The North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries will close the recreational season for black sea bass on March 5, and the fishery will not reopen until July 1, the agency reported.
Louis Daniel, director of the DMF, issued a proclamation today (March 3) to close the fishery because statistics indicated that the recreational catch of black sea bass north of Hatteras would reach or exceed its annual quota.
The proclamation also established similar seasons, limits and minimum size restrictions in waters from the beach to three miles offshore that match those for federal waters from three to 200 miles offshore to comply with federal mandates.
Research conducted by the Mid Atlantic Fisheries Management Council and Atlantic States Fisheries Management Council determined that recreational black sea bass catches had exceeded the 2009 quota by 1.18 million pounds and would exceed the 2010 target by an estimated 1.15 million pounds.
The fishery north of Hatteras will be managed under these regulations:
• Minimum size will increase from 12 1/2 to 13 inches total length;
• The daily creel will remain at 25 fish;
• The recreational season will run July 1-Oct. 1 and Nov. 1-Dec. 31.
These regulations will remain in effect until the council approves an amendment to the fisheries management plan governing black sea bass to achieve the necessary reduction in fishing mortality for 2011.
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