, Off Oregon Inlet, 2008. NCDMF State Saltwater Records · checked 2026-08-22
How to tell it
Cobalt back, lit-up bars, heavy bill; the one that dumps the spool. More on the blue marlin page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Blue marlin in other states
In the app
Point the camera at a blue marlin in North Carolina and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
Get the appBlue marlin in North Carolina: the questions
What is the size limit for blue marlin in North Carolina?
99" LJFL min. Measured as lower-jaw fork length: tip of the lower jaw to the fork of the tail.
How many blue marlin can you keep in North Carolina?
1 per vessel per trip — blue OR white marlin combined.
When is blue marlin season in North Carolina?
Year-round.
What is the North Carolina record blue marlin?
1,228 lb 8 oz, Off Oregon Inlet (2008).
How current is this North Carolina blue marlin rule?
Source: NC DMF 2026, last checked Sep 20, 2026. A watchman re-reads the agency's pages nightly. Rules change mid-season by proclamation; the official rulebook is the final word.