15A NCAC 10C .0423      alewife and blueback herring

(a)  There is no daily creel limit for alewife or blueback herring (river herring), except for waters identified in Paragraph (e) of this Rule.

(b)  There is no minimum size limit, except for waters identified in Paragraph (d) of this Rule.

(c)  There is no closed season.

(d)  While boating on or fishing in the following inland fishing waters, no person shall take alewife and blueback herring that are greater than six inches in length, or possess such herring regardless of origin in:

(1)           Roanoke River downstream of Roanoke Rapids Dam;

(2)           Tar River downstream of Rocky Mount Mill Dam;

(3)           Neuse River downstream of Falls Lake Dam;

(4)           Cape Fear River downstream of Buckhorn Dam;

(5)           Pee Dee River downstream of Blewett Falls Dam;

(6)           Lumber River, including Drowning Creek;

(7)           all the tributaries to the rivers listed above; and

(8)           all other inland fishing waters east of I-95.

(e)  It shall be unlawful to transport, possess, or release live alewife or blueback herring, in the waters of the Little Tennessee River in and upstream of Lake Santeetlah and Cedar Cliff Lake, including all the tributaries and impoundments thereof, and on adjacent shorelines, docks, access ramps, and bridge crossings.

(f)  Alewife and blueback herring, excluding those less than 6 inches in length collected from Kerr Reservoir (Granville, Vance, and Warren counties), may not be sold.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 113-134; 113-292; 113-304; 113-305;

Temporary Adoption Eff. September 1, 2022;

Eff. March 15, 2023.