NEW STRIPER REGULATIONS FOR N.C.

[vasurfisher]

Atlantic Ocean Striped Bass Recreational Reporting Requirements

North Carolina Recreational Anglers fishing from Corolla to Ocracoke Inlet are required to report the harvest of all striped bass caught in the Atlantic Ocean during MAY THROUGH OCTOBER. The reporting procedure requires that any striped bass taken recreationally from the Atlantic Ocean must have a Landing Tag affixed before removal from the vessel. Captains or operators from trailered vessels must have the Landing Tag affixed before the vessel is removed from the water. Anglers taking striped bass from Ocean Fishing Piers should report their catch at the Pier House before leaving the pier. Surf fishermen should report their Atlantic Ocean striped bass taken at the nearest Reporting Station (see list below). Reporting stationshave been established throughout Dare, Currituck, and Hyde counties. Atlantic Ocean striped bass released alive should not be reported.

Landing Tags can be obtained from Striped Bass Reporting Stations in exchange for a completed Catch Card. Catch Cards are available at all Reporting Stations.

Marinas
Name Location Phone Number
Hatteras Harbor Hatteras 252-986-2166
Hatteras Landing Hatteras 252-986-2077
Oden's Dock Hatteras 252-986-2555
Teach's Lair Hatteras 252-986-2460
Village Marina Hatteras 252-986-2522
Pirate's Cove Manteo 252-473-3906
Shallow Bag Bay Manteo 252-473-4946
Oregon Inlet Fishing Center Nags Head 252-441-6301
Anchorage Ocracoke 252-928-6661
Broad Creek Wanchese 252-473-9991
Thicket Lump Wanchese 252-473-4500

Tackle Shops
Name Location Phone Number
Frank & Fran's Avon 252-995-4171
Dillon's Corner Buxton 252-995-5083
Red Drum Tackle Shop Buxton 252-995-5414
Corolla Bait and Tackle Corolla 252-453-9500
TW's Bait and Tackle Corolla 252-453-3339
Frisco Rod and Gun Frisco 252-995-5366
Frisco Tackle Frisco 252-995-4361
Stop N Shop Kill Devil Hills 252-441-6105
TI's Bait and Tackle Kill Devil Hills 252-441-3166
Bob's Bait and Tackle Kitty Hawk 252-261-8589
TW's Bait and Tackle Kitty Hawk 252-261-7848
Fishing Unlimited Nags Head 252-441-5028
Oregon Inlet Fishing Center Nags Head 252-441-6301
TW's Bait and Tackle Nags Head 252-441-4807
Whalebone Tackle Nags Head 252-441-7413
Tradewinds Tackle Ocracoke 252-928-5491
The Fishing Hole Salvo 252-987-2351

AFTER HOURS REPORTING
Anglers arriving at dock after hours may contact the DMF 24 hour toll free number (800-682-2632) or (252-726-7021) to report their catch. The following information must be provided:
Date of landing,
Angler name,
For-Hire permit number,
Phone number,
Vessel name,
Trip type, and
Total length and weight each fish.
The captain or operator will be given a verification number that they can use to demonstrate reporting compliance. This method of reporting is restricted to after hours landings only.

Ocean Piers
Name Location Phone Number
Avon Pier Avon 252-995-5480
Cape Hatteras Pier Frisco 252-986-2533
Avalon Pier Kill Devil Hills 252-441-7494
Jennette's Pier Nags Head 252-441-6421
Nags Head Pier Nags Head 252-441-5141
Outer Banks Pier Nags Head 252-441-5740
Hatteras Island Pier Rodanthe 252-987-2323
For additional information regarding this project contact:
Doug Mumford Doug.Mumford@ncmail.net or
Joshua Murauskas Joshua.Murauskas@ncmail.net
Chris Wilson Chris.Wilson@ncmail.net
at 800-338-7804 or 252-846-6481

NC Division of Marine Fisheries - 3441 Arendell Street - Morehead City, NC 28557 - 252-726-7021 or 800-682-2632

[Stickman]

That new regulation doesn't apply to Va. fisherman fishing in N.C. waters & returning to Va. waters does it????

