The NC Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries’ scoping period for Red Drum begins today, providing fishermen and other stakeholders an opportunity to share ideas on potential management strategies for the scheduled comprehensive review of the N.C. Red Drum Fishery Management Plan (FMP).
The public may provide input in writing or at any of the four scheduled public meetings. The scoping period will run through Oct. 30.
DMF is statutorily required to conduct a comprehensive review of each state fishery management plan at least every five years. Scoping is the first stage of this review process to gather information from stakeholders. DMF has not developed management options for the Red Drum FMP and will consider input gathered during the scoping period to determine if