The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission is seeking public comments on a proposed temporary rule amendment to close recreational harvesting of spotted seatrout in inland and joint (by hook-and-line) fishing waters from April 6, 2026 to June 30, 2026. The proposed rule aligns with the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries seatrout harvest closure proclamation for all commercial and recreational coastal and joint fishing waters, that was enacted due to recent cold stun events.
“The Wildlife Resources Commission initiated the temporary rulemaking process as quickly as possible to provide regulatory consistency following the Marine Fisheries’ proclamation,” said Inland Fisheries Division Chief Corey Oakley. “Temporarily closing the spotted seatrout harvest season will follow 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.”
NCWRC will hold a virtual hearing on the amendment at noon, Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026. Pre-registration is required to attend.
In addition, an in-person public hearing is scheduled for 6 p.m. on March 10, 2026 at the N.C. Cooperative Extension’s Lenoir County Center, 1791 NC-11, Kinston. No pre-registration required.
The public may also submit comments online through March 13, 2026 or by emailing regulations@ncwildlife.gov or via U.S. Postal Service at Rulemaking Coordinator, 1701 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC, 27699-1701, postmarked by March 13, 2026.
NCWRC Commissioners will review all comments submitted by the noted deadline and vote on this temporary rule during a business meeting in March 2026.
If the proposed temporary rule passes as currently written, spotted seatrout harvest season in inland and joint (by hook-and-line) fishing waters would reopen July 1, 2026.
More information may be found on NCWRC’s Proposed Regulations webpage.