FF-1-2016
PROCLAMATION
RE: STRIPED BASS SEASON –COMMERCIAL TRAWL: ATLANTIC OCEAN
Dr. Louis B. Daniel III, Director of Marine Fisheries, hereby announces that effective at 12:01 A.M., Tuesday, January 19, 2016, the season for the harvest of striped bass with trawls in the Coastal Fishing Waters of the Atlantic Ocean of North Carolina SHALL OPEN. The following restrictions will apply:
I. SIZE LIMIT
It is unlawful to possess, transport, buy, sell, or offer for sale striped bass less than 28 inches total length taken with trawls from the Atlantic Ocean.
II. HARVEST AND LANDING RESTRICTIONS
A. The quota for the trawl fishery will be 120,120 pounds.
B. It is unlawful to possess striped bass from the Atlantic Ocean in a trawl operation without having an Atlantic Ocean Striped Bass Commercial Gear Permit(AOSBCGP) designated for the trawl fishery.
C. It is unlawful for a holder of an AOSBGP designated for the trawl fishery to land or sell more than 100 striped bass per vessel per day.
D. Harvest of the 100 striped bass per vessel per day will be allowed each Monday through Thursday.
E. It is unlawful for a holder of an AOSBGP designated for the trawl fishery to land or sell more than 15 striped bass per vessel per day each Friday through Sunday as a bycatch allowance.
F. Striped bass exceeding the possession limit may be transferred to any holder of an AOSBCGP. Permitted trawler captains returning to port with possession limits over the legal limit must call Marine Patrol Communications at 800-682-2632 prior to landing and report the approximate number of striped bass to be transferred and to receive instruction. Striped bass exceeding the possession limit may be transferred to any properly permitted holder of an AOSBCGP for any gear (beach seines, gill nets or trawls). Transfers will count against the trawl portion of the quota, regardless of the type of AOSBCGP held by the person receiving the transfer.
G. Striped bass harvested in this fishery may only be sold to and purchased by a currently licensed finfish dealer possessing a valid 2015/2016 Striped Bass Dealer Permit validated for the Atlantic Ocean.
H. It is unlawful for an AOSBCGP holder to fail to accompany each harvest limit of striped bass until the time of sale to a dealer who possesses a valid 2015/2016 Striped Bass Dealer Permit validated for the Atlantic Ocean.
I. It is unlawful for a dealer to purchase more than one limit of striped bass from an AOSBCGP holder per calendar day.
J. It is unlawful to sell, offer for sale, or purchase striped bass taken by hook-and-line.
III. GEAR RESTRICTIONS AND USE REQUIREMENTS
A. For purposes of this proclamation, a trawl is defined as a net made of multi-strand nylon consisting of wings, a body and a cod end.
B. It is unlawful to possess gill nets on board a vessel participating in the taking or landing of striped bass with a trawl.
IV. SEASON CLOSURE
The ocean trawl season for striped bass will close by proclamation when the harvest quota is reached or 12:00 P.M. midnight, March 31, 2016, whichever occurs first.
