The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission has closed the recreational harvest of spotted seatrout in inland and joint (by hook-and-line) fishing waters from May 2 through June 30, 2025. The Commission voted to adopt a temporary rule implementing the harvest closure during its business meeting on April 17.
Enacting a temporary rule will avoid public confusion given the recent proclamation of the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) to close both commercial and recreational spotted seatrout harvest in coastal and joint waters due to widespread cold stun events in January.
“The Wildlife Resources Commission implemented temporary rulemaking as quickly as possible to provide regulatory consistency following the Marine Fisheries’ proclamation,” said Chief Deputy Director Christian Waters. “Temporarily closing the spotted seatrout harvest season follows recommendations set out by the N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission’s Spotted Seatrout Management Plan to allow the population to recover from cold stun events.”
Spotted Seatrout harvest season in inland and joint (by hook-and-line) fishing waters will reopen July 1, 2025.