15A NCAC 10C .0302. MANNER OF TAKING INLAND GAME FISHES

(a)  Except as provided in this Rule, it is unlawful for any person to take inland game fishes from any of the waters of North Carolina by any method other than with hook and line.  Landing nets may be used to land fishes caught on hook and line.  Game fishes taken incidental to commercial fishing operations in joint fishing waters or coastal fishing waters shall be immediately returned to the water unharmed.  Game fishes taken incidental to the use of special devices for taking nongame fishes from inland fishing waters as authorized in Rule .0402 of this Subchapter or as authorized by 15A NCAC 10C .0407 by anglers licensed under G.S. 113-272.2(c) shall be immediately returned to the water unharmed, except that a daily creel limit of American and hickory shad may be taken with dip nets and bow nets from March 1 through April 30 in those waters where such gear may be lawfully used, and white perch may be taken when captured in a cast net being used to collect nongame fishes in all impounded waters west of Interstate 95 and in the Tar River Reservoir (Nash County).

(b)  In the inland waters of the Roanoke River upstream of U.S. 258 bridge, only a single barbless hook or a lure with a single barbless hook may be used from 1 April to 30 June.  Barbless as used in this Rule, requires that the hook does not have a barb or the barb is bent down.

 

History Note:        Authority G.S. 113-134; 113-273; 113-292; 113-302;

Eff. February 1, 1976;

Amended Eff. July 1, 1996; October 1, 1994; July 1, 1993; May 1, 1992; January 1, 1982;

Temporary Amendment Eff. November 1, 1998;

Amended Eff. August 1, 2014; August 1, 2002; April 1, 1999.