15A NCAC 03L .0208      STONE CRABS

(a)  It shall be unlawful to possess stone crab bodies or fail to immediately return stone crab bodies to the waters from which they are taken.

(b)  It shall be unlawful to remove, take, or possess any stone crab claws from June 15 through August 15.

(c)  It shall be unlawful to remove, take, or possess any claws from egg-bearing stone crabs.

(d)  It shall be unlawful to use any device to take stone crabs that can puncture, crush, or injure the crab body, such as gigs, spears, grabs, hooks, or similar devices.

(e)  It shall be unlawful to remove, take, or possess any stone crab claws that have a propodus (forearm) less than 2 ¾ inches in length, measured by a straight line from the elbow to the tip of the lower immovable finger. For the purpose of this Rule, "propodus" shall mean the largest section of the claw assembly that has both a movable and immovable finger and is located farthest from the body of the crab.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 113-134; 113-182; 143B-289.52;

Eff. December 1, 2006;

Readopted Eff. April 1, 2019.