Jessie began by explaining the background behind the upcoming NC mandatory requirement to report all fish harvests (catch and keep) of the five targeted species including Red Drum, Speckled Trout, Striped Bass, Flounder, and Weakfish in coastal, joint, and shared NC waters. He explained that while the program may not please the sport fisheries / fisherpersons, it was intended to help the State establish programs to ensure sustainable populations of the targeted species are maintained.

Key points to Jessie’s presentation include:

✴ The program will be phased in starting in December 2025. Any harvests of the 5
targeted species must be reported before leaving the dock via cell phone and failure to
do so may result in a verbal warning if cited. Starting December 1, 2026, the warning
will be written, and starting December 1, 2027, a fine of $35 plus court costs may be
levied.

✴ If a cell phone is not available, a paper form must be filled in upon returning home and hand delivered to NC DNR. There are no provisions to mail in the forms and there is currently no app available to facilitate reporting.

✴ Required reporting only includes identified species that are kept, not those returned to the water.

✴ If landing in NC, all fish, regardless of State where caught, must be reported.

At the conclusion of the presentation, a brief question and answer session was held with many members expressing their doubts around the feasibility or reasonableness of the Mandatory Harvest Reporting Program. While the members appreciated the reasoning behind the Program, as structured, they questioned the accuracy of results and the sustainability of the Program.

—- Thanks to our Secretary Jim Baumgartner for recording these salinet points!