FF-44-2003

 

 

PROCLAMATION

 

RE: STRIPED BASS SEASON - COMMERCIAL FISHING OPERATIONS - INTERNAL COASTAL WATERS OF CARTERET, CRAVEN, BEAUFORT, AND PAMLICO COUNTIES, PUNGO AND WHITE OAK RIVERS AS DESCRIBED BELOW

 

Preston P. Pate, Jr., Director, Division of Marine Fisheries, hereby announces that effective at 12:01 A.M., MONDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2003, the striped bass season in the CENTRAL AREA will open for COMMERCIAL FISHING OPERATIONS in the areas described below. The following restrictions will apply:

 

I.   AREA DESCRIPTION   (See Map)

 

A.   Pamlico and Pungo rivers and their joint and coastal water tributaries west of a line beginning at a point on the north shore 35° 22.3622’ N - 76° 28.2032’ W (Roos Point) running southerly through Marker #1 to a point on the south shore 35° 18.5906’N  - 76° 28.9530’ W (Pamlico Point).

 

B.   Jones Bay/Bay River - west of a line at Sow Island Point at 35° 13.0166’N-76° 29.7000' W, running southwest to a point at Bay Point at 35° 11.0833' N-76° 31.5666'W, then running southerly to  Maw Point at 35° 9.0333’ N - 76° 32.1666' W.

 

C.   Neuse River - west of a line beginning at Maw Point at 35° 09.0333' N-76° 32.1666’ W, running southeast to  Point of Marsh at 35° 04.5500' N- 76° 28.2333’ W. 

 

D.   West Bay- south of a line beginning at a point at 35° 03.5166’N - 76° 26.1333’ W  running southeasterly to a point at 35° 02.1833'N - 76° 21.7500' W.

 

E.      All internal coastal waters of Carteret County south of a line from Camp Point at 35° 00.0833’ N - 76° 14.8000’ W, through Wainwright Island running easterly to a point on Core Banks at 34° 58.8167’ N -76° 12.4667’ W to and including all of White Oak River up to the Inland Water boundary.  The internal coastal boundary line across Drum Inlet in Core Sound is defined as a line beginning at a point on the north shore of Core Banks at Drum Inlet 34° 51.5000’N – 76° 19.1000’W; running southwesterly between the westernmost points of land to a point on the south shore of Core Banks at Drum Inlet 34° 51.2500’N – 76° 19.5833’W.

 

II.  SIZE AND HARVEST RESTRICTIONS

 

A.   No person may take, possess, buy, sell or offer for sale striped bass less than 18 inches total length.

 

B.   No individual or fishing operation may take, possess, transport, buy, sell, or offer for sale

more than five (5) striped bass per day in any combined commercial fishing operation regardless of the number of persons or boats involved and regardless of where taken from internal waters.

 

 

III. PERMITS

 

A.      No finfish dealer may possess, buy, sell or offer for sale striped bass taken from the areas opened by this proclamation without holding a valid STRIPED BASS DEALER PERMIT validated for the Central Area from the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries.  Dealers must abide by all conditions of the STRIPED BASS DEALER PERMIT validated for the Central Area and the general permit provisions found in 15A NCAC 3O .0500.

 

     B.   Only a STRIPED BASS DEALER PERMIT validated for the Central Area may be used for transactions involving striped bass taken from the areas opened by this proclamation.

 

C.   Striped bass lawfully sold to a permitted dealer may be resold to a non-permitted wholesale or retail market provided the initial permitted dealer records their dealer identification number on each bill of lading or receipts involved in the shipment of striped bass.  Any individual or corporation who holds a current finfish dealer license must obtain a STRIPED BASS DEALER PERMIT validated for the Central Area in order to sell any striped bass personally harvested.

 

IV. SALE TAGS

 

A.   No dealer may possess, buy, sell or offer for sale striped bass taken from the areas opened by this proclamation without having a North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries - issued green colored tag affixed through the mouth and gill cover.   In the case of striped bass imported from other states, a similar tag that is issued for striped bass in the state of origin must be affixed.

 

B.   North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries striped bass tags may not be bought, sold,  offered for sale, or transferred.

 

V.    LANDING RESTRICTIONS

 

Striped bass taken from areas opened by this proclamation may be sold only to and purchased by a currently licensed finfish dealer possessing a valid STRIPED BASS DEALER PERMIT validated for the Central Area.

 

VI.    SEASON CLOSURE

 

The striped bass season for commercial fishing operations for the areas described in Section I. above will close by this proclamation at midnight, December 31, 2003 unless closed by proclamation at an earlier date due to the harvest allocation being met.  Dealers will have two weeks after the close of the season to sell, offer for sale, transport, or have in possession unfrozen striped bass taken in this fishery.

 

VII.   GENERAL INFORMATION

 

A.   This proclamation is issued under the authority of G.S. 113-169.1; 113-170.4; 113-170.5; 113-182; 113-221(e); 143B-289.52; and N.C. Marine Fisheries Rules 15A NCAC 3H .0103, 3I .0112, 3M .0201 and 3M .0202, 3O .0500 and 3Q .0107(1)(c).

 

B.      It is unlawful to violate the provisions of any proclamation issued by the Fisheries Director under his delegated authority per 15A NCAC 3H .0103.

 

 

 

C.  The intent of this proclamation is to allow the harvest of striped bass in the Central Area by commercial operations within the 25,000 pound quota established by the North Carolina Estuarine Striped Bass Fishery Management Plan.

 

D.   All striped bass taken during season closures and all undersized striped bass shall be immediately returned to the waters taken, regardless of the condition of the fish.

 

E.   Hook-and-line fishing equipment is not commercial fishing equipment in the striped bass fishery and it is illegal to sell or purchase striped bass taken by hook-and-line in accordance with N.C. Marine Fisheries Rule 15A NCAC 3M .0201(b).

 

F.   Holders of Recreational Commercial Gear Licenses (RCGL) or hook-and-line fishermen must follow the bag and harvest restrictions of the recreational fishery for striped bass.

 

G.  Permits may be obtained from all North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries License Offices.

    

H.      Dealers whose businesses are located in Beaufort, Carteret, Craven and Pamlico counties may obtain tags by contacting the Morehead City Marine Patrol Office at 1-800-682-2632 or (252) 726-7021.  Allow 48 hours for delivery.

 

 

 

 

 

 

November 12, 2003

11:00 A.M.

FF-44-2003

/sab