Dolphin regulations
North Carolina · Curated reference from cited public sources · listings, not permission to fish or retain a catch · This selected North Carolina saltwater reference subset is not a complete rulebook.
SPECIES LINKS
FIELD GUIDE
Coryphaena hippurus
speciesBASICThe mahi-mahi or dorado, a surface-dwelling fish of offshore temperate, tropical, and subtropical waters worldwide. Most commonly found around the Gulf of Mexico, Costa Rica, Hawaii, and the Indian Ocean.
HABITAT
Offshore surface waters worldwide; temperate to subtropical.
SIZE
typically 7–13 kg (15–29 lb) and ~1 m
TEXT CONDENSED FROM WIKIPEDIA, AVAILABLE UNDER CC BY-SA 4.0
Dolphin identification is educational; species identification does not establish legal applicability for North Carolina.
- LAST LISTED/REFERENCE LIMITS
- 10 per person per day or 54 per trip, whichever is less; head boats 10 per person per day
- APPLICABILITY
- No minimum length is shown in the current table. The guide's footnote B supplies the 54-per-trip and head-boat qualifications.
- SOURCE AUTHORITY
- North Carolina DEQ Division of Marine Fisheries, Recreational Size and Bag Limits (effective July 1, 2026)
UPDATED July 1, 2026 · CHECKED Aug 25, 2026, 12:00 PM UTC · EFFECTIVE YEAR 2026
NC Division of Marine Fisheries size and bag limits ↗The NCDMF page is an informational summary; proclamations and the applicable state rules are authoritative.
LAUNCH SITES
Curated launch sites in North Carolina (3)
This reference does not grant permission to fish or retain a catch. Location, method, vessel, species identification, and emergency closures can change what applies. Verify the applicable official rules.