15A NCAC 10C .0401. MANNER OF TAKING NONGAME FISHES: PURCHASE AND SALE

(a)  Except as permitted by the rules in this Section, it is unlawful to take nongame fishes from the inland fishing waters of North Carolina in any manner other than with hook and line or grabbling.  Nongame fishes may be taken by hook and line or grabbling at any time without restriction as to size limits or creel limits, with the following exceptions:

(1)           Blue crabs shall have a minimum carapace width of five inches (point to point) and it is unlawful to possess more than 50 crabs per person per day or to exceed 100 crabs per vessel per day.

(2)           While boating on or fishing in the following inland fishing waters, no person shall take river herring (alewife and blueback) that are greater than six inches in total length or possess such herring regardless of origin in:

(A)          Roanoke River downstream of Roanoke Rapids Dam;

(B)          Tar River downstream of Rocky Mount Mill Dam;

(C)          Neuse River downstream of Milburnie Dam;

(D)          Cape Fear River downstream of Buckhorn Dam;

(E)           Pee Dee River downstream of Blewett Falls Dam;

(F)           Lumber River including Drowning Creek;

(G)          all the tributaries to the rivers listed above; and

(H)          all other inland fishing waters east of I-95.

(3)           Grass carp shall not be taken or possessed on Lake James, Lookout Shoals Lake, Lake Norman, Mountain Island Reservoir, Lake Wylie, and John H. Kerr Reservoir, except that one fish per day may be taken with archery equipment.

(4)           No trotlines or set-hooks shall be used in the impounded waters located on the Sandhills Game Land or in designated public mountain trout waters.

(5)           In Lake Waccamaw, trotlines or set-hooks may be used only from October 1 through April 30.

(6)           In inland fishing waters, gray trout (weakfish) recreational seasons, size limits and creel limits are the same as those established by Marine Fisheries Commission rule or proclamations issued by the Fisheries Director in adjacent joint or coastal fishing waters.

(b)  The season for taking nongame fishes by other hook and line methods in designated public mountain trout waters is the same as the trout fishing season.

(c)  Nongame fishes taken by hook and line, grabbling, or by licensed special devices may be sold, with the following exceptions:

(1)           alewife and blueback herring, excluding those less than six inches in length collected from Kerr Reservoir (Granville, Vance, and Warren counties);

(2)           blue crab; and

(3)           bowfin.

(d)  Freshwater mussels, including the Asiatic clam (Corbicula fluminea), may be taken only from impounded waters, except mussels shall not be taken in Lake Waccamaw and in University Lake in Orange County.  The daily possession limit for freshwater mussels is 200 in the aggregate, except there is no daily possession limit for the Asiatic clam (Corbicula fluminea).

(e)  In waters that are stocked and managed for catfish and located on game lands, on Commission-owned property, or on the property of a cooperator, including waters within the Community Fishing Program, it is unlawful to take channel, white, or blue catfish (forked tail catfish) by means other than hook and line; the daily creel limit for forked tail catfish is six fish in aggregate.  Waters where this creel limit applies shall be posted on-site with signs indicating the creel limit. 

(f)  In Lake Norman and Badin Lake, the daily creel limit for blue catfish greater than 32 inches is one fish.

(g)  The daily creel limit for American eels taken from inland fishing waters is 25, and the minimum size limit is 9 inches.

 

History Note:        Authority G.S. 113-134; 113-272; 113-292;

Eff. February 1, 1976;

Amended Eff. July 1, 1994; July 1, 1993; May 1, 1992;

Temporary Amendment Eff. December 1, 1994;

Amended Eff. July 1, 1998; July 1, 1996; July 1, 1995;

Temporary Amendment Eff. July 1, 1999;

Amended Eff. July 1, 2000;

Temporary Amendment Eff. July 1, 2002; July 1, 2001;

Amended Eff. August 1, 2002 (approved by RRC on 06/21/01 and 04/18/02);

Temporary Amendment Eff. June 1, 2003;

Amended Eff. May 1, 2004 (this amendment replaces the amendment approved by RRC on July 17, 2003);

Amended Eff. August 1, 2014; August 1, 2013; August 1, 2012; August 1, 2011; August 1, 2010; May 1, 2009; May 1, 2008; May 1, 2007; May 1, 2006; June 1, 2005.