Fishing




Fisheries News

Dare stays in top spot in North Carolina for seafood landings
Dare County maintained its status as the top seafood producing county in North Carolina in 2007. Commercial fishermen landed more than 21.8 million pounds of finfish and shellfish in the county last year.  That figure compares to landings of 25.5 million pounds in 2006 and 26.6 million pounds in 2005.  
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Chemicals in drugs and personal care products could impact fish
Most people don’t see a stockpile of environmental contaminants when they look in their bathroom cabinets, but pharmaceuticals and personal care products contain thousands of chemicals that could impact aquatic life.  
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State officials decide to delay new gear permits for striped bass
State fisheries officials have announced that the commercial gear permit for the ocean striped bass fishery won’t go into effect this year, giving officials time to explore limited entry and other management options for the fishery.
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DMF wants to know about catches of Asian black tiger shrimp
Some North Carolina shrimpers have pulled in an unusual type of shrimp in addition to the common white, pink, or brown species in their trawl nets. In 2006 and 2007, fishermen reported catching a few Asian black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon), a species not native to South Atlantic waters.
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Commercial fishermen question king mackerel data
Kelly Schoolcraft sees big holes in the database that scientists are using to assess the health of South Atlantic king mackerel. Schoolcraft and other Dare County fishermen question whether scientists will be able to accurately determine the status of the stock without biological information about fish caught off North Carolina by commercial fishermen. 
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Council looks at allocations that could further reduce catch limits
Commercial and recreational fishermen could see lower catch limits for some South Atlantic species under a proposal to reserve a percentage of the total allowable catch as a conservation buffer.  
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Scallop boats are shelling out a lot of money for observers
Scallop boat captains and crews are finding that the cost of paying for observer coverage on fishing trips is taking a big bite out of their pay-shares.  
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Recreational fishing group calls for net ban
The state chapter of the Recreational Fishing Alliance is calling for a ban on fishing nets in what the group describes as “non-coastal waters.”  
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Two Dare projects get waterfront access funding
Louis Daniel, director of the state Division of Marine Fisheries, has announced the 13 projects selected for funding from the Waterfront Access and Marine Industry Fund. After a lengthy review process that involved three separate advisory committees, Daniel selected two projects in Dare County for funding.
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Debate focuses on allocating fish between commercial and recreational fishermen
A little-noticed fishery management discussion going on at the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council strikes right to the core of resource management policy.

Poised beneath debate over what the South Atlantic Council calls “the draft comprehensive allocation amendment” is the question of how society can reap the maximum benefit from distribution of a limited resource.

The allocation plan will guide federal fisheries managers in deciding how to divide the total catch limit for species such as snowy grouper and king mackerel between commercial and recreational fishing sectors.  
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Council to decide who can sell snapper-grouper species
The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council won’t decide until June whether to prohibit the sale of snapper-grouper species caught under recreational fishing harvest limits.

The council was expected to take action on snapper-grouper bag limit sales during its March 3-7 meeting in Jekyll Island, Ga.  The council supports a prohibition on bag limit sales that would allow only boats with commercial federal permits to sell snapper-grouper.  
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Another bill in Congress would give more flexibility in rebuilding stocks

