Press Releases

The NC Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries recently certified a new state record for the Jolthead Porgy (Calamus bajonado).

The Division of Marine Fisheries’ scoping period for Kingfishes (sea mullet) begins today, providing fishermen and other stakeholders an opportunity to provide input about stock and fishery issues, and share ideas on management strategies for the scheduled 5-year review of the N.C. Kingfishes Fishery Management Plan (FMP).

Recreational flounder season starts tomorrow, and the NC Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) is reminding recreational fishermen that a new law requires them to report their harvest of flounder, as well as four other species.

The NC Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries recently established a new state record for Cubera Snapper (Lutjanus cyanopterus). David Ashman of Mohnton, Penn., caught the 85-pound fish on July 31 off of Hatteras. Ashman replaced the existing state record Cubera Snapper that weighed 58 pounds, 8 ounces, landed by Thomas Madsen in 2022.

The NC Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries is reminding people to please report any sightings of Blue Land Crabs, Cardisoma guanhumi.

The NC Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries will collect flounder carcasses from recreational fishermen during the 2026 season, held Sept. 1-14 in joint and coastal waters. The carcasses will be used for research purposes.

The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission received a presentation on the draft Coastal Habitat Protection Plan 2026 Amendment, one of several agenda items during the board’s regular quarterly business meeting in Raleigh this week.

Do you love to catch a sea mullet and fry it up for supper? Maybe you catch them to make a living? Either way, you may want to save the dates to participate in the upcoming scoping period for Kingfishes.

The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission (MFC) will meet Aug. 19-20 at the Doubletree by Hilton Raleigh Midtown, 2805 Highwoods Blvd., Raleigh, NC, 27604. The meeting is open to the public and will be livestreamed on YouTube.

The NC Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) recently confirmed a new state record for Yellowfin Grouper (Mycteroperca venenosa).

Comment period opens, public hearing scheduled for one marine fisheries rule.

The application deadline is approaching for those who wish to be considered for a Standard Commercial Fishing License (SCFL) this fall. The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries SCFL Eligibility Board will meet Oct. 14 to consider license applications that are deemed complete and submitted by Sept. 21.

The NC Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries today announced the 2026 commercial flounder season opening dates for Internal Coastal and Joint Fishing Waters.

The NC Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries is reminding individuals interested in leasing public coastal waters to cultivate shellfish that the 2026 Shellfish Lease & Aquaculture Program application period closes Aug. 1, 2026.

The NC Division of Marine Fisheries has asked to withdraw the Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) application for Red Snapper that would have allowed a 62-day recreational season from July 1 through Aug. 31. Until further notice, it remains unlawful to possess Red Snapper taken from North Carolina waters or from federal waters.