FF-65-2004

PROCLAMATION

RE: STRIPED BASS RECREATIONAL SEASON - ALBEMARLE SOUND MANAGEMENT AREA

Preston P. Pate, Jr., Director, Division of Marine Fisheries, hereby announces that effective at 12:01 A.M., Wednesday, January 5, 2005 the season for striped bass taken for a recreational purpose in the Albemarle Sound Management Area will open with the following restrictions:

I. AREA DESCRIPTION:

The Albemarle Sound Management Area as defined in Marine Fisheries Rule 15A NCAC 3R .0201 (a), excluding Inland fishing waters.

II. SEASON, MEANS AND METHODS:

A. Striped bass may be taken for recreational purposes on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays only during the open season.

B. Holders of the Recreational Commercial Gear License (RCGL) shall adhere to the daily bag limits and harvest days for striped bass during the striped bass recreational season.

RCGL gill net(s) with a mesh length of 5 ½ inches and larger are required to be equipped with floats that do not exceed 2 inches in diameter and 6 inches in length, with float placement no less than 10 yards apart. The net(s) shall be set so as to fish on the bottom not to exceed a vertical fishing height of 48 inches. The net(s) shall be attended when used from one hour after sunrise through one hour before sunset.

C. The recreational season for striped bass in the Albemarle Sound Management Area shall close at 6:00 P.M., Friday, April 15, 2005, unless closed earlier by a proclamation.

III. SIZE AND CREEL LIMITS:

A. No person shall take or possess striped bass less than 18 inches total length taken for recreational purposes from the Albemarle Sound Management Area.

B. No person shall take or possess more than two (2) striped bass taken in any one day for recreational purposes from the Albemarle Sound Management Area.

IV. GENERAL INFORMATION:

A. This proclamation is issued under the authority of N.C.G.S. 113-170.4; 113-170.5; 113-182; 113-221.1(b); 143B-289.52; and N.C. Marine Fisheries Rules 15A NCAC 3H .0103 and 3M .0202.

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

C. The intent of this proclamation is to allow the recreational harvest of striped bass in the Albemarle Sound Management Area within the striped bass harvest allocation established by the North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission in cooperation with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

D. Recreational seasons for striped bass in the Roanoke, Eastmost, Middle and Cashie rivers are under the management jurisdiction of the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission and are exempt from this proclamation.

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. Commercial fishing equipment authorized by the RCGL is not considered commercial fishing equipment in the striped bass fishery and it is illegal to sell or purchase striped bass taken by this method in accordance with N.C.G.S. 113-173.

G. All striped bass that do not meet with 18 inch size limit shall be immediately returned with minimum harm to the water where taken.

December 23, 2004

10:15 A.M.

FF-65-2004

/sab