North Carolina Black Drum Regulations

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries recently announced new regulations on black drum which will become effective on January 1, 2014.

The new regulations include:
 * 14 to 25-inch total length slot size limit (except one fish longer than 25 inches total length may be kept)

 * 10-fish recreational bag limit

 * 500-pound commercial trip limit

For specific requirements, see Proclamation FF-73-2013 at http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/mf/proclamations.

An Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission Interstate Fishery Management Plan requires states to implement black drum possession limits and a minimum size limit of at least 12 inches by Jan. 1, 2014 and at least 14 inches by Jan. 1, 2016.

The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission voted at its November business meeting to implement the more restrictive size limit to avoid confusion of another change in two years.

For more information, visit www.ncdenr.gov.

source: North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries

Black Drum FMP

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) recently approved its Interstate Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Black Drum.

The plan requires all states to maintain current regulations for black drum and implement a maximum possession limit and minimum size limit (of no less than 12 inches) by January 1, 2014.

States will be required to further increase the minimum size limit (to no less than 14 inches) by January 1, 2016.

The FMP also establishes a management framework to address future concerns or changes in the fishery or population. The first coastwide benchmark stock assessment for black drum is expected to be released in 2014.

The Black Drum FMP is available on the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission  website (www.asmfc.org) under Breaking News or can be obtained by contacting the Commission at 703.842.0740.

source: Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission