
FF-22-2020
PROCLAMATION
RE: SPANISH AND KING MACKEREL – COMMERCIAL SPANISH MACKEREL – OPEN HARVEST
This proclamation supersedes FF-38-2019 dated September 24, 2019. It opens the commercial Spanish mackerel fishery in North Carolina Coastal Fishing Waters.
Stephen W. Murphey, Director, Division of Marine Fisheries, hereby announces that effective at 12:01 A.M., Sunday, March 1, 2020, the following restrictions will apply to the Spanish and king mackerel fisheries:
I. SPANISH MACKEREL
A. The Spanish mackerel commercial fishery for North Carolina Coastal Fishing Waters will open at 12:01 A.M., Sunday, March 1, 2020.
B. N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission Rule 15A NCAC 03M .0301 regarding Spanish and king mackerel remains in effect.
II. KING MACKEREL
A. It is unlawful to sell or offer for sale king mackerel harvested by hook-and-line in a commercial fishing operation without a valid Federal Commercial King Mackerel Permit.
B. It is unlawful for charter vessels or headboats with both a valid Federal Atlantic Charter/Headboat Coastal Migratory Pelagics Permit and a valid Federal Commercial King Mackerel Permit to sell or offer for sale king mackerel harvested when fishing with more than three persons (including captain and mate) onboard.
C. It is unlawful to sell or offer for sale king mackerel harvested or possessed under the recreational bag limits unless the vessel owner has been issued a valid Federal Commercial King Mackerel Permit.
D. It is unlawful to sell or offer for sale king mackerel taken with gill nets in the Atlantic Ocean south of Cape Lookout (34° 37.3000’ N. lat), except in accordance with II. F. listed below.
E. It is unlawful to purchase king mackerel harvested from the Atlantic Ocean by hook-and-line from a vessel that does not have a valid Federal Commercial King Mackerel Permit.
F. It is unlawful for vessels with both a valid Federal Commercial Directed Shark Permit and a valid Federal King Mackerel Permit, when engaged in directed shark fishing with gill nets south of Cape Lookout (34° 37.3000’ N. lat), to possess and sell more than three (3) king mackerel per crew member.
III. RECREATIONAL TOURNAMENT SALES
King and Spanish mackerel harvested as part of a licensed recreational fishing tournament may be sold in accordance with N.C.G.S. 113-168.4(c) and N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission Rule 15A NCAC 03O .0102.