The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission is looking for commercial and recreational fishermen, scientists, and other interested parties to sit on various fisheries advisory committees. Two regional advisory committees – Northern and Southern – and three standing advisory committees – Finfish, Habitat and Water Quality, and Shellfish/Crustacean – review matters referred to them by the commission, [...] Fishing |  Full Article

The Division of Marine Fisheries is developing Amendment 2 to the N.C. Striped Mullet Fishery Management Plan (FMP). The division will hold a public scoping period Sept. 26 to Oct. 7 to solicit public input on potential management strategies for the upcoming amendment and discuss stakeholder priorities. Scoping is the best opportunity for the public [...] Fishing |  Full Article

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries recently certified a new state record swordfish (Xiphias gladius). Cary Carney of Newport caught the 504-pound, 8-ounce fish about 55 miles off Morehead City on Aug. 21. Carney was fishing aboard the Willow B, captained by his son, Brandon Carney. They were fishing in roughly 1,300-foot-deep water when they [...] Fishing |  Full Article

Eight newly readopted Marine Fisheries Commission rules become effective today, but fishermen will not see any difference. The rules, which pertain to joint fishing waters that are managed jointly with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, were readopted with only minor changes under a state-mandated periodic review schedule (G.S.150B-21.3A). The changes are conforming in nature, correct [...] Fishing |  Full Article

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries will collect flounder carcasses of legal size (15 inches or greater) from recreational fishermen during the upcoming recreational flounder season. The division has set up eight temporary freezer locations, in addition to the ten carcass collection locations available throughout the year, where recreational fishermen can take their flounder carcasses. [...] Fishing |  Full Article

Nineteen rules go into effect as of Aug. 23, including amendments pertaining to reducing shellfish lease user conflicts, repackaging foreign crab meat, and limiting certain gears on state ocean artificial reefs. The rules were amended and readopted under a state-mandated periodic review schedule. Portions of three rules under 15A NCAC 03O (Licenses, Leases, Franchises, and [...] Fishing |  Full Article

Three new members of the N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission members took the oath of office and participated in their first meeting this week. Governor Roy Cooper recently announced three new appointments to the commission: Donald Huggins, Doug Rader, and Ana Shellem. Huggins fills an at-large seat, Rader fills the scientist seat, and Shellem fills a [...] Fishing |  Full Article

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries recently certified a new state record Red Hind (Epinephelus guttatus). Jared Lambert of Wilmington caught the 7-pound, 11.2-ounce fish near Frying Pan Tower on Aug. 6. The previous state record Red Hind weighed 7 pounds, 1.6 ounces, and was caught off Cape Lookout in 2021. Lambert’s fish measured 23.06 [...] Fishing |  Full Article

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries recently certified a new state record Cubera Snapper (Lutjanus cyanopterus). Thomas M. Madsen of Byram, N.J. caught the 58-pound, 8-ounce fish offshore of Hatteras on Aug. 3. The previous state record Cubera Snapper weighed 58 pounds and was caught offshore of Beaufort Inlet in 2016. Madsen’s fish measured 49.5 [...] Fishing |  Full Article