Horse-eye jackin North Carolina
Caranx latus
Also called Bigeye jack.
The rule in North Carolina
North Carolina’s own rule for horse-eye jack in state waters, out to 3 nautical miles.
Not in the snapper-grouper jack complex (amberjacks, almaco, banded rudderfish, bar jack) — no limits apply.
NC DMF 2026· 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Horse-eye jackThis page. | No size limit | No bag limit | Open year-round |
| Crevalle jackDark pectoral blotch, steeper head.Tell them apart | Not listed by North Carolina: the default applies (No size limit, no bag limit) | ||
| Yellow jackSlimmer, brassy-yellow rear half.Tell them apart | Not listed by North Carolina: the default applies (No size limit, no bag limit) | ||
How to tell it
Big-eyed crevalle look-alike with a blacker tail, full scute row, and NO dark blotch on the pectoral fin. More on the horse-eye jack page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
In the app
Point the camera at a horse-eye jack in North Carolina and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
Get the appHorse-eye jack in North Carolina: the questions
What is the size limit for horse-eye jack in North Carolina?
No size limit.
How many horse-eye jack can you keep in North Carolina?
No bag limit.
When is horse-eye jack season in North Carolina?
Open year-round.
How current is this North Carolina horse-eye jack 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.