North Carolina Marine Fisheries Proclamation FF-8-2019 opens the Atlantic Ocean commercial black sea bass fishery north of Cape Hatteras and sets harvest periods and limits.

The fishery opened at 12:01 a.m., Sunday, April 14. The fishery will close by proclamation once the annual North Carolina quota is reached or at 6 p.m., Monday, Sept. 30, whichever occurs first.

North of Cape Hatteras, the size limit is 11 inches total length, excluding the caudal fin filament.

Possession or landing limits, regardless of the number of people involved, are

• 1,000 pounds if using fish pots, traps and/or hook and line gear, per week which is from 12:01 a.m. Sunday to midnight Saturday
• 3,000 pounds if using trawls
• 200 pounds using any other gear

States the proclamation: “the intent of this proclamation is to allow North Carolina to comply with the requirements of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan (FMP) and to manage the commercial black sea bass fishery under the state quota system established by the FMP. North Carolina is operating under a state quota and these trip limits and harvest periods are intended to constrain the harvest to the quota.”

READ MORE IN OUR ON THE WATER SECTION HERE.