The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission is looking for commercial and recreational fishermen and scientists to advise them on various fisheries issues. Two regional advisory committees – Northern and Southern – review matters referred to them by the commission, such as draft fishery management plans, and recommend management strategies. Committees may also bring issues pertaining to [...] Fishing |  Full Article

The recreational black sea bass fishing season will open Feb. 1 in federal and North Carolina waters north of Cape Hatteras. The minimum size limit will be 12.5 inches total length (tip of the snout to the tip of the tail), and the bag limit will be 15 fish per person, per day. The season [...] Fishing |  Full Article

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries has issued a proclamation that cuts the number of bluefish recreational anglers can keep per day in response to projections that total catches will exceed an annual harvest limit set by federal regulators. The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council in mid-December recommended and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission approved [...] Fishing |  Full Article

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries public scoping closes on Tuesday, Jan. 21, for comments on potential management strategies for an upcoming amendment to the Shrimp Fishery Management Plan. The amendment will examine management strategies to further reduce bycatch of nontarget species in the shrimp trawl fishery and potential changes to existing shrimp management strategies, [...] Fishing |  Full Article

The owner of a Tyrrell County seafood processor has been sentenced to one year in federal prison after pleading guilty to selling millions of dollars in foreign crab meat that was labeled as local blue crab to major retailers. Phillip R. Carawan, owner, president and CEO of Capt. Neill’s Seafood Inc. in Columbia, admitted to [...] Fishing |  Full Article

The N.C. Commercial Fishing Resource Funding Committee will meet jointly with the N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission Commercial Fishing Resource Fund Committee at 1:30 p.m. Jan. 14 at the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Washington Regional Office, 943 Washington Square Mall, Washington. The two committees are scheduled to review and vote on recurring funding opportunities from [...] Fishing |  Full Article

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries is seeking input from the public on potential management strategies for an upcoming amendment to the Shrimp Fishery Management Plan. The amendment will examine management strategies to further reduce bycatch of non-target species in the shrimp trawl fishery and potential changes to existing shrimp management strategies. Fishermen and other [...] Fishing |  Full Article

In what is envisioned as a creative blending of ecotourism, artisan markets, mariculture and the locavore, or local food, movement, North Carolina’s first oyster trail is readying its launch this spring on the Outer Banks. Prior to a stakeholder meeting at Hatteras Community Center in December, oyster farmer Katherine McGlade, owner of Slash Creek Oysters, [...] Fishing |  Full Article

A slot limit for recreationally-caught striped bass will go into effect Jan. 1 in North Carolina ocean waters. Fishermen will be allowed to possess one striped bass per person per day that is at least 28 inches and less than 35 inches total length (fishermen may not keep a 35-inch fish). For the specific regulation, see Proclamation FF-54-2019. [...] Fishing |  Full Article