Stock Status - Concern – The stock assessment for NC’s spotted seatrout (1991-2006) is currently being updated with data through 2008 and is expected to be completed in the summer of 2009.  Recent data suggests positive signs such as large catches, increases in catch-per-unit effort, and expansion of the age structure. The previous assessment determined that the stock is overfished and overfishing is occurring (Jensen 2009). Results of the updated assessment will be available to determine if this trend has continued and will be used as a basis for potential changes in management to ensure sustainability of the stocks. It should be noted that cold stun events appear to have a large influence on spotted seatrout population dynamics with winter cold shock cited as a primary factor in local and coastwide declines in spotted seatrout.  A significant cold stun event has not occurred since 2003.

Average Commercial Landings and Value 1999-2008 – 263,843 lbs./$347,698

2008 Commercial Landings and Value – 304,544 lbs./$466,760

Average Recreational Landings 1999-2008 – 557,605 lbs., 2008 – 922,733 lbs.
           
Average Number of Award Citations (5 lbs.) 1999-2008* – 519, 2008* –428

Average Recreational Commercial Gear License (RCGL) Landings 2002-2008 – 13,207 lbs., 2008 – 14,448 lbs.

Status of Fisheries Management Plan (FMP) - In North Carolina, spotted seatrout are currently included in the Interjurisdictional FMP, which defers to Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) FMP compliance requirements. The ASMFC FMP for Spotted Seatrout was initially approved in 1984, and has been reviewed annually since 2001. Updates to the plan incorporate new data and research findings, and assess the status of stocks and the fisheries. Amendment 1, approved by the ASMFC Policy Board on November 1991, added the objective of maintaining a spawning potential ratio (SPR) of at least 20% to minimize the possibility of recruitment failure.  Likewise, NC’s spotted seatrout stock is considered to be overfished if the spawning stock biomass falls below a threshold associated with a 20% SPR and undergoing overfishing if fishing mortality rate rises above a threshold associated with the 20% SPR. NC’s management strategy will be to Reduce F to maintain a 20% SPR which will increase the likelihood of sustainability through an expanded age structure and an increase in the spawning stock biomass. A NCDMF FMP was initiated in July 2007 and is currently in the process of being developed.

Research and Data Needs - validated index of juvenile abundance; fishery independent data; commercial and recreational mortality estimates; stock assessment

Current Regulations – 12-inch total length (TL) /10-fish bag limit/person/day taken by hook and line  
Harvest Season - year round.  Peak catches occur in the fall, although May and June are also productive months.

Size and Age at Maturity – 7-9 inches fork length (FL)/less than 1 year 
Males mature at a younger age, smaller size, and earlier in the season, than females. 

Historical and Current Maximum Age – 12 years/9 years

Juvenile Abundance Index - unknown

Habits and Habitats – Estuarine dependent member of the Sciaenidae family that includes kingfish, spot, croaker, red drum, black drum, and weakfish.  Peak catches occur in the fall, although May and June are also productive months.  North Carolina spotted seatrout have a protracted spawning season which extends from late April through early October.  Juveniles are dependent on estuarine seagrass habitat as critical nursery areas.  Catastrophic mortalities of spotted seatrout have been attributed to cold shock, hurricanes, excessive fresh water and red tide conditions.

For more information, contact Beth Burns at beth.burns@ncdenr.gov(252-473-5734).

*Citation weight increased from 4 lbs. to 5 lbs. in 2008.