U.S. Rep. Walter B. Jones (R-N.C.) introduced legislation in November that would give federal fisheries managers some flexibility in setting deadlines for rebuilding fish stocks to healthy, sustainable levels. And, last month Jones threw his support behind a very similar bill introduced by U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.)  
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Right whale death last year off Hatteras still a mystery
A preliminary necropsy report on a right whale that was towed to the beach in Avon last March hasn’t solved the mystery of why the animal died.  
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No Hatteras Island projects go forward for waterfront access funding
The public waterfront access project at the Manns Harbor bridge cleared another hurdle March 3 when a citizen’s advisory committee recommended that the project receive funds from the Waterfront Access and Marine Industry Fund. However, no Hatteras Island projects were recommended.  
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Fisheries advisory committee says no to keeping big, red drum
Villagers on the Outer Banks shouldn’t expect to see that traditional favorite, old drum stew, on their dining room tables anytime soon. A fisheries advisory committee recommended Thursday, March 6, that the state retain the no-harvest provision for red drum longer than 27 inches that went into effect in 1998. 
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National Marine Fisheries withholds documents on right whale death
Commercial fishermen are disappointed that National Marine Fisheries Service released fewer than half of the documents and correspondence pertaining to the death of a right whale in 2006.  
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Flounder size limit increases for recreational fishermen
The size limit for recreationally caught flounder will increase to 15.5 inches in many coastal waters of the state beginning March 1.
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A lower king mackerel quota would hurt Dare commercial fishermen
If the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council doesn’t come up with a fair way to allocate the commercial king mackerel quota, Dare County fishermen could pay a price.
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North Carolina is getting the short end of the stick in dogfish fishery
By the time spiny dogfish migrate south, the market is pretty well sewn up by fish dealers in other states, and the regional harvest limit that applies to states from New York to North Carolina is close to being filled.  
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Federal plan for allocation of fisheries resources moves forward
The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council plans to develop a comprehensive method for allocating fishery resources between commercial and recreational fishermen. In the past, allocation decisions have been included in amendments to fishery management plans. But Gregg Waugh, deputy director of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC), said the council will have to work at an accelerated pace to meet new management directives in the 2006 Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act.  
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Recreational fishing license sales fell short for 2007
Coastal recreational fishing license sales fell far short of covering the estimated 2 million anglers who fish in North Carolina every year.   ....Read more






Recreational Fishing News and Features
   


A guide to the top rigs and lures for surf fishing
Joe Malat, outdoor writer and book author, shares the rigs and lures that are in his tackle box at all times and that he uses to catch a variety of fish from pompano to puppy drum. 
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The sound and ocean offer many options for good catches on spring charter fishing trips
Each summer, thousands of visitors flock to Hatteras and Ocracoke islands to take advantage of the exceptional inshore and offshore charter fishing  opportunities, but considerably fewer anglers take advantage of what the boats offer in the spring. Sure, there aren’t really any marlin until late spring, and there are no big tournaments to enter in March, April, and early May, but that certainly doesn’t mean the ocean is barren. 
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It’s time to renew recreational fishing licenses
The new annual recreational licenses expire one year from the date of purchase, so those who bought one in January, 2007, may need to renew it before going fishing.  
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Changes planned for North Carolina Saltwater Fishing Tournament
The North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries will make several changes to its Saltwater Fishing Tournament, popularly called the Citation Program, effective Jan. 1. ....Read more

Baits for surf fishing
A few of the most popular baits that are used during the summer and early fall are highlighted.     Read more

Recreational size and catch limits 
North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries guide to size on catch limits on fish and shell fish.   ....Read more

25th Annual Hatteras Surf Fishing Tournament.....WITH SLIDESHOW 
The fish were scarse, but that didn't dampen the enthusiams of anglers at the 25th annual Hatteras Village Surf Fishing Tournament. ....Read more

Cape Hatteras Anglers Club Tournament celebrates 50 years…WITH SLIDE SHOW
The world’s largest fishing tournament had 120 teams with six members each for this year’s tournament, which was the 50th sponsored by the Hatteras Island club.      ....Read more


Commercial Fishing News and Features
     

Fall brings busy days and good times to a working waterfrontWITH SLIDE SHOW
The harbor in Hatteras village is busy on these cool November days as commercial fishermen, charter boat captains, and recreational anglers leave at first light in the morning and return at the day’s last light with fall’s bounty – fat, glistening king mackerel       ....Read more













Fisheries Bulletin Board
     
Announcements, meetings, and other news

Oyster clutch planting meetings set for March
MFC northeast advisory meeting will be March 6
Meetings set to discuss future red drum management

                                                 
                                                             
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