During its business meeting on Feb. 6, the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission voted to notice a temporary rule that would close the recreational harvest of spotted seatrout in inland and joint (by hook-and-line) fishing waters from May 1 through June 15.
Enacting a temporary rule will help avoid public confusion given the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) recent proclamation to close both commercial and recreational spotted seatrout harvest in coastal and joint waters due to widespread cold stun events.
“Because the Wildlife Commission does not have proclamation authority and we have to work through the rulemaking process, the earliest this would be effective is May 1,” said Chief Deputy Director Christian Waters. “Anglers concerned about spotted seatrout mortality may want to target other species.”
The NCWRC will hold a virtual public hearing on Feb. 27 at 2 p.m. regarding the temporary rulemaking. Pre-registration is required. The public can register online.
Comments can be submitted one of three ways until the comment period closes on March 14, 2025:
- Online through the Commission’s Proposed Regulations webpage;
- Email to regulations@ncwildlife.org; or
- Mail to Rule-making Coordinator, 1701 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, N.C. 27699-1701.
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