The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries will hold an online listening session about the Draft Southern Flounder Fishery Management Plan Amendment 3 on Jan. 5 at 1 p.m. The listening session prefaces three Marine Fisheries Commission advisory committee meetings where public comment will be accepted. NCDMF Listening Session Southern Flounder Fishery Management Plan Jan. 5 at [...] Fishing |  Full Article

The Atlantic bluefin tuna season ranks high enough up on the fishing world calendar that the fish even has two of its own television shows. This species is one of the largest open ocean migratory species of finfish found in the northwest Atlantic. Many fish are caught weighing well over 1,000 pounds and measuring 8 [...] Fishing |  Full Article

Members of the Dare County Waterways Commission have reason to celebrate this holiday season, with reports from fishermen and charter boat captains that the recent dredging of the South Ferry Channel is holding up nicely. “They say the flow going east-west through there — it’s a much better flow than what we had going across [...] Fishing |  Full Article

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries is accepting public comment on proposed management to implement comprehensive, long-term measures to achieve sustainable harvest in the southern flounder fishery. Draft Amendment 3 to the Southern Flounder Fishery Management Plan contains a suite of management options to address seven management strategies. These include: Sustainable harvest Increased recreational harvest [...] Fishing |  Full Article

By Lena Beck North Carolina’s state fish is the red drum, an Atlantic fish with a copper body that is a favorite of coastal anglers. But as recreational fishers might tell you, the number of red drum available to catch each year varies tremendously. Until recently, no one had formally studied what causes this variation. [...] Fishing |  Full Article

Yes, we know there are sharks in the ocean. Big ones. Really big ones! You’ve got a decent chance of seeing one when you’re fishing on an Outer Banks charter boat, and getting video is an added bonus. But one that’s “Jaws” proportions is not something you spot every day. That’s exactly what Capt. Aaron [...] Fishing |  Full Article

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries wants to remind the public to report any cold-stunned spotted seatrout they may see in North Carolina coastal waters. During the winter, spotted seatrout move to relatively shallow creeks and rivers, where they can be vulnerable to cold stun events. Cold stun events have the potential to occur when [...] Fishing |  Full Article

The spotted seatrout’s name gets me a bit confused. One of the common nicknames for this species is “speckled trout.” To me, the term “speckled trout” is another name for the eastern brook trout, which is found in the freshwater reaches of the mountainous region of North Carolina. Though these two share a nickname, it [...] Fishing |  Full Article

Commercial season closures for spot and for croaker will begin on different dates in December. The commercial fishery for spot will close from Dec. 10, 2021 through April 4, 2022. The commercial fishery for Atlantic croaker will close from Dec. 16, 2021 through December 31, 2021. Recreational bag limits of 50-fish per person per day [...] Fishing |  Full Article