15A N.C. Admin. Code 10C.0802

Current through Register Vol. 39, No. 9, November 1, 2024

Section 10C .0802 - TAKING AND POSSESSION OF OTHER FISHES BY HOOK AND LINE IN JOINT FISHING WATERS

(a) This Rule applies to fish taken by hook and line in joint fishing waters, excluding the species listed in 15A NCAC 10C .0801.

(b) Landing nets may be used to land fishes caught on hook and line.

(c) Set hooks, jug hooks, and trotlines may be used as designated in 15A NCAC 10C .0206 to take fishes in joint fishing waters.

(d) Size, creel limits, and seasons for fishes taken by hook and line in joint fishing waters shall be the same as those designated in Sections .0300 and .0400 of this Subchapter for inland fishing waters with the following exceptions:

(1) In the joint fishing waters of the Tar-Pamlico River, Pungo River, and their tributaries, the daily creel limit for American and Hickory Shad is 10 in aggregate.

(2) In the joint fishing waters of the Cape Fear River and its tributaries, the daily creel limit for American and Hickory Shad is 10 in aggregate, five of which may be American Shad.

(3) In the joint fishing waters of the Central/Southern Management Area, as identified in 15A NCAC 03R .0201, size, creel limits, and seasons for striped bass and its hybrids are listed in 15A NCAC 10C .0107.

(4) In the joint fishing waters of the Roanoke River Striped Bass Management Area, as identified in 15A NCAC 10C .0110(a)(2), which includes the Roanoke, Cashie, Middle, and Eastmost rivers and their tributaries, the open season for taking and possessing Striped Bass and its hybrids is March 1 through April 30 from the joint-coastal fishing waters boundary at Albemarle Sound upstream to Roanoke Rapids Lake dam. During the open season, the daily creel limit for Striped Bass and its hybrids is one fish in aggregate, and the minimum size limit is 18 inches. No fish over 22 inches in length shall be possessed in the daily creel limit.

(5) In designated inland and joint fishing waters of the Albemarle Sound Management Area, as identified in 15A NCAC 10C .0110(a)(1), the Striped Bass fishing season, size limits, and creel limits are the same as those established by rules or proclamations of the Marine Fisheries Commission in adjacent coastal fishing waters.

(e) Fishes taken by hook and line in joint fishing waters may be sold except those fishes for which the sale is prohibited in Sections .0300 and .0400 of this Subchapter for inland fishing waters.

(f) For fishes taken by hook and line in joint fishing waters, individuals may take up to the daily creel limit of fish having a specified creel limit.

(g) On the waters being fished, individuals may possess:

(1) the specified daily creel limit for the species; and

(2) fish conforming to the size limit for the species.

(h) Individuals may possess the daily creel limit while fishing or afield and up to three days creel limit at any other place.

(i) No person, while fishing or afield, shall:

(1) remove the head or tail or change the appearance of a fish taken by hook and line specified in Sections .0300 or .0400 of this Subchapter as having a size limit, to render it impractical to measure its total original length, except for American Eel as provided in 15A NCAC 10C .0410.

(2) change the appearance of a fish taken by hook and line that has a species-specific daily creel limit in Sections .0300 or .0400 of this Subchapter, to obscure its identification or render it impractical to count the number of fish in possession, except for American Eel as provided in 15A NCAC 10C .0410.

15A N.C. Admin. Code 10C .0802

Authority G.S. 113-134; 113-135; 113-292;
Adopted by North Carolina Register Volume 38, Issue 23, June 3, 2024 Eff. Pending Legislative Review.