Hobbies And Interests
Billfish/Marlin
White marlin, sailfish, swordfish and blue marlin all fall under the billfish/marlin category. Blue marlin are popular among North Carolina fishermen, and they're the main catch at Morehead City's Big Rock Blue Marlin tournament, which is held every June. These fish can grow quite large -- the state record for blue marlin is 1,228 lbs.
Tuna
There are several species of tuna found in North Carolina, including albacore, bigeye, blackfin and Atlantic bonito. Bluefin and bigeye tuna require federal permits for fishing. The islands and coastline near the Outer Banks provide good fishing opportunities for tuna.
Grouper/Snapper
Silver snapper and red snapper are plentiful along North Carolina's coast. Gag grouper and scamp can also be caught. Gag grouper spawn in North Carolina each February. Snapper can be found along nearly all of North Carolina's coast and in the Gulf of Mexico.
Shark
North Carolina's coast is home to hammerhead, black tip and tiger sharks, to name a few. Shark fishing, especially catch-and-release fishing, is popular all along North Carolina's coast.