Atlantic bluefin tunain North Carolina
Thunnus thynnus
The rule in North Carolina
Federal rule (NOAA Highly Migratory Species). North Carolina lists no rule of its own for Atlantic bluefin tuna, so the council's rule applies in state waters too.
HMS Angling permit required. Retention limits are adjusted in-season by NOAA — verify the current limit before keeping a fish.
Measured as curved fork length (CFL): snout to the fork of the tail, measured along the curve of the body.
NOAA HMS 2026· checked Open
North Carolina state record
877 lb, Off Oregon Inlet, 2017. NCDMF State Saltwater Records · checked 2026-08-22
How to tell it
Massive girth, short pectoral fins that don't reach the second dorsal. More on the Atlantic bluefin tuna page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Atlantic bluefin tuna in other states
In the app
Point the camera at an Atlantic bluefin tuna in North Carolina and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
Get the appAtlantic bluefin tuna in North Carolina: the questions
What is the size limit for Atlantic bluefin tuna in North Carolina?
27" curved FL min; keepable slot 27–<73". Measured as curved fork length: snout to the fork of the tail, measured along the curve of the body.
How many Atlantic bluefin tuna can you keep in North Carolina?
Private vessels: 2 per vessel per day (only 1 of 47–<73"); trophy 73"+ closed for 2026.
When is Atlantic bluefin tuna season in North Carolina?
Open under in-season limits.
What is the North Carolina record Atlantic bluefin tuna?
877 lb, Off Oregon Inlet (2017).
How current is this North Carolina Atlantic bluefin tuna rule?
Source: NOAA HMS 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.