Bluefish across North Carolina
Finding and keeping bluefish, by North Carolina rules.
- 5 a daydaily creel
- 31 lb. 12 oz.record
Photo of the species, not of a North Carolina water: SEFSC Pascagoula Laboratory; Collection of Brandi Noble, NOAA/NMFS/SEFSC., Public domain
Where bluefish fit in North Carolina
Bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix) lives in North Carolina’s saltwater habitat. NCWRC sets a creel of 5 a day with no size limit where inland and joint fishing waters (ncwrc, hook and line).
The state record is 31 lb. 12 oz., taken at Cape Hatteras in 1972. NCDMF citation: Award for harvest of fish, 15 pounds or greater. Award for live release of fish, 34 inches or longer.
How NCDMF describes bluefish
“Bluefish are greenish-blue along the back fading to silver on the sides and the belly. They have stout bodies with large mouths and prominent, sharp teeth. The lower jaw juts out noticeably. The dorsal fin is divided into two sections with the first section about half as long and high as the second section. The second dorsal fin is nearly the same size as the anal fin.”
- SizeBluefish grow to 34 inches and 19 pounds.
- HabitatBluefish are found in the western Atlantic in temperate to warm waters from Nova Scotia to Uruguay off the west African shelf. Bluefish school and make seasonal migrations north in the spring and south in the winter. Larger fish tend to congregate in the northern part of the range.
- DietBluefish have aggressive feeding habits, eating butterfish, menhaden, round herring, silversides, anchovies, sea trouts, Atlantic croaker, spot, shrimp, lobster, crabs, worms, other bluefish and many other items.
- Fishing tipsBluefish will strike almost anything in the water. Anglers fish from boats, piers, bridges and the surf using cut baits fished on the bottom, or casting or trolling artificial lures, such as metal spoons, bright-colored popping lures, jerk jigger style baits and lead-headed plastic grubs. Because of
- Also calledblues, snappers, choppers, Taylor blues
Quoted from the NCDMF species profile, checked October 2026.
Creel limits for bluefish
| Agency | Where | Daily creel | Size | Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NCWRC | Inland and joint fishing waters (NCWRC, hook and line) | 5 a day | no size limit | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
| NCDMF | Coastal and joint fishing waters | 5 a day | no size limit | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
NCWRC 2026-27 digest and NCDMF proclamations. All North Carolina limits.
North Carolina record bluefish
| Category | Weight | Where | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| all tackle by weight | 31 lb. 12 oz. | Cape Hatteras | 1972 |
NCWRC and NCDMF state records. Angler names left out.
Species that pair with bluefish
- Red drumsalt
- Spotted seatroutsalt
- Southern floundersalt
- Summer floundersalt
- Gulf floundersalt
- Weakfishsalt
- Black drumsalt
- Sheepsheadsalt
- Atlantic croakersalt
- Spotsalt
- Kingfishessalt
- Cobiasalt
- King mackerelsalt
- Spanish mackerelsalt
Places to fish near Bluefish, pictured
Photo: Ildar Sagdejev (Specious), CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: EbonyEaton, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Indy beetle, CC0 1.0
Photo: Dincher, CC BY-SA 3.0
Worth knowing about bluefish
Which rules govern keeping bluefish?
5 a day (Inland and joint fishing waters (NCWRC, hook and line)), size no size limit.
Which water gave up the record bluefish?
31 lb. 12 oz. from Cape Hatteras (1972).
Which waters produce bluefish?
Bluefish are found in the western Atlantic in temperate to warm waters from Nova Scotia to Uruguay off the west African shelf. Bluefish school and make seasonal migrations north in the spring and south in the winter. Larger fish tend to con
Does NCWRC stock bluefish?
Not on this year’s list.
How do I tell bluefish apart?
Bluefish grow to 34 inches and 19 pounds.
Can bluefish be kept this month?
open all year unless closed by proclamation
What license do bluefish anglers buy?
Coastal waters take a Coastal Recreational Fishing License from age 16 ($20 resident, $40 nonresident).
Which captains list bluefish?
None list it by name; see the guides page.
Seek out bluefish
Pick a water from the lists on this page.