Porbeaglein North Carolina
Lamna nasus
The rule in North Carolina
Federal rule (NOAA Highly Migratory Species). North Carolina lists no rule of its own for porbeagle, so the council's rule applies in state waters too.
Still an authorized species as of the latest HMS tables, but one alive at the boat must be released if tuna or billfish are aboard; permit + 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| PorbeagleThis page. | 54 in fork length | 1 shark per vessel per trip | Open year-round |
| Shortfin makoNo white dorsal patch, single keel.Tell them apart | N/A | No harvest or possession | Closed year-round |
How to tell it
Stocky cold-water mako cousin — white patch on the first dorsal's rear tip and a second small tail keel. More on the porbeagle page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Porbeagle in other states
In the app
Point the camera at a porbeagle in North Carolina and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
Get the appPorbeagle in North Carolina: the questions
What is the size limit for porbeagle in North Carolina?
54 in fork length. Measured as fork length: snout to the fork of the tail.
How many porbeagle can you keep in North Carolina?
1 shark per vessel per trip.
When is porbeagle season in North Carolina?
Open year-round.
How current is this North Carolina porbeagle 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.