The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries will resume onboard observations of estuarine gill net fisheries beginning May 1. Onboard observations will be the primary method with limited use of alternative platform observations primarily conducted by Marine Patrol officers. Division staff have been conducting alternate platform observations of estuarine gill net fisheries using division-owned boats since [...] Fishing |  Full Article

The recreational cobia fishing season will open May 1 in North Carolina waters, and the Division of Marine Fisheries is asking anglers for help with data collection. The recreational cobia fishery is managed by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC), and its Cobia Fishery Management Plan identifies several data needs, including collection of size, [...] Fishing |  Full Article

The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission is accepting public comment on proposed amendments and re-adoption of nine rules under a state-mandated periodic review schedule. The rules are proposed for readoption without changes and pertain to joint fishing waters that are managed jointly with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission. A public hearing will be held by web [...] Fishing |  Full Article

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries will begin renewing commercial fishing, seafood dealer, and for-hire licenses and permits on April 18. The Division is mailing renewal packets to current license and permit holders that include an application and a self-addressed, postage paid envelope. Renewals may be completed by mail, drop-box, or in person by appointment. [...] Fishing |  Full Article

The recreational black sea bass fishing season will open May 15 in both federal and North Carolina waters north of Cape Hatteras. During the open season north of Cape Hatteras, the minimum size limit will be 13 inches total length (tip of the snout to the tip of the tail), and the bag limit will [...] Fishing |  Full Article

The Rodanthe Pier reopened to the public for the 2022 season on Saturday, April 2, after conducting a series of storm-related repairs over the winter months. The pier sustained significant damage from a November 2021 storm which brought ocean overwash to the Outer Banks, and closed N.C. Highway 12 from Rodanthe to Oregon Inlet for three [...] Fishing |  Full Article

Some impressive numbers from the NC Coastal Federation (North Carolina Coastal Federation) Throughout the course of 2021, The North Carolina Coastal Federation, in partnership with several other organizations, made huge strides in removing marine debris from the North Carolina coast. Now in its second year of implementation, The North Carolina Marine Debris Action Plan (Action [...] Fishing |  Full Article

NOAA Fisheries announces the final rule for Amendment 10 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Dolphin and Wahoo Fishery of the Atlantic (Dolphin Wahoo Amendment 10).  Dolphin Wahoo Amendment 10 and the final rule will revise the acceptable biological catch, annual catch limits, sector allocations, accountability measures, and management measures for dolphin and wahoo. [...] Fishing |  Full Article

The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission Commercial Resource Fund Committee and the Funding Committee for the N.C. Commercial Fishing Resource Fund will begin accepting applications on April 1 for the 2022 funding cycle from the N.C. Commercial Fishing Resource Fund. The Commercial Fishing Resources Fund receives proceeds from the sale of Commercial Fishing Licenses and provides [...] Fishing |  Full Article