Multiple species will require harvest reports
North Carolina’s Mandatory Harvest Reporting for numerous species of fish will impact both recreational and commercial fishermen, and is set to begin on Dec. 1, 2025.
The new NC state law will require recreational anglers to report the harvest of red drum, flounder, spotted seatrout, striped bass and weakfish (a/k/a gray trout) to the NC Divison of Marine Fisheries. This will apply to anglers fishing in Coastal Fishing Waters, Joint Fishing Waters and Inland Fishing Waters adjacent to Coastal and Joint Fishing Waters.
Commercial fishermen engaged in a commercial fishing operation will also be required to report their harvests to DMF, whether they sell the catches or not.
This law was set to take place in December of this year, but DMF decided to put it off for a year in order to develop reporting methods that will be user-friendly and robust, and to give the agency plenty of time to inform the public about the new requirements.
Mandatory harvest reporting will be enforced by DMF’s Marine Patrol and NCWRC’s Law Enforcement Division.
Enforcement of the new law will be phased in over a period of 3 years.
Phase 1: Effective Dec. 1, 2025 includes a verbal warning for failure to report harvest.
Phase 2: Beginning Dec. 1, 2026, warning tickets will be issued.
Phase 3: Starting Dec. 1, 2027, an infraction, which will count towards suspension of fishing licenses and permits, along with a $35 fine, will be in effect.
See more information about the mandatory harvest reporting requirements at www.deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/marine-fisheries/licenses-permits-and-leases/mandatory-harvest-reporting.
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