In the 17 years since the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission defined catch standards to prevent overfishing, and the N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission published a fisheries management plan for the species that set more-restrictive limits for commercial and recreational fishermen, red drum have thrived in North Carolina waters.
No one can keep a red shorter than 18 inches or longer than 27, and commercial netters are not allowed to target reds and can only sell seven per day, with an additional by-catch allowance that requires them to have more pounds of other legally-targeted fish than redfish.
Recreational hook-and-line anglers may keep only one redfish per day inside the 18- to 27-inch slot.
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