Tarpon regulations in North Carolina

· Saltwater · 2026 season

Is it a keeper? Tarpon is closed to harvest. Release it.

Tarpon size limit, season and daily limit

Where	Season	Size limit	Daily limit
NC coastal and joint waters (to 3 mi)	Open year-round	No size limit	No daily limit

Notes

Unlawful to possess.

Exact NC Division of Marine Fisheries wording

Season: Closed
Size: UNLAWFUL TO POSSESS
Limit: UNLAWFUL TO POSSESS
statewide — as printed: “Tarpon | UNLAWFUL TO POSSESS”

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

Check your tarpon in seconds

Say it, snap a photo, or type the length. SlotGauge answers KEEP or RELEASE using today's North Carolina rules.

Open SlotGauge for Tarpon

Bluefish Cobia Wahoo Dolphin King Mackerel Spanish Mackerel Yellowfin Tuna Sharks (coastal species)

About the tarpon

Species of fish

The Atlantic tarpon is a ray-finned fish that inhabits coastal waters, estuaries, lagoons, and rivers. It is also known as the silver king. It is found in the Atlantic Ocean, typically in tropical and subtropical regions, though it has been reported as far north as Nova Scotia and the Atlantic coast of southern France, and as far south as Argentina. As with all elopiformes, it spawns at sea. Its diet includes small fish and crustaceans.

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

All 120 North Carolina species A–Z →

Frequently asked

What is the size limit for Tarpon in North Carolina?

No size limit in North Carolina state waters.

How many Tarpon can you keep per day in North Carolina?

No daily limit.

When is Tarpon season in North Carolina?

Open year-round.

Is my Tarpon a keeper today?

Tarpon is closed to harvest. Release it.