The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) has approved a temporary rule amendment and issued a proclamation to open the season for harvesting striped bass by hook-and-line in sections of the Tar-Pamlico River and Neuse River from April 1 through April 30.
The area open to harvest includes the Inland and Joint Fishing waters of the Tar-Pamlico River and its tributaries upstream of a line between Gum Point near Mixon Creek and Fork Point near Durham Creek, both in Beaufort County, and the Inland and Joint Fishing waters of the Neuse River and its tributaries upstream of a line between Cooper Point near Goose Creek in Pamlico County and Fisher Landing Point in Craven County. (See attached map).
The daily creel limit for striped bass and striped bass hybrids is one fish in aggregate. The minimum size limit is 18 inches, but no fish between 22 and 27 inches in length may be possessed. In the inland waters tributaries to the Tar-Pamlico River and Neuse River downstream of these lines, the season for taking and possessing striped bass and striped bass hybrids is closed year-round.
This regulatory change is part of the cooperative striped bass management between the NCWRC and the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries (NCDMF). Staff from both agencies recently completed an assessment that showed most striped bass using these areas of the Tar-Pamlico and Neuse rivers are hatchery fish. Management goals for these rivers have shifted since documenting that most of the striped bass in these systems are stocked fish.
“These rivers have been stocked for over 30 years and despite this effort, recovery goals have not been met.” said Assistant Chief of the Division of Inland Fisheries Ben Ricks. “There appears to be a bottleneck in an early life stage of naturally reproduced striped bass that limits survival. While we investigate this issue, striped bass stockings in the Tar and Neuse rivers will provide angling opportunities similar to reservoir striped bass stockings.”
NCDMF has issued proclamations to open a similar harvest season and provide regulatory consistency in Coastal and Joint Fishing waters of the same area. Anglers who catch and keep any striped bass in the Tar-Pamlico and Neuse rivers must report their harvest electronically through an online webform or iPhone app provided by NCDMF. More information can be found on the Mandatory Harvest Reporting webpage.