Cobiain North Carolina
Rachycentron canadum
Also called Ling, Lemonfish.
The rule in North Carolina
North Carolina’s own rule for cobia in state waters, out to 3 nautical miles.
Proclamation FF-4-2026; solo private angler limited to 1 fish.
Measured as fork length (FL): snout to the fork of the tail.
NC DMF 2026· checked Open
Beyond 3 miles: federal waters
A different rule past the 3-mile line, written by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council. Where the two differ, the water you are in decides.
Vessel limits: NC 1 (recreational), SC 6, GA 6, FL 2 per day.
SAFMC / NOAA SERO 2026 · checked 2026-09-16
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| CobiaThis page. | 36" FL min | 1/person/day; private vessel 2/vessel/day May 1-Jun 30 then 1/vessel/day Jul 1-Dec 31; for-hire 4/vessel/day | May 1 - Dec 31, 2026 |
| Atlantic sharpnose sharkCobia has no shark tail; swims flat and slow.Tell them apart | No size limit | 1 per person per trip (separate from the vessel shark limit) | Year-round |
North Carolina state record
116 lb 8 oz, Oregon Inlet, 2006. NCDMF State Saltwater Records · checked 2026-08-22
How to tell it
Broad flat head, dark lateral stripe, no true dorsal spines — often mistaken for a shark at boatside. More on the cobia page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Cobia in other states
In the app
Point the camera at a cobia in North Carolina and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
Get the appCobia in North Carolina: the questions
What is the size limit for cobia in North Carolina?
36" FL min. Measured as fork length: snout to the fork of the tail.
How many cobia can you keep in North Carolina?
1/person/day; private vessel 2/vessel/day May 1-Jun 30 then 1/vessel/day Jul 1-Dec 31; for-hire 4/vessel/day.
When is cobia season in North Carolina?
May 1 - Dec 31, 2026. As of Sep 21, 2026 it is open.
What is the North Carolina record cobia?
116 lb 8 oz, Oregon Inlet (2006).
How current is this North Carolina cobia 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.