COASTAL NC – Effective Dec. 1, recreational fishermen must now report the harvest of Red Drum, Spotted Seatrout, Striped Bass, Weakfish and Flounder. This requirement applies to fish that are kept, not fish that are released. Ironically, this filing is laid out in a law titled ‘ACT TO PROVIDE FURTHER REGULATORY RELIEF TO THE CITIZENS OF NORTH CAROLINA’ approved by the General Assembly in October 2023.
Recreational fishermen should report when their fishing trip is complete. If using a vessel, ‘complete’ means once the vessel reaches the shore. If a vessel is not used (fishing from a bank or pier, for example), reporting must occur when the person is no longer actively engaged in fishing and their gear is stowed away. Questions, email: HarvestReporting@deq.nc.gov For those who are not high-tech, the Division has developed a paper report card.
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