Commission advances spotted seatrout plan sans closure

The state Marine Fisheries Commission earlier this month chose preferred management measures for spotted seatrout, also known as speckled trout, that do not include a proposed seasonal closure.

The management options for the N.C. Spotted Seatrout Fishery Management Plan Amendment 1 are estimated to end overfishing in the recreational and commercial fisheries, according to a release.

The draft amendment selected by the commission during its quarterly meeting held Nov. 20-22 will not go for legislative review. The amendment is expected to be returned to the commission for final adoption in February.

Proposals for recreational fishers include the following:

• 14- to 20-inch slot limit with allowance for one fish more than 26 inches long
• 3-fish bag limit
• Eliminating the captain and crew limit on for-hire trips

The draft amendment’s commercial fisheries rules include the following:

• 14- to 22-inch slot limit
• Saturday-Sunday closure January through September
• Sunday-Monday closure October through December
• Formalizing the stop net fishery management in the fishery management plan

The draft also includes extending the fishery closure by 15 days to June 30 following a cold stun, and adopting the cold stun adaptive management framework detailed in the plan.

The commission merged recommendations from its advisory committees, public comments and proposals from the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries in selecting the draft amendment. 

The commission also approved the draft Eastern Oyster Fishery Management Plan Amendment 5 and the draft Hard Clam Fishery Management Plan Amendment 3 for public and advisory committee review.

The commission is beginning work on Amendment 4 to the Southern Flounder Fishery Management Plan, on the division plans to shift the commercial and recreational quota a 50/50 allocation in 2025.

The division staff plans to bring a draft amendment to the commission in February to approve for advisory committee and public input. The commission is expected to consider final adoption of Amendment 4 in August 2025.