II. HARVEST DAYS AND TIME PERIOD
Mechanical oyster harvest will be allowed Monday through Friday from sunrise until 2:00 P.M. each day. Oyster dredges must be out of the water and stowed on deck after 2:00 P.M. each weekday (See General Information Section VII. C. and F.).
III. QUANTITY
It is unlawful for persons holding a Standard Commercial Fishing License with a shellfish endorsement to take or possess more than fifteen (15) bushels of oysters per fishing operation per day, regardless of the number of persons, license holders, or vessels involved except as specified in Section VI below. (See General Information Section VII. L.) The harvest vessel is a part of the fishing operation.
IV. MINIMUM SIZE LIMIT
It is unlawful to possess oysters less than three (3) inches shell length for oysters taken on public or private bottom. (See General Information Section VII. J.)
V. MECHANICAL HARVEST SEASON
The season for harvesting oysters by mechanical methods shall be monitored and changes in harvest areas may be implemented by proclamation at a later date.
VI. AREA RESTRICTIONS
A. It is unlawful for persons holding a Standard Commercial Fishing License with a shellfish endorsement to take or possess more than ten (10) bushels of oysters per fishing operation per day in the following areas regardless of the number of persons, license holders, or vessels involved (see General Information Section VII. E.). The harvest vessel is a part of the fishing operation.: 1. Wysocking Bay – northwest of a line beginning at a point 35° 22.9684' N 76° 03.7129' W on Benson Point, running northeasterly to a point 35° 24.6895' N 76° 01.3155' W on Long Point;
2. East Bluff Bay – northwest of a line beginning at a point 35° 19.5333’ N - 76° 09.3333’ W on Bluff Point; running northeasterly to a point 35° 21. 2784’ N - 76° 06.7572’ W on North Bluff Point;
3. West Bluff Bay – north of a line beginning at a point 35° 20.3413’ N - 76° 12.3378’ W on the east shore of Cunning Harbor; running easterly to a point 35° 19.5333’ N - 76° 09.3333’ W on Bluff Point;
4. Cunning Harbor – north of a line beginning at a point 35° 20.6217' N 76° 15.5447' W on the west shore of Juniper Bay, running easterly to a point 35° 20.4372' N - 76° 13.2697' W; running easterly to a point 35° 20.3413' N 76° 12.3378' W on the east shore of Cunning Harbor;
B. It is unlawful to harvest oysters by mechanical methods in the southwestern Pamlico Sound and Neuse River and its tributaries – all waters southwest and west of a line beginning at a point 35° 13.2267’ N – 76° 29.5420’ W on Sow Island Point, running southeasterly to a point near Marker “BI” 35° 08.0158’ N - 76°17.5777’ W on the eastern end of Brant Island Shoal, running southwesterly to a point 35° 01.8982’ N - 76° 21.7135’ W on Point of Grass.
C. It is unlawful to harvest oysters by mechanical methods in the southwestern Pamlico Sound, and the Pamlico and Pungo rivers and their tributaries - all internal coastal fishing waters west and north of a line beginning at a point 35° 20.4741' N - 76° 13.2563' W on Juniper Bay Point; running southwesterly to a point 35° 19.9157’ N - 76° 14.1860’ W near Juniper Bay Approach Light 2; running southerly to a point 35° 17.5254’ W - 76° 13.8147’ W near Juniper Bay Approach Light 1; running southerly to a point 35° 14.0088’ N - 76° 13.4580’ W near Lower Middle Ground Light “LM”; running southwesterly to a point 35° 08.1583’ N - 76° 17.5777’ W near Marker “BI” on the eastern end of Brant Island Shoal; running northwesterly to a point 35° 13.2267’ N – 76° 29.5420’ W on Sow Island Point.
D. It is unlawful to harvest oysters by mechanical methods in Pamlico Sound off northern Dare County - all internal coastal fishing waters north of a line beginning at a point 35° 35.0000’ N - 75° 47.2160’ W on Long Shoal Point running east to a point 35° 35.0000’ N - 75° 27.9860’ W on Hatteras Island.
