New black drum harvest limits take effect Jan. 1
MOREHEAD CITY – The N.C Division of Marine Fisheries is reminding fishermen that new harvest limits on black drum will take effect New Year’s Day.
Louis Daniel, director of the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries, issued a proclamation today that implements the following regulations Jan. 1:
14- to 25-inch total length slot size limit (except one fish longer than 25 inches total length may be kept)
10-fish recreational bag limit
500-pound commercial trip limit.
For specific requirements, see Proclamation at http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/mf/proclamation-ff-73-2013
An Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission Interstate Fishery Management Plan requires states to implement black drum possession limits and a minimum size limit of at least 12 inches by Jan. 1, 2014 and at least 14 inches by Jan. 1, 2016.
The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission voted at its November business meeting to implement the more restrictive size limit to avoid confusion of another change in two years.
For more information, contact Chris Stewart in the division’s Wilmington office, at 910-796-7370 or Chris.Stewart@ncdenr.gov.