Great barracuda across North Carolina
Creel rules, records and waters for great barracuda.
- no creel limitdaily creel
- 67 lb. 7 oz.record
Photo of the species, not of a North Carolina water: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0
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About North Carolina great barracuda
Great barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda) is listed among the state’s saltwater species. Anglers may keep no creel limit under NCDMF (coastal and joint fishing waters); size no size limit.
Cape Lookout gave up the state record of 67 lb. 7 oz. in 1985. NCDMF citation: Award for live release of fish, 45 inches or longer.
The great barracuda creel
| Agency | Where | Daily creel | Size | Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NCDMF | Coastal and joint fishing waters | no creel limit | no size limit | open all year unless closed by proclamation |
NCWRC 2026-27 digest and NCDMF proclamations. All North Carolina limits.
The great barracuda record
| Category | Weight | Where | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| all tackle by weight | 67 lb. 7 oz. | Cape Lookout | 1985 |
NCWRC and NCDMF state records. Angler names left out.
Fish that pair with great barracuda
- Red drumsalt
- Spotted seatroutsalt
- Southern floundersalt
- Summer floundersalt
- Gulf floundersalt
- Weakfishsalt
- Black drumsalt
- Sheepsheadsalt
- Atlantic croakersalt
- Spotsalt
- Kingfishessalt
- Bluefishsalt
- Cobiasalt
- King mackerelsalt
Nearby water from Great barracuda, in photos
Photo: Indy beetle, CC0 1.0
Photo: Indy beetle, CC0 1.0
Photo: kkkkoly7, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Indy beetle, CC0 1.0
Before you target great barracuda
What is the creel limit on great barracuda?
no creel limit (Coastal and joint fishing waters), size no size limit.
What is the biggest great barracuda caught in North Carolina?
67 lb. 7 oz. from Cape Lookout (1985).
Which lakes hold great barracuda?
See above for where it lives.
Are great barracuda on the stocking list?
It is not on the 2026 warmwater list.
What is great barracuda confused with?
Scientific name Sphyraena barracuda.
When does the great barracuda season run?
open all year unless closed by proclamation
Which North Carolina license do I need for great barracuda?
Coastal waters take a Coastal Recreational Fishing License from age 16 ($20 resident, $40 nonresident).
Can I hire a trip that targets great barracuda?
Every operator appears on the guides page.
Map out a great barracuda trip
Each listed water has its own page.