N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission approves 10-fish daily creel limit
The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission has voted to manage the recreational catch of black drum with size and creel limits that will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2014.
Federal fisheries managers require states to implement possession limits and size minimums on black drum, and the commission that oversees North Carolina’s coastal fisheries voted at its November meeting to establish a 10-fish recreational creel limit, a 14-inch size minimum and a 14- to 25-inch slot limit that allows one fish longer than 25 inches to be kept daily.
The Commission also established a 500-pound trip limit on black drum for commercial fishermen.
The Commission also voted to shorten the commercial fishing season on American Shad in the Albemarle Sound/Roanoke River system to March 18-April 14.
A draft supplement to the Spotted Seatrout Fishery Management Play was approved that will allow a 60-day comment periods, from Nov. 18-Jan. 18, to listen to alternatives to stricter commercial and recreational regulations set to be implemented in February.
A draft amendment to the Shrimp Fishery Management Plan was approved recommending that a stakeholder group be established to recommend different devices that will reduce by 40 percent all by-catch of finfish by shrimp trawlers.
