Release: Immediate
Contact: Patricia Smith
Date: Oct. 30, 2018
Phone: 252-726-7021

State urges fishermen to learn the difference
between black drum and sheepshead

MOREHEAD CITY — The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries is asking fishermen to make sure they know how to distinguish between black drum and sheepshead before keeping one of the fish.

Confusing these two fish is problematic because of there is a 4-inch difference in the minimum size limit.

The legal-size limit for black drum is a minimum of 14 inches and a maximum of 25 inches total length (except one fish per day may be over 25 inches). Total length is measured along the midline from the tip of the compressed tail to the tip of the snout.

The minimum size limit for sheepshead is 10 inches fork length. Fork length is measured from the fork in the tail to the tip of the snout.

The bag limit is 10 fish for both species.

Fishermen who get these species mixed up may face up to $255 in fines and court costs. To avoid this, fishermen need to learn to tell the difference between the two fish.

While both fish have vertical black stripes, there are easily identifiable differences. On a sheepshead, the first and second dorsal fin (upper-most fins) is fully connected; on a black drum, the first dorsal fin is distinct from the second dorsal fin. Sheepshead have prominent, human-like, front teeth, while the black drum teeth are not as prominent and are located in the back of the throat. Also, black drum have chin barbels (whisker-like filament), and sheepshead do not.

A color graphic showing the difference can be downloaded here.

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Release: Immediate
Contact: Patricia Smith
Date: Oct. 24, 2018
Phone: 252-726-7021

MEDIA ADVISORY: Public hearing scheduled on
proposed shellfish leases in New Hanover County

MOREHEAD CITY — The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries will hold a public hearing on proposed shellfish leases in New Hanover County at 6 p.m. Nov. 29 at the N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher, Auditorium, 900 Loggerhead Road, Kure Beach.
William S. Burrell has applied to lease 1.92 acres of water bottom and water column in Myrtle Grove Sound.

Salty Roots, LLC (William S. Burrell, agent) has applied to lease 2.51 acres of water bottom and water column in Myrtle Grove Sound.

Michael Connolly has applied to lease 1.48 acres of water bottom and water column in Myrtle Grove Sound.

A map of the proposed leases, with corresponding coordinates and lease numbers, can be found here.

The public may comment on the proposed leases at the hearing or in writing. Written comments will be accepted until 5 p.m. Nov. 28 and should be submitted to the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries, Shellfish Leases, P.O. Box 769, Morehead City, N.C. 28557.

The application file and biologist report for the proposed leases are available for inspection during office hours at the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries’ Headquarters Office at 3441 Arendell St. in Morehead City.

For more information, contact Michael Graven, with the division’s Habitat and Enhancement Section, at 252-808-8061 or Michael.Graven@ncdenr.gov

Release: Immediate
Contact: Patricia Smith
Date: Oct. 19, 2018
Phone: 252-726-7021

MEDIA ADVISORY: Marine Fisheries Commission
Nominating Committee meeting set

MOREHEAD CITY — The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission Nominating Committee will meet at 4 p.m. Oct. 29 at the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries’ Headquarters, 3441 Arendell St., Morehead City.

The committee will consider and select candidates for nomination to the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council obligatory seat.

A full agenda can be found here.

For more information, contact Nancy Fish in the Marine Fisheries Commission office at 252-808-8021 or Nancy.Fish@ncdenr.gov.

nr-88-2018

Release: Immediate
Contact: Patricia Smith
Date: Oct. 15, 2018
Phone: 252-726-7021

MEDIA ADVISORY: Standard Commercial
Fishing License Eligibility Board to meet 

MOREHEAD CITY — The Standard Commercial Fishing License Eligibility Board to the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries will meet at 10:30 a.m., Oct. 30 at the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Washington Regional Office, 943 Washington Square Mall, Highway 17, Washington.

The board will consider applications deemed complete and that were submitted by Sept. 10.

The board meets two to three times a year to consider license applications. For directions on applying for a commercial fishing license, go to http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/mf/commercial-fishing-license-information and click on the Eligibility Pool Application link.

For more information, contact division License Eligibility Clerk Ann Bordeaux-Nixon at 910-796-7261 or Ann.Bordeaux-Nixon @ncdenr.gov.

nr-87-2018