White marlinin North Carolina
Kajikia albida
The rule in North Carolina
North Carolina’s own rule for white marlin in state waters, out to 3 nautical miles.
HMS permit required; billfish must be reported at NC HMS reporting stations before removal from vessel.
Measured as lower-jaw fork length (LJFL): tip of the lower jaw to the fork of the tail.
NC DMF 2026· checked Open
North Carolina state record
138 lb, Off Cape Hatteras, 2015. NCDMF State Saltwater Records · checked 2026-08-22
How to tell it
Rounded dorsal and pectoral tips, lighter build than a blue. More on the white marlin page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
White marlin in other states
In the app
Point the camera at a white marlin in North Carolina and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
Get the appWhite marlin in North Carolina: the questions
What is the size limit for white marlin in North Carolina?
66" LJFL min. Measured as lower-jaw fork length: tip of the lower jaw to the fork of the tail.
How many white marlin can you keep in North Carolina?
1 per vessel per trip — blue OR white marlin combined.
When is white marlin season in North Carolina?
Year-round.
What is the North Carolina record white marlin?
138 lb, Off Cape Hatteras (2015).
How current is this North Carolina white marlin 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.