Earlier this summer, the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries announced the 2023 recreational flounder season in accordance with Amendment 3 of the North Carolina Flounder Fishery Management Plan. The 2023 recreational flounder season for Coastal and Joint Fishing Waters will open at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, and will remain open until 11:59 [...] Fishing |  Full Article

December 17, 1933 – August 22, 2023 KILL DEVIL HILLS — Murray Eugene Bridges, age 89, of Kill Devil Hills, NC, passed away peacefully on August 22, 2023. He was born on December 17, 1933, in Wanchese, NC, to the late Thelma Jones and Holmes Otto Bridges. Murray led a life filled with hard work [...] Fishing |  Full Article

The Division of Marine Fisheries is developing Amendment 5 to the N.C. Eastern Oyster Fishery Management Plan (FMP) and Amendment 3 to the N.C. Hard Clam FMP. The division will hold a public scoping period Sept. 11-22 to solicit input on potential management strategies for the upcoming amendments and discuss stakeholder priorities. Scoping is the best opportunity [...] Fishing |  Full Article

August has been a bit back and forth for us with weather and fishing so far, but anglers are still getting out as much as possible and bringing in the fish! Beach, sound, and nearshore catches have included some nice slot-size red drum, the occasional cobia, and quite a few speckled and grey trout. For [...] Fishing |  Full Article

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries announced the 2023 commercial estuarine flounder season opening dates by Southern Flounder Management Area and Gear Category.Pound Net Management Areas   All pound net management areas will open with initial trip limits. Trip limits will be decreased during the season based on the amount of quota available. Mobile Gear Management [...] Fishing |  Full Article

The 30-day public comment period begins today on the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) of the effects of issuing an Incidental Take Permit (ITP) to N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries. The Division submitted an Endangered Species Act Section 10 ITP application to the NMFS Office of Protected Resources on Dec. 2. [...] Fishing |  Full Article

Commercial shrimpers can continue to harvest by trawler in the Pamlico Sound without a Clean Water Act permit, and the state will continue to manage its fisheries. The U.S. Court of Appeals upheld last week a district court’s Sept. 17, 2021, decision that trawling in the North Carolina estuary does not violate the Clean Water Act, [...] Fishing |  Full Article

The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission will meet in-person Aug 23-25 at the Hilton North Hills, 3415 Wake Forest Road, Raleigh. The meeting will also be livestreamed on YouTube. The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 23; at 9 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 24; and at 9 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 25. The [...] Fishing |  Full Article

The 30-day public comment period begins today on the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) of the effects of issuing an Incidental Take Permit (ITP) to N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries. The Division submitted an Endangered Species Act Section 10 ITP application to the NMFS Office of Protected Resources on Dec. 2. [...] Fishing |  Full Article