Blue sharkin North Carolina
Prionace glauca
Also called Blue dog.
The rule in North Carolina
Federal rule (NOAA Highly Migratory Species). North Carolina lists no rule of its own for blue shark, so the council's rule applies in state waters too.
HMS permit with shark endorsement and circle-hook rules apply.
Gear: Non-offset, corrodible circle hooks required when fishing with bait; HMS Angling permit with shark endorsement required in federal waters.
Measured as fork length (FL): snout to the fork of the tail.
NOAA HMS 2025· checked Open
Often mistaken for, and their North Carolina rules
Keep the wrong fish and the rule that applies is the other one’s.
| Fish | Size | Bag | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue sharkThis page. | 54 in fork length | 1 shark per vessel per trip | Open year-round |
| Shortfin makoStockier, conical snout, dagger teeth.Tell them apart | N/A | No harvest or possession | Closed year-round |
North Carolina state record
478 lb, Crystal Fishing Pier, 1961. NCDMF State Saltwater Records · checked 2026-08-22
How to tell it
Long, slim, and genuinely blue above, with huge sickle pectorals and big eyes on a pointed snout. More on the blue shark page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Blue shark in other states
In the app
Point the camera at a blue shark in North Carolina and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
Get the appBlue shark in North Carolina: the questions
What is the size limit for blue shark in North Carolina?
54 in fork length. Measured as fork length: snout to the fork of the tail.
How many blue shark can you keep in North Carolina?
1 shark per vessel per trip.
When is blue shark season in North Carolina?
Open year-round.
What is the North Carolina record blue shark?
478 lb, Crystal Fishing Pier (1961).
How current is this North Carolina blue shark rule?
Source: NOAA HMS 2025, 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.