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UPDATE: Spotted Seatrout season opening delayed!

With the "BIG FREEZE" happening earlier this year, the seatrout season was pushed back to June 15th. This date has been updated to June 30th. Here is what the Department of Environment Quality is saying on their website:



The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission adopted the Spotted Seatrout Fishery Management Plan Amendment 1 during its March 2025 meeting. The management measures adopted are below and will be implemented when the spotted seatrout fishery reopens by proclamation later in 2025. For questions, contact Lucas Pensinger, Lucas.Pensinger@deq.nc.gov or Melinda Lambert, Melinda.Lambert@deq.nc.gov.

Recreational Measures

  • A 14- to 20-inch slot limit with an allowance for one fish over 26 inches

  • A 3-fish bag limit

Commercial Measures

  • A Saturday through Sunday closure January through September

  • A Saturday through Monday closure October through December

  • Formalizing the stop net fishery management in the fishery management plan

Adaptive Management

  • Adopting the adaptive management framework, with the caveat that adaptive management measures must be brought to the Commission for review prior to implementation

Cold Stun Management

  • Extending the fishery closure by 15 days, to June 30, following a severe cold stun event

  • Adopting a cold stun adaptive management framework


 
 
 

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