THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, November 23, 1994 TAG: 9411230454
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
LENGTH: Medium: 57 lines
The striped bass hook-and-line season opens in the Albemarle Sound Recreational Harvest Management Area today.
Robert Jamieson, interim director of the Division of Marine Fisheries, announced that striped bass may be taken by hook and line only on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday of each week.
Anglers may take up to three striped bass per person per day at a minimum length of 18 inches. It is illegal to sell or purchase striped bass taken by hook and line. Undersized striped bass should be returned to the water where taken regardless of the condition of the fish.
The Albemarle Sound Recreational Harvest Management Area includes the Albemarle, Currituck, Croatan and Roanoke Sounds and their inland and joint water tributaries, except for the Roanoke, Eastmost, Middle and Cashie Rivers.
The hook-and-line season on striped bass will close on Dec. 21, unless the harvest quota is reached earlier.
The hook-and-line season for striped bass in the Atlantic will open at sunrise on Dec. 1, and will close March 31, 1995.
Fishermen will be allowed to keep one striped bass at a minimum length of 28 inches.
The commercial season for striped bass opened Monday in the Albemarle Sound Management Area.
Fishermen using commercial gear may keep a by-catch of up to five striped bass per day at a minimum length of 18 inches. Undersized striped bass should be returned to the water where taken regardless of the condition of the fish.
Gill nets must be removed from the water on the weekends, from 4 p.m. on Fridays until sunrise on Mondays. Gill nets may not be used in the Roanoke, Middle, Eastmost and Cashie Rivers.
All dealers must obtain valid 1995 Albemarle Sound Management Area Dealer's Striped Bass Permits. Dealers are also required to place a Albemarle Sound Management Area sales tag through the mouth and gill cover on any striped bass they pack for transport, sell or offer for sale.
The commercial season closes Dec. 23 unless the harvest quota is reached earlier.
The commercial season for the by-catch of striped bass in the Atlantic Ocean will open at sunrise Dec. 1.
Fishermen will be allowed to keep striped bass 28 inches or larger.
A daily landing limit of 2,000 pounds per fishing operation is in effect to ensure that the taking of striped bass remains a by-catch, incidental to other fisheries.
The commercial season on striped bass is scheduled to close March 31, unless the 96,000 pound harvest quota is reached earlier.
For more information, contact Harrel B. Johnson at (919) 264-3911 or (800) 338-7805. by CNB