
FF-38-2019
PROCLAMATION
RE: KING AND SPANISH MACKEREL – COMMERCIAL SPANISH MACKEREL – OPEN HARVEST WITH 500 POUND DAILY TRIP LIMIT
This proclamation supersedes FF-29-2019 dated August 20, 2019. It establishes a harvest period for the commercial Spanish mackerel fishery in North Carolina Coastal Fishing Waters and implements a 500 pound daily trip limit. The fishery will close by proclamation once the total ACL (annual catch limit) is projected to be reached, or November 15, 2019, whichever occurs first. The fishery in federal waters remains closed.
Stephen W. Murphey, Director, Division of Marine Fisheries, hereby announces that effective at 12:01 A.M., Friday, September 27, 2019, the following restrictions will apply to the King and Spanish Mackerel fisheries:
I. SPANISH MACKEREL
A. The Spanish mackerel commercial fishery for North Carolina Coastal Fishing Waters will open at 12:01 A.M., Friday, September 27, 2019 and close at 8:00 P.M., Friday, November 15, 2019, unless closed early by proclamation.
B. During the commercial harvest period referenced in I.A. above, it is unlawful to possess aboard or land from a vessel, or combination of vessels that form a single operation, more than 500 pounds of Spanish mackerel in any one day.
C. It is unlawful to sell or offer for sale Spanish mackerel harvested in or from federal waters.
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.