Central District Pamlico, Craven, Carteret and Onslow Counties Contact: Kim Worrell
For the 2011 fishing year, all owners/operators of vessels recreationally fishing for and/or retaining regulated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) (Atlantic tunas, sharks, swordfish and billfish) in the Atlantic Ocean, including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, must obtain an Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Angling permit. This permit has replaced the Atlantic tunas Angling category permit. In North Carolina, additional HMS harvest reporting requirements are also in place. To obtain a permit go to: http://www.hmspermits.gov..
Report a tagged fish Please Note: Anglers sometimes confuse small king mackerel with Spanish mackerel. King mackerel and Spanish mackerel have different size and catch limits. Be SURE to properly identify the mackerel you are catching. (Tips here) A recreational Recreational Fishing License went into effect Jan. 1, 2007 for all of the state's coastal and ocean waters.
For the week ending May 19
Ocean: Dolphin was the main catch for offshore anglers, along with good catches of wahoo and blackfin tuna. As the water temperature rose, the billfish catch has started to increase. Charterboats at the Morehead city waterfront had a number of billfish flags flying. Anglers bottom fishing offshore caught numerous vermilion snapper, red porgy, various sea bass, scup, tomtate, white grunt, amberjack, and various large grouper.
Inlets/Sounds/Bays: Flounder were caught in decent numbers in the area sounds. Anlgers reporteded the most catches in the salt marsh beaches around Cape Lookout, the Middle Marshes, and Bogue sound on the Emerald Isle end. Carolina rigged mud minnows and live mullet were the best methods. Fishermen were also successful using Gulp baits in any color. Striped bass and large catches of small trout were caught in the Neuse River. A few cobia continued to be caught with menhaden on the bottom in the hook at Cape Lookout and Beaufort inlet.
Piers/Shore: Bluefish, a few flounder and red drum continued to be caught along the shore, inlets and rock jetties. A few bluefish were reported in the 10-pound range. Sheepshead are also being caught on structures or pier pilings with cut bait or fiddler crabs.
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