[bhorsley]

yes it does but read the regulation MAy to October only.
The very few people it will effect is anglers fishing the pilings of the Oregon INlet Bridge--they catch lion share of keeper during May to October. There are a few from the beach and piers but most from around the OI bridge.

[John M]

Originally posted by Stickman:
That new regulation doesn't apply to Va. fisherman fishing in N.C. waters & returning to Va. waters does it????

it applies to anyone in the waters fo the state your fishign in. where you launch from isnt important.

[Stickman]

WOW, I was under impression that if I left Rudee Inlet & fished down to research center & back into Va. waters my port of call would be Va. as long as I didn't dock or beached in N.C. maybe I'm wrong any one got more info???

[John M]

maybe I shoudl be clearer. Ill use this example, which I made up, no clue what Va limits are.

limit in Va 1 fish over 28
limit in NC 2 fish over 28

I launch from Va and am fishing off NC. I catch and keep 2 fish over 28. Legal in NC if im checked. But if im checked at the dock in Va Im in trouble.

What I meant in muy post is whereever you are checked you are held to the law there, not where the fish were caught.

[Mike S]

Is it me or is it odd that this reg covers May through October? Are there really any stripers to be caught in NC Atlantic waters during that period? I've always thought that most of the fish had gone north by May and are just starting to show up in October. Am I missing the logic behind this?

[Stickman]

Yea Mike I agree w/ you, Iwas thinking Va. coastal reg's & the season Jan. 1 - March 31. but I guess if you get checked in N.C. possesion limits different from Va. I'll have to call N.C. & Va. marine gas is expensive enought w/ out including a fine.

[bhorsley]

it boils down to this---the FEDS think anglers in NC fishing around/ east of the Oregon INlet Bridge form MAy 1st to Oct. 1st are catching/keeping 10s of thousands pounds of stripers. NC ocean season is open 365 @ 2 @ 28". The Albamarle Sound watershead season is closed(most all the water in side) from May1st to Oct 1st. These fish around the bridge are considered Albamarle Sound stock so they should come off that qutoa. Sate is saying there are not that many fish kept.
There is NO hard science on how many fish are kept--so the tagging program. Will NOT effect the winter ocean striper season--yet.

I forgot from the center line of the OI bridge east is considered ocean waters.
confusing to say the least unless you went to all the meeting

[Mike S]

Thaks Brian for clearing that up. So it is a data gathering effort rather than a means at enforcement.

[Gil Finn]

If you dont mind, I am going to copy this and repost it.

[saltydawg]

Brian,
Has anyone ever challenged the OI bridge regulation? The official ocean/sound demarcation is actually about halway down the jetty and can be pinpointed on official charts.

[bhorsley]

no but you can be the first
but most people like the line where it is --so they can keep bass caught on the east side of the bridge over 28" year round.

[longcaster]

I tried a couple years ago. I was on the North side wading & casting Bucktails around the pilings. At the time the sound was open for keeping 2 18" or larger, I had 2 in the cooler 26" long. NCDMF come by and wrote me 2 tickets for keeping 2 fish under 28" length (ocean rule), I told them I caught them at the bridge & concedered it the sound. No dice, hefty fine X two, and they confiscated the fish. Seems they make up the rules as they go along.
longcaster
Oh by the way, there is nothing in the regs that says culling not allowed. When we let the smaller fish go we had not yet met our limit for the boat, the captain said to let the smaller one go back. If you were fishing two rods, and had one fish in the cooler, both rods go off. You are alone, reel up one fish into the wash and spike the rod again. Now reel up the second rod and that fish is bigger than the one swimming in the wash. Which one do you let loose?

[FishinFEEver]

Remarkable NC cares about the striper population when they aren't there, but theres no problem ravaging them when the prespawn females are wintering there.