Action Alert: Bonito Rulemaking in North Carolina

The North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission is taking a clear, common-sense step forward at its May 2026 meeting. The proposed rule for Atlantic bonito (15A NCAC 03M .0524) is exactly the kind of proactive management we need more of on the Atlantic coast.

North Carolina currently has no rules in place for Atlantic bonito. No size limit. No bag limit. No stock assessment. Meanwhile, recreational landings have been climbing steadily since 2017 and now exceed the long-term average. North Carolina alone accounts for 22 percent of all coastwide recreational bonito harvest. That is a massive share of a coastal migratory resource, and the trend is unmistakable.

Atlantic bonito behave differently in North Carolina than in many other parts of their range. They form dense, short-lived schools, often around structure, and appear in pulses that make them highly vulnerable to concentrated harvest. New technology and shifting angler behavior have made them easier to target than ever. Without guardrails, we risk repeating the same story we have seen with too many other inshore species — rapid expansion followed by sudden decline.

The proposed rule addresses this head-on. It establishes a straightforward five-fish recreational bag limit per person per day as a permanent baseline. Current harvest data shows most anglers are not keeping anywhere near that many fish anyway, so the immediate impact on the fishery will be minimal. At the same time, the rule gives the Fisheries Director authority to implement additional measures by proclamation if conditions warrant — but only with MFC consent, public outreach, and a clear effective date. This creates a fast, flexible response mechanism without locking the state into rigid rules that cannot adapt.

This is not about punishing anglers. It is about preventing waste. Atlantic bonito are best eaten fresh. They do not freeze well. Unchecked harvest on a pulse fishery like this almost guarantees fish left on ice or in freezers that never get eaten. That is not responsible angling, and it is not good for the resource. As stewards of our waters, we should take pride in enjoying our resources, harvesting fresh fish for the table and prioritizing the opportunity to do so for years to come.

Massachusetts already took this exact precautionary approach in 2025 with a 16-inch minimum size and a five-fish combined limit for bonito and false albacore. Several other states are moving in the same direction. By adopting this rule, North Carolina matches our neighbors on a shared migratory stock instead of becoming the weak link on the coast.

The American Saltwater Guides Association strongly supports the Commission approving the Notice of Text for this rule. It is a measured, science-based first step that protects a valuable fishery before problems become crises. We cannot afford to lose another inshore species to delay and inaction.

Want to participate in the process? We have listed some talking points below, as well as the direct links to meeting briefing materials and the link to comment. If you have been waiting for an opportunity to join the wave of conservation minded anglers pushing for proactive management, consider it now!

Link to Comment

Link to Briefing Material

Talking Points for Public Comments:

• North Carolina accounts for 22% of all coastwide recreational Atlantic bonito harvest. That is a huge share of a shared migratory resource, and our landings have been trending upward since 2017, now exceeding the long-term average.
• There are currently no management measures in place for Atlantic bonito in North Carolina. No size limit, no bag limit, no stock assessment. We are flying blind while recreational effort is rising fast.
• Atlantic bonito school in dense, short-lived pulses off our coast. This behavior, combined with new technology and changing angler tactics, makes the fishery extremely vulnerable to rapid overharvest if we do nothing.
• These fish are best eaten fresh. They do not freeze well. Without a limit, we risk significant waste of a high-quality resource that should be conserved for the table, not the trash. Over the past few years, there have been constant images of fishermen retaining over a hundred bonito per trip. This is not impressive. It is disgusting, and no one who does this is a sportsman. 
• The proposed rule is precautionary and smart. It puts a reasonable five-fish recreational bag limit in permanent rule (something anglers are rarely exceeding anyway) while giving the Fisheries Director proclamation authority to act quickly if conditions change — with MFC consent and public outreach required first.
• Massachusetts already took this exact step in 2025 with a 16-inch minimum size and five-fish combined limit for bonito and false albacore. Rhode Island is moving on similar measures. North Carolina should match our neighbors on this shared resource instead of becoming the weak link.
• This is not about shutting down a fishery. It is about getting ahead of a problem before we lose another inshore species the way we have lost so many others. Proactive management protects the resource, the anglers who love it, and the coastal economy it supports.
• We strongly support the Commission approving Notice of Text today so this rule can move forward. Thank you to DMF staff for the thorough issue paper and to the Commission for taking this step.
• The average landings in NC per year since 1994 are approximately 16,500 fish and 77,500 lbs. In 2025, 96,000 fish were landed and 303,000lbs.