15A NCAC 10C .0321      SMALLMOUTH Bass

(a)  The daily creel limit for smallmouth bass is five fish, except in waters identified in Paragraphs (d) through (f) of this Rule.

(b)  There is no minimum size limit for smallmouth bass, but only two of them may be less than 14 inches except in waters identified in Paragraphs (d) through (f) of this Rule.

(c)  There is no closed season.

(d)  In Lake Santeetlah in Graham County, there is no daily creel limit for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass less than 14 inches. The daily creel limit for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass greater than 14 inches is five fish in aggregate.

(e)  In Lake Chatuge in Clay County, the daily creel limit for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, Alabama bass, and spotted bass is 10 fish in aggregate. There is no minimum size limit for smallmouth bass.

(f)  In the Alleghany County portion of New River downstream of Fields Dam (Grayson County, Virginia), the daily creel limit for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and spotted bass is five fish in aggregate. There is no minimum size limit for smallmouth bass, but no fish between 14 and 22 inches in length may be possessed and only one largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, or spotted bass greater than 22 inches may be possessed.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 113-134; 113-292;

Eff. August 1, 2020;

Amended Eff. March 15, 2023; August 1, 2021.