September 24 MOREHEAD CITY - North Carolina Marine Patrol officers report that a large number of recreational anglers are mistaking undersized king mackerel for Spanish mackerel and they want people to know there is a considerable difference in the size limits for these two species.

In North Carolina, king mackerel have a 20-inch size limit and anglers can catch up to three of these fish per day. Spanish mackerel have a 12-inch size limit and fishermen are allowed up to 10 of these fish per day. Unfortunately, juvenile kings look very much like Spanish mackerel, but they do have one easily identifiable difference - Spanish mackerel have a very definite black spot on the first top (dorsal) fin. Additionally, there is a more pronounced dip in the lateral line of a king mackerel.

For more information about mackerel identification, please call the North Carolina Marine Patrol at 919/726-7021 or 1-800/682-2632.

You can also check our on-line mackerel identification chart.

September 23 MOREHEAD CITY -- The Marine Fisheries Commission (MFC) is looking for interested individuals to fill advisory committee vacancies.

The newly appointed MFC is a nine-member citizen panel responsible for developing and implementing regulations affecting marine resources, as well as advising the administration on fisheries issues in North Carolina. The recent overhaul of the MFC was triggered by the landmark Fisheries Reform Act, which called for the commission to be reduced from 17 to nine members, as well as the development of both standing and regional advisory committees.

Advisory panel members are needed to serve on the Finfish, Habitat and Water Quality, Crustacean, and Shellfish advisory committees. Additionally, advisers are needed for four regional advisory committees, from the following areas:

An Advisory Selection Committee will review the applications and the MFC will meet in November to fill these advisory positions, so call Jess Hawkins at the Division of Marine Fisheries today to request an application (919/726-7021 or 1-800/682-2632).

September 12 MOREHEAD CITY -- The North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) has announced the Marine Patrol will begin a new crab pot tagging program.

Effective immediately, Marine Patrol officers will begin tagging crab pots that are suspected of being abandoned. Regulations state crab pots must be fished every 10 days; otherwise they will be considered abandoned and fishermen can be issued a citation. In 1996, fishermen used an estimated 63 million pots to harvest crabs in North Carolina waters.

These tags are orange-colored and marked “N.C. MARINE PATROL” followed by an identification number. If fishermen find tags on their pots, they should simply cut off the tag and continue fishing their pots. The Marine Patrol will use these tags to determine if crab pots are being fished properly.

For more information on the crab pot tagging program, please contact any of the following DMF Marine Patrol offices: Columbia at 1-800/405-7774, Morehead City at 1-800/682-2632, or Wilmington at 1-800/248-4536.

September 10 MOREHEAD CITY -- The Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) will hold a meeting on Saturday, September 20, at 7 p.m. in Joselyn Hall on the Carteret County Community College campus, to review the Fisheries Reform Act. The public is invited.

The meeting will begin with a presentation highlighting the major provisions of the Fisheries Reform Act, followed by a question and answer session. A written overview of this new law will also be available for the public. For more information, please contact Nancy Fish, DMF-Morehead City, at 919/726-7021 or 1-800/682-2632.

September 10 MOREHEAD CITY --The Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) will be holding a meeting to discuss North Carolina’s Artificial Reef Program on September 18, at 7 p.m,. at the North Carolina Aquarium in Manteo. The public is invited.

Steve Murphey, DMF artificial reef program manager, will begin the presentation by discussing the history of North Carolina’s artificial reefs and then give an overview of the most recent construction projects. Then, a question and answer session will follow regarding future reef construction off of Oregon Inlet.

North Carolina has one of the most active artificial reef programs in the nation, with 39 ocean sites and seven estuarine sites along the coast. Artificial reefs are man-made structures, such as decommissioned vessels, railroad cars, and concrete pipe and rubble. These materials rest of the sea floor providing food and shelter for marine life. Approximately 54,000 visits are made annually to North Carolina artificial reefs.

For further information about this meeting or North Carolina’s Artificial Reef Program, please contact Steve Murphey, DMF-Morehead City, at 919/726-7021 or 1-800/682-2632.

September 9 MOREHEAD CITY -- The Marine Fisheries Commission (MFC) will hold a series of five public hearings across the state from September 18 through October 16, to receive public comments on proposed rules that involve fishing in North Carolina coastal waters.

The MFC is a nine-member citizen panel appointed by the governor, which is responsible for managing North Carolina’s fisheries resources.

In June, the MFC voted to take the following proposed rules to public hearing: