Wahooin North Carolina
Acanthocybium solandri
Also called Ono.
The rule in North Carolina
North Carolina’s own rule for wahoo in state waters, out to 3 nautical miles.
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.
Dolphin-Wahoo 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| WahooThis page. | No size limit | 2/day | Open year-round |
| King mackerelNo vertical bars; wahoo's bars and longer snout.Tell them apart | 24" FL min | 3 per person per day | Year-round |
North Carolina state record
150 lb, Ocracoke, 1994. NCDMF State Saltwater Records · checked 2026-08-22
How to tell it
Vertical tiger bars that flare after hookup, long beak-like jaw, blade body. More on the wahoo page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Wahoo in other states
In the app
Point the camera at a wahoo in North Carolina and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
Get the appWahoo in North Carolina: the questions
What is the size limit for wahoo in North Carolina?
No size limit.
How many wahoo can you keep in North Carolina?
2/day.
When is wahoo season in North Carolina?
Open year-round.
What is the North Carolina record wahoo?
150 lb, Ocracoke (1994).
How current is this North Carolina wahoo 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.