Recreational fishermen can donate to science the carcasses of red snappers that they catch during the July 12 mini-season.
The season is only 24-hour period, opening at 12:01 a.m. and closing at 11:59 p.m. Friday, July 12. Anglers may keep one fish per person per day. There will be no minimum or maximum size limit. Captain and crew on for-hire vessels may retain the recreational bag limit.
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A part of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, the Division of Marine Fisheries collects carcasses for the North Carolina Carcass Collection program at 12 locations throughout the year.
Staff have set up the following temporary locations for recreational fishermen to take their red snapper carcasses:
- Bridge Tender Marina, 1418 Airlie Road, Wilmington.
- Capt. Stacy Fishing Center, 416 Atlantic Beach Causeway, Atlantic Beach.
- Carolina Princess Headboat Dock, 604 Evans St., Morehead City.
The year-round locations are:
- Oden’s Dock, Hatteras.
- Cape Pointe Marina, Harkers Island.
- Frisco Rod & Gun, Frisco.
- Jennette’s Pier, Nags Head.
- Eastside Bait & Tackle, Washington.
- Dudley’s Marina, Swansboro.
- Pelagic Hunter Fishing Center, Sneads Ferry.
- Eastern Outfitters, Hampstead.
- Sea View Crab Company, Wilmington.
- Tex’s Tackle, Wilmington.
- N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries Headquarters, Morehead City.
- Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point – Environmental Affairs Office (available only to those with military base access)
Division biologists measure the fish, determine the sex when possible, and remove the ear bones to determine the age of the fish. The information collected will be provided to the National Marine Fisheries Service for use in future Red Snapper stock assessments.
Anglers who donate a red snapper carcass will receive a certificate from the N.C. Saltwater Fishing Tournament.
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Division staff ask that while cleaning the fish, anglers leave the head and tail intact and, if possible, the guts/reproductive organs inside. Anglers who fished on a charter boat or head boat should let the fish cleaner know the carcass will be donated.
Instructions on how to deposit the carcasses are posted on each freezer. Anglers will be asked to give information related to how and when the fish was caught, as well as their names and addresses to receive a citation.
The commercial red snapper season opened Monday and will close at 12:01 a.m. Jan. 1.
For more information, contact Amanda Macek, division sportfishing specialist, at 252-515-5537 or amanda.macek@deq.nc.gov
