Spanish mackerelin North Carolina
Scomberomorus maculatus
Also called Spanish.
The rule in North Carolina
North Carolina’s own rule for Spanish mackerel in state waters, out to 3 nautical miles.
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.
Atlantic migratory group, Coastal Migratory Pelagics FMP.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spanish mackerelThis page. | 12" FL min | 15 per person per day | Year-round |
| King mackerelLateral line drops sharply mid-body; spots fade with size.Tell them apart | 24" FL min | 3 per person per day | Year-round |
| False albacoreWavy worm-lines on the back, no spots.Tell them apart | Not listed by North Carolina: the default applies (No size limit, no bag limit) | ||
North Carolina state record
13 lb, Ocracoke Inlet, 1987. NCDMF State Saltwater Records · checked 2026-08-22
How to tell it
Gold-bronze spots on the flanks, no lateral-line dip, black front dorsal patch; smaller than a king. More on the Spanish mackerel page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Spanish mackerel in other states
In the app
Point the camera at a Spanish mackerel in North Carolina and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
Get the appSpanish mackerel in North Carolina: the questions
What is the size limit for Spanish mackerel in North Carolina?
12" FL min. Measured as fork length: snout to the fork of the tail.
How many Spanish mackerel can you keep in North Carolina?
15 per person per day.
When is Spanish mackerel season in North Carolina?
Year-round.
What is the North Carolina record Spanish mackerel?
13 lb, Ocracoke Inlet (1987).
How current is this North Carolina Spanish mackerel 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.