|
FF-69-2010
PROCLAMATION
RE: STRIPED BASS RECREATIONAL SEASON - ALBEMARLE SOUND MANAGEMENT AREA
Dr. Louis B. Daniel III, Director, Division of Marine Fisheries, hereby announces that effective at 12:01 A.M., Friday, October 1, 2010 the season for striped bass taken for recreational purposes in the Albemarle Sound Management Area shall open with the following restrictions:
I. SEASON, SIZE AND CREEL LIMITS - ALL AREAS AND GEARS
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, including RCGL holders, shall take or possess more than three (3) striped bass taken in any one day for recreational purposes from the Albemarle Sound Management Area.
C. Striped bass may be taken for recreational purposes in the Albemarle Sound Management Area seven days a week during the open season.
D. The recreational season for striped bass in the Albemarle Sound Management Area shall close at 8:00 P.M., Friday, December 31, 2010, unless closed earlier by a proclamation.
II. HOOK AND LINE
A. AREA DESCRIPTION
All waters of the Albemarle Sound Management Area (ASMA) as defined in Marine Fisheries Rule 15A NCAC 03R .0201 (a).
B. FISHING DAYS
Striped bass may be taken by hook and line for recreational purposes in the Albemarle Sound Management Area seven days a week during the open season.
III. RECREATIONAL COMMERCIAL GEAR LICENSE (RCGL) GILL NET REQUIREMENTS WITHIN PROCLAMTION M-14-2010 AREAS LOCATED IN THE ASMA
A. AREA DESCRIPTION
1. Albemarle Sound and its joint water tributaries, east of a line beginning at a point 35º 57.5590’N - 75º 56.8200’W; running northeasterly to a point 36º 04.8280’N - 75º 47.4050’W.
2. Currituck Sound south of the Highway 158 Wright Memorial Bridge beginning at a point on the western shore at 36º 04.8280’N - 75º 47.4050’W; running easterly along the south side of the bridge to a point on the east shore at 36º 05.5770’N - 75º 44.5850’W.
B. GILL NET RESTRICTIONS – In the areas described in III. A. 1. and 2. above (See Map):
1. RCGL gill nets with a mesh length of 5 ½ inches to 6 ½ inches stretched mesh, shall not exceed 100 yards.
2. It is unlawful to use large mesh RCGL gill nets (defined as 5½ inches to 6½ inches stretched mesh, inclusive) unless they comply with the following provisions:
3. It is unlawful to set and retrieve large mesh gill nets except during the following times:
a. No sooner than one hour before sunset on Monday and no later than one hour after sunrise on Tuesday.
b. No sooner than one hour before sunset on Tuesday and no later than one hour after sunrise on Wednesday.
c. No sooner than one hour before sunset on Wednesday and no later than one hour after sunrise on Thursday.
d. No sooner than one hour before sunset on Thursday and no later than one hour after sunrise on Friday.
4. It is unlawful to use large mesh gill nets of more than 15 meshes in height and without a lead core or leaded bottomline. It is unlawful to use cork, floats, or other buoys except those required for identification.
5. It is unlawful to set more than 100 yards of large mesh gill net without leaving a space of at least 25 yards between separate lengths of net.
6. Run-around or strike nets and drop nets that are used to surround a school of fish and then are immediately retrieved are exempted from the provisions in this section of the proclamation.
7. RCGL gill nets with a mesh length of 3 inches through 4 inches shall not exceed 100 yards, and must be attended at all times.
8. Gill nets with mesh sizes other than those listed shall not be used.
IV. RECREATIONAL COMMERCIAL GEAR LICENSE (RCGL) GILL NET REQUIREMENTS WITHIN PROCLAMTION M-13-2010 AREAS LOCATED IN THE ASMA
A. AREA DESCRIPTION
1. Albemarle Sound and its joint water tributaries, west of a line beginning at a point 35º 57.5590’N - 75º 56.8200’W; running northeasterly to a point 36º 04.8280’N - 75º 47.4050’W.
2. Currituck Sound north of the Highway 158 Wright Memorial Bridge beginning at a point on the western shore at 36º 04.8280’N - 75º 47.4050’W; running easterly along the south side of the bridge to a point on the east shore at 36º 05.5770’N - 75º 44.5850’W.
B. GILL NET RESTRICTIONS - In the areas described in IV. A. 1. and 2. above (See Map):
1. RCGL gill nets with a mesh length of 5 ½ inches and larger, shall not exceed 100 yards and 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.
2. RCGL gill nets with a mesh length of 3 inches through 4 inches shall not exceed 100 yards, and must be attended at all times.
3. Gill nets with mesh sizes other than those listed shall not be used.
4. No gill nets may be used in the area southwest of a line from Black Walnut Point 35° 59' .3833’ N – 76° 41' .0060’ W, running southeasterly to a point 35° 56' .3333’ N – 76° 36' .0333’ W, at the mouth of Mackey's Creek including Roanoke, Cashie, Middle and Eastmost Rivers.
5. Drift gill nets may not be used in the Joint Waters portion of the Roanoke, Middle, Eastmost, Cashie, Chowan, Meherrin rivers and all other joint water tributaries of the Albemarle Sound Management Area.
V. GENERAL INFORMATION
A. This proclamation is issued under the authority of N.C.G. S. 113-134; 113-170.4; 113-170.5; 113-182; 113-221.1; 143B-289.52 and N.C. Fisheries Rules 15A NCAC 03H .0103, 03M .0201 and .0202.
B. It is unlawful to violate the provisions of any proclamation issued by the Fisheries Director under his delegated authority pursuant to N.C. Fisheries Rule 15A NCAC 03H .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 North Carolina 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 the 18 inch total length size limit shall be immediately returned with minimum harm to the water where taken.
H. This proclamation supersedes FF-71-2009, dated December 16, 2009.
September 20, 2010
1:00 P.M.
FF-69-2010
|