In North Carolina coastal waters new regulations for spotted seatrout has been approved. The recreational bag limit for spotted seatrout will decrease from 10 fish to six fish per person per day. No more than two of the six fish may be greater than 24 inches in length. The current 14-inch minimum size limit will remain in effect.
Commercial harvest of spotted seatrout (possession and sale) will be prohibited year-round from midnight on Friday to midnight on Sunday each week. The current 14-inch minimum size limit will remain in effect. Experts believe that this new regulations are required to meet harvest reductions needed for the recovery of an overfished spotted seatrout stock.
The weekend closure for commercial harvest of spotted seatrout was adopted by the Marine Fisheries Commission Monday. The weekend closure replaces a previous vote to close the commercial spotted seatrout season from Dec. 15 through Feb. 28. Also at the meeting Monday, the Marine Fisheries Commission decided not to open waters south of Cape Lookout to the commercial harvest of menhaden with purse seines.
