Stock Status - Viable- Mean catch per unit effort of juveniles in the Pamlico Sound was higher than the 10-year average in 2004. Spot is the primary coastal catch, by number, for recreational fishermen in North Carolina.

Average Commercial Landings/Value 1995-2004 - 2,505,195 lbs./$1,031,746

2004 Commercial Landings and Value - 2,316,982 lbs./$1,067,945

Average Recreational Landings 1995-2004 -1,186,069 lbs., 2004 - 1,857,098 lbs.

Average Number of Award Citations 1995-2004 – 65, 2004 - 86

Average RCGL Landings 2002-2004 - 282,351, 2004 - 252,291

Status of Fishery Management Plan - In North Carolina, spot is currently included in the Interjurisdictional Fisheries Management Plan, which defers to ASMFC FMP compliance requirements. An ASMFC Spot Fishery Management Plan was initially approved in 1987. Management measures were reviewed in 2004 by the ASMFC scientific and statistical committee. In the review, the committee prioritized research and management recommendations.

Data/Research Needs - Coastwide stock assessment analysis, migration studies (tagging), maturity and fecundity studies.

Current Regulations (2005) - No minimum size or bag limit

Harvest Season (2005) - Open year round

Size and Age at Maturity - 7 inches-8 inches/2 years–3 years

Historical and Current Maximum Age - 5 years

Juvenile Abundance Index Average 1995-2004 – 257, 2004 - 394 (validated)

Habits/Habitats - Spot are short-lived estuarine dependent members of the drum family, that include Atlantic croaker, red drum, black drum, spotted seatrout and weakfish. Spot spawn in the ocean from late fall to early spring. Wind and currents carry the young into the upper reaches of the estuaries, where they remain throughout the spring. Adult spot migrate seasonally between estuarine and near-shore ocean waters, but are seldom found in the upper reaches of the estuary. Spot are most susceptible to commercial and recreational fishing activity during the fall when schools migrate from estuarine to ocean waters.