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FF-61-2008 PROCLAMATION RE: STRIPED BASS RECREATIONAL SEASON – ALBEMARLE SOUND MANAGEMENT AREA Dr. Louis B. Daniel III, Director, Division of Marine Fisheries, hereby announces that effective at 12:01 A.M., Wednesday, October 1, 2008 the season for striped bass taken for recreational purposes shall open in the following area with the following restrictions: AREA DESCRIPTION: The Albemarle Sound Management Area as defined in Marine Fisheries Rule 15A NCAC 3R .0201 (a). II. SEASON, MEANS AND METHODS: A. Striped bass may be taken for recreational purposes seven days a week during the open season. The recreational season for striped bass in the Albemarle Sound Management Area will close at 6:00 P.M., Wednesday, December 31, 2008, unless closed earlier by a proclamation. III. SIZE AND CREEL LIMITS: A. No person shall take or possess striped bass less than 18 inches total length taken for recreational purposes. B. No person, including RCGL holders, shall take or possess more than three (3) striped bass taken in any one day for recreational purposes. C. All striped bass that do not meet the legal size limit shall be immediately returned with minimum harm to the waters where taken. GENERAL INFORMATION: A. This proclamation is issued under the authority of N.C.G.S. 113-170.4; 113-170.5; 113-182; 113-221.1; 143B-289.52; and N.C. Marine Fisheries Rules 15A NCAC 3H .0103, 3M .0202 and 3Q .0107. B. It is unlawful to violate the provisions of any proclamation issued by the Fisheries Director under his delegated authority pursuant to N.C. Marine Fisheries Rule 15A NCAC 3H .0103. C. The intent of this proclamation is to implement the recreational harvest of striped bass in the Albemarle Sound Management Area within the striped bass harvest allocation established by the North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission in cooperation with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. D. Recreational seasons fro striped bass in the Roanoke, Eastmost, Middle and Cashie rivers are under the management jurisdiction of the North Carolina Wildlife Commission and are exempt from this proclamation. E. Hook-and-line fishing equipment is not considered commercial fishing equipment in the striped bass fishery and it is illegal to sell or purchase striped bass taken by hook-and-line in accordance with N.C. Marine Fisheries Rule 15A NCAC 3M .0201(b). F. Commercial fishing equipment authorized by the RCGL is not considered commercial fishing equipment in the striped bass fishery and it is illegal to sell or purchase striped bass taken by this method in accordance with N.C.G. S. 113-173. G. Recreational Commercial Gear License (RCGL) gill nets with a mesh length of 5 ½ inches or greater are required to be equipped with floats that do not exceed two inches in diameter and six inches in length, with float placement no less than ten yards apart. The nets shall be set so as to fish on the bottom and not exceed a vertical fishing height of 48 inches. The net(s) shall be attended when used from one hour after sunrise through one hour before sunset. H. This proclamation supersedes Proclamation FF-69-2007, dated December 12, 2007. August 22, 2008 |