Blue Marlin regulations in North Carolina

· Saltwater · 2026 season

Is it a keeper? Not yet converted to a keeper check. As printed: season Open year-round; size 99" LJFL; limit 1 per vessel per trip, either blue or white marlin. Read the exact wording below.

Blue Marlin size limit, season and daily limit

Where	Season	Size limit	Daily limit
statewide	Open year-round	99" LJFL	1 per vessel per trip, either blue or white marlin

Notes

Not yet reviewed: shown exactly as the state prints it. Read the wording before keeping the fish.

Exact NC Division of Marine Fisheries wording

Season: Open year-round
Size: 99" LJFL
Limit: 1 per vessel per trip, either blue or white marlin
statewide — as printed: “Blue Marlin (G) | 99" LJFL | 1 per vessel per trip, either blue or white marlin”

Source: NC Division of Marine Fisheries, captured 2026-09-29 (2026 season).

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About the blue marlin

Species of fish

The Atlantic blue marlin is a species of marlin endemic to the Atlantic Ocean. It is closely related to, and usually considered conspecific with, the Indo-Pacific blue marlin, then simply called blue marlin. Some authorities consider both species distinct. Blue marlin are distributed throughout the tropical and subtropical waters of the Atlantic Ocean. It is a bluewater fish that spends the majority of its life in the open sea far from land.

Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Regulations on this page come from NC Division of Marine Fisheries, not Wikipedia.

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Frequently asked

What is the size limit for Blue Marlin in North Carolina?

99" LJFL in North Carolina state waters.

How many Blue Marlin can you keep per day in North Carolina?

1 per vessel per trip, either blue or white marlin.

When is Blue Marlin season in North Carolina?

Open year-round.

Is my Blue Marlin a keeper today?

Not yet converted to a keeper check. As printed: season Open year-round; size 99" LJFL; limit 1 per vessel per trip, either blue or white marlin. Read the exact wording below.