01/26/01 MOREHEAD CITY – The Marine Fisheries Commission (MFC) is postponing a nominating committee meeting scheduled for Jan. 30 in Washington and a planning meeting with its advisors scheduled on Feb. 2 in Greenville.
The decision to postpone the meetings came in response to Gov. Mike Easley’s request to limit spending within state government.
MFC Chairman Jimmy Johnson reviewed the agendas for both meetings and determined they could be rescheduled for a later date. “We typically have an annual planning session to meet with all of our advisors and discuss activities and priorities for the upcoming year. Because there were no rulemaking actions scheduled, I felt it was appropriate to delay this meeting. I am also looking into the possibility of holding the nominating committee meeting via conference call at a later date.”
For more information about these postponed meetings, please contact Jess Hawkins, Division of Marine Fisheries, by e-mail at Jess.Hawkins@ncmail.net or by calling 1-800-682-2632 or 252-726-7021.
REMINDER FOR RECREATIONAL HERRING FISHERMEN
01/12/01 MOREHEAD CITY - Last February, the Marine Fisheries Commission approved a plan establishing long-term management strategies for river herring in North Carolina’s coastal waters. Management plans identify problems with a fishery and propose measures in the form of fishing regulations for both commercial and recreational fishermen to correct the problems over time.
While most of the herring restrictions went into effect last year, a change in the minimum mesh size for recreational drift gill nets just became effective. Beginning Jan. 8, 2001, the minimum mesh size limit has increased from 2 ˝ inches – only 3-inch gill nets are now allowed in the Albemarle Sound and the Chowan River Herring Management Areas, which includes the Roanoke, Middle, Eastmost, Cashie, Chowan and Meherrin rivers. The increase in the mesh size was implemented to allow smaller fish to avoid capture.
Recreational fishermen are also reminded of the daily possession limit that was implemented last year – 25 blueback herring and alewife, in the aggregate, per person. In the past, these fish have often been used for bait. Because there is now a daily possession limit on herring, fishermen cannot possess aboard a vessel or while engaged in fishing any fish subject to limits without head and tail attached.
The recreational season for river herring in the Albemarle Sound and the Chowan River Herring Management Areas will close at midnight on April 16, 2001.
For more information about river herring regulations, please contact the North Carolina Marine Patrol Office in Columbia, at 252-796-1322 or 1-800-405-7774.
HOOK-AND-LINE SEASON FOR STRIPED BASS TO OPEN JAN. 17 FOR ALBEMARLE SOUND MANAGEMENT AREA
01/12/01 MOREHEAD CITY -- The striped bass recreational season will open in the Albemarle Sound Management Area on Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2001.
Striped bass may be taken for recreational purposes on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays of each week during the season. Fishermen may take two striped bass per person, per day at a minimum length of 18 inches.
Undersized striped bass that are caught must be handled carefully and returned to the water where taken as quickly as possible. By practicing careful release techniques and observing fishing regulations, fishermen help preserve fish for the future.
These recreational restrictions apply to Recreational Commercial Gear License (RCGL) holders. RCGL gill nets that are 5 ˝ inches or larger in the Albemarle Sound Management Area must have floats that are no larger than 2 inches in diameter and 6 inches in length, and placed no less than 10 yards apart. These nets must be set so they are not raised over 48 inches off the water bottom and must be attended from one hour after to sunrise to one hour before sunset.
It is illegal to sell or purchase striped bass taken by hook-and-line or by RCGL gear.
The Albemarle Sound Recreational Harvest Management Area includes the Albemarle, Currituck, Croatan and Roanoke Sounds and their inland and joint water tributaries, except for the Roanoke, Eastmost, Middle and Cashie Rivers.
The hook-and-line season on striped bass will close at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, April 18, 2001, unless the spring harvest allocation of 56,000 pounds is reached earlier.
For more information on striped bass, please contact Sara Winslow, by e-mail at Sara.Winslow@ncmail.net or by calling 252-264-3911 or 800-338-7805.
ARTIFICAL REEF MEETING TO BE HELD JAN. 22
01/12/01 MOREHEAD CITY – Recreational and commercial fishermen are invited to attend a meeting on Monday, Jan. 22, at 7 p.m., at the City Hall in Southport to discuss artificial reefs in the Brunswick County area.
The North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) increases fish habitat and enhances fishing opportunities by building artificial reefs. Artificial reefs serve the same function as naturally occurring reefs by providing food and shelter to a variety of marine life. North Carolina has one of the most aggressive artificial reef programs in the nation, with 39 ocean and seven estuarine sites.
At this meeting, the DMF will be discussing artificial reef activities taking place along the southeastern coast and seeking input on the placement of the reef materials to be placed on existing Brunswick County sites in the near future. Reef materials include reef balls (cast concrete hollow domes), bridge rubble, concrete pipes, and decommissioned ships and barges.
For more information about this meeting, please contact Jim Francesconi by e-mail at James.Francesconi@ncmail.net or by calling 252-726-7021 or 1-800-682-2632.
REMINDER FOR RED DRUM FISHERMEN
1/10/01 MOREHEAD CITY - Fishermen are reminded about the following harvest restrictions for red drum:
Commercial fishermen are limited to five red drum per fishing trip – this restriction went into effect Oct. 11, 2000, and will continue until the new fishing year begins Sept. 1, 2001. Recreational anglers, including Recreational Commercial Gear license holders, may possess one fish per person per day throughout the entire year.
The size limit for red drum, which is also known as puppy drum or channel bass, is 18 inches to 27 inches total length for both commercial and recreational fishermen. It is illegal to possess a red drum greater than 27 inches total length.
These harvest limits are in place to protect red drum, North Carolina’s state saltwater fish, which is listed as overfished on the state’s stock status report. While there has been progress in increasing the abundance of this important fish stock, stringent harvest measures need to continue to protect this valuable resource.
For information about red drum management, please contact Dr. Louis Daniel by e-mail at Louis.Daniel@ncmail.net or by calling 252-726-7021 or 1-800-682-2632.
MARINE FISHERIES COMMISSION SEEKS ADVISORS
1/10/01 MOREHEAD CITY - The North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission (MFC) is looking for interested individuals to fill vacancies on all eight of its advisory committees.
MFC advisors serve three-year staggered terms, many of which expired at the end of last year. The MFC is soliciting advisors for the Finfish, Habitat and Water Quality, Crustacean, and Shellfish committees, in addition to four regional advisory committees from the following areas:
Northeast Bertie, Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Gates, Halifax, Hertford, Martin, Northampton, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Tyrrell, and Washington counties.
Central Beaufort, Carteret, Craven, Hyde, Jones, and Pamlico counties
Southeast Bladen, Brunswick, Columbus, New Hanover, Onslow, and Pender counties
Inland All other counties
Advisory committees provide information and guidance to the MFC when developing future fisheries regulations. Individuals interested in serving as advisors should be willing to attend at least bimonthly meetings and actively participate in the committee process. Advisors will be reimbursed for travel and other expenses incurred in relation to official duties.
The MFC will be accepting applications for these openings until January 26, 2001. Applications are available at North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) offices or can be obtained by calling Jess Hawkins or Belinda Loftin at 800-682-2632 or 252-726-7021.