King Mackerel 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
Scomberomorus cavalla
speciesBASICA migratory mackerel of the western Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico, common in the coastal zone from North Carolina to Brazil and occasionally as far north as the Gulf of Maine.
HABITAT
Coastal zone, commonly at 12–45 m (40–150 ft) where the principal fisheries occur.
SIZE
typically 5–14 kg (11–30 lb); can exceed 40 kg
TEXT CONDENSED FROM WIKIPEDIA, AVAILABLE UNDER CC BY-SA 4.0
King Mackerel identification is educational; species identification does not establish legal applicability for North Carolina.
- LAST LISTED/REFERENCE LIMITS
- 3 per person per day · minimum 24 inches
- APPLICABILITY
- 24-inch fork length (FL) minimum; the guide refers anglers to federal management and the most recent mackerel proclamation for additional requirements.
- 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.