THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Tuesday, October 1, 1996              TAG: 9610010391
SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B3   EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA 
TYPE: North Carolina Briefs 
                                            LENGTH:   22 lines

STRIPED BASS OCEAN SEASON OPENS

Beginning Wednesday, recreational fishermen will be allowed to catch and keep striped bass in the Atlantic Ocean year-round.

Anglers will be able to keep two striped bass - also called rockfish - per day. Each fish must be at least 28 inches long. It is illegal to sell or purchase striped bass taken by hook-and-line.

The striped bass season in area sounds is still closed.

North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries Director Bruce Freeman said Monday that he was able to change the ocean season from six months to year-round because of increased numbers of striped bass. ``This is a clear indication that management plans do work and the popular game fish is rebounding from the near-collapse of the 1980s,'' Freeman said.

For more information, call Harrel Johnson at the Division of Marine Fisheries' Elizabeth City office, (919) 264-3911 or (800) 338-7805. by CNB