15A NCAC 10C .0107. SPECIAL REGULATIONS: JOINT WATERS

In order to effectively manage all fisheries resources in joint waters and in order to confer enforcement powers on both fisheries enforcement officers and wildlife enforcement officers with respect to certain rules, the Marine Fisheries Commission and the Wildlife Resources Commission deem it necessary to adopt special rules for joint waters. Such rules supersede any inconsistent rules of the Marine Fisheries Commission or the Wildlife Resources Commission that would otherwise be applicable in joint waters under the provisions of 15A NCAC 10C .0106:

(1)           Striped Bass

(a)           It is unlawful to possess any striped bass or striped bass hybrid that is less than 18 inches long (total length).

(b)           It is unlawful to possess striped bass or striped bass hybrids between the lengths of 22 and 27 inches (total length) in joint fishing waters of the Central Southern Management Area as designated in 15A NCAC 03R .0201.

(c)           It is unlawful to possess striped bass or striped bass hybrids May through September in the joint fishing waters of the Central Southern Management Area and the Albemarle Sound Management Area.

(d)           It is unlawful to possess striped bass or striped bass hybrids taken from the joint fishing waters of the Cape Fear River.

(e)           It is unlawful to possess more than one daily creel limit of striped bass or striped bass hybrids, in the aggregate, per person per day, regardless of the number of management areas fished.

(f)            Possession of fish shall be assessed for the creel and size limits of the management area in which the individual is found to be fishing, regardless of the size or creel limits for other management areas visited by that individual in a given day.

(g)           It is unlawful to engage in net fishing for striped bass or their hybrids in joint waters except as authorized by rules of the Marine Fisheries Commission.

(2)           Lake Mattamuskeet

(a)           It is unlawful to set or attempt to set any gill net in Lake Mattamuskeet canals designated as joint waters.

(b)           It is unlawful to use or attempt to use any trawl net or seines in Lake Mattamuskeet canals designated as joint waters.

(3)           Cape Fear River.  It is unlawful to use or attempt to use any net, net stakes or electrical fishing device within 800 feet of the dam at Lock No. 1 on the Cape Fear River.

(4)           Shad:  It is unlawful to possess more than 10 American shad or hickory shad, in the aggregate, per person per day taken by hook-and-line.

 

History Note:        Authority G.S. 113‑132; 113‑134; 113‑138; 113‑292;

Eff. January 1, 1977;

Amended Eff. July 1, 2008; May 1, 2005; August 1, 2000; July 1, 1993; November 1, 1991; January 1, 1991; August 1, 1985.