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Rules by state · North Carolina

Tarponin North Carolina

Megalops atlanticus

Also called Silver king.

Recreational rule, NC DMF 2026, checked Sep 20, 2026. The official rulebook is the final word.

Studio photograph of a Tarpon (Megalops atlanticus), side view, on a white background

The rule in North Carolina

North Carolina’s own rule for tarpon in state waters, out to 3 nautical miles.

SizeN/A
BagNo harvest or possession
SeasonClosed year-round

Unlawful to possess in NC coastal and joint fishing waters.

NC DMF 2026· checked Put it back

North Carolina state record

193 lb 5 oz, Sea View Pier, 2008. NCDMF State Saltwater Records · checked 2026-08-22

How to tell it

Chrome-plated giant scales, upturned bucket mouth, last dorsal ray trails into a filament. More on the tarpon page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.

Tarpon in other states

Florida (Atlantic)Florida (Gulf)Every state

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Point the camera at a tarpon in North Carolina and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.

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Tarpon in North Carolina: the questions

Can you keep tarpon in North Carolina?

No. Harvest is prohibited in North Carolina. Release it in the water where you can. Unlawful to possess in NC coastal and joint fishing waters.

What is the North Carolina record tarpon?

193 lb 5 oz, Sea View Pier (2008).

How current is this North Carolina tarpon 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.