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State to Close Spotted Seatrout Harvest Due to Cold Stun Events
MOREHEAD CITY – North Carolina will close all coastal waters to commercial and recreational spotted seatrout harvest for an indefinite period beginning at noon Friday.
N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries Director Louis Daniel issued a proclamation today implementing the closure, after consulting with N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission Chairman Rob Bizzell.
The action is being taken in response to recent cold stun events in Rose Bay, Juniper Bay, Pungo River, Campbell Creek, Turnigan Bay, Spooners Creek and other waters. The intent of the closure is to prevent the harvest of vulnerable cold stunned fish, which may recover with warming temperatures.
“On the heels of two cold stun events, one in 2010 and now in 2011, and pretty large commercial and recreational catch rates in 2009, I believe this is the best thing for the fishery,” Daniel said.
In approving the Spotted Seatrout Fishery Management Plan in November, the Marine Fisheries Commission authorized Daniel to temporarily close harvest in the event of a cold stun event. The commission will review the closure and consider extending it at is Feb. 11 meeting in Pine Knoll Shores.
For more information, contact division biologist Beth Burns at (252) 473-5734, extension 221, or Beth.Burns@ncdenr.gov.
Tight lines!
Johnny
The DMF finally got something right this time. Speckled trout is designated a gamefish in S.C. and cannot be caught commercially, therefore more abundant. Problem is the upstate folks can get on I-40 and be in SC in an extra half hour or so and catching limit is virtually assured if the weather is decent. SC then gets the motel, gas, bait, tackle, restaurant business (out-of-state saltwater license only $35/yr). Bye-bye NC fishing
ReplyDeleteNC anglers, this is what I have been preaching for years. I guess I need to be more vocal online. NC is loyal to our commerical fishing heritage, and I can understand that. But the industry isn't what is used to be. The fishery isn't what it used to be. I have always hoped that the comercial and recreational folks can co-exist, and that is still my wish. It seems to me we, the recreational folks are getting pushed aside in favor of the commercial folks. On the other hand, the commercial fishermen say they are getting the short end of the stick. What can we do?
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