SECTION .0700 – GAME FISH IN COASTAL FISHING WATERS

15A NCAC 10C .0701      INLAND GAME FISHES DESIGNATED IN COASTAL FISHING WATERS

(a)  For the purposes of this Rule, only the following fishes are classified and designated as inland game fishes in coastal fishing waters:

(1)           Alabama bass, largemouth bass, redeye bass, smallmouth bass, and spotted bass;

(2)           black crappie and white crappie;

(3)           chain pickerel (jack), muskellunge, and redfin pickerel;

(4)           kokanee salmon;

(5)           mountain trout, all species including but not limited to brook trout, brown trout, and rainbow trout;

(6)           Roanoke bass and rock bass (redeye);

(7)           sauger and walleye; and

(8)           sunfish, including bluegill (bream), flier, pumpkinseed, redbreast (robin), redear (shellcracker), warmouth, and all other species of the sunfish family (Centrarchidae) not specifically listed in this Rule.

(b)  Inland game fishes shall not be taken by any method other than with hook and line, except that landing nets may be used to land fishes caught on hook and line.

(c)  Size, creel limits, and seasons for inland game fishes in coastal fishing waters shall be the same as those in inland waters designated in Section .0300 of this Subchapter.

(d)  Inland game fishes taken incidental to commercial fishing operations shall be immediately returned to the water unharmed.

(e)  Inland game fishes taken from coastal fishing waters shall not be sold.

(f)  Individuals shall only take up to the daily creel limit of those species of inland game fish having a specified creel limit.

(g)  Individuals shall only possess, on those waters being fished:

(1)           the specified daily creel limit for the species;

(2)           fish conforming to the size limit for the species; and

(3)           the daily creel limit while fishing or afield.

(h)  Individuals shall only possess up to three days creel limit at any place.

(i)  No person, while fishing or afield, shall:

(1)           unnecessarily destroy any inland game fish taken from public fishing waters;

(2)           remove the head or tail or otherwise change the appearance of any game fish having a size limit so to render it impracticable to measure its total original length; or

(3)           change the appearance of any game fish having a daily creel limit so to obscure its identification or render it impracticable to count the number of fish in possession.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 113-134; 113-135; 113-135.1; 113-292;

Temporary Adoption Eff. September 1, 2022;

Eff. March 15, 2023.