Anglers anticipating Tuesday’s opening of recreational flounder season are being reminded that they must report their harvest this year.
Under a law that went into effect Dec. 1, 2025, recreational fishermen must report harvests of flounder, striped bass, spotted seatrout (speckled trout), weakfish (gray trout, and red drum. Anglers are not required to report fish they do not keep.
Supporter Spotlight
Fishers must report their harvest immediately after their fishing trip. For those fishing from a boat, reporting must be done once the vessel reaches the shore or a structure attached to the shore.
Recreational anglers fishing from a bank or pier must report their harvest once they are no longer actively engaged in fishing and their gear is stowed away.
Reporting may be done digitally by smartphone, tablet or computer through an online Mandatory Harvest Reporting webform or an iPhone App (search for “NC DMF” in the App Store). An Android App is not yet available.
Fishers who do not have immediate access to a smartphone, tablet or computer may print a paper report card from the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries website or pick up a card at any division office.
Mandatory reporting applies in coastal and joint fishing waters and inland fishing waters adjacent to coastal or joint fishing waters.
Supporter Spotlight
“Information collected through the new program will be used in conjunction with data collected by the existing data surveys to better inform fisheries management,” according to DMF.
The mandatory reporting program does not replace the Marine Recreational Information Program, or any other access point surveys conducted by DMF.
