Blueback herringin North Carolina
Alosa aestivalis
Also called River herring.
The rule in North Carolina
North Carolina’s own rule for blueback herring in state waters, out to 3 nautical miles.
River herring (alewife and blueback) unlawful to possess under NC moratorium.
Counts toward an aggregate limit: River herring.
NC DMF 2026· checked Put it back
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blueback herringThis page. | N/A | No harvest or possession | Closed year-round |
| AlewifeBigger eye, gray-green back, pale gut lining.Tell them apart | N/A | No harvest or possession | Closed year-round |
| Atlantic herringNo shoulder spot.Tell them apart | Not listed by North Carolina: the default applies (No size limit, no bag limit) | ||
How to tell it
The alewife's twin with a blue-black back and smaller eye; told apart for sure by the black gut lining. More on the blueback herring page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Blueback herring in other states
In the app
Point the camera at a blueback herring in North Carolina and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
Get the appBlueback herring in North Carolina: the questions
Can you keep blueback herring in North Carolina?
No. Harvest is prohibited in North Carolina. Release it in the water where you can. River herring (alewife and blueback) unlawful to possess under NC moratorium.
How current is this North Carolina blueback herring 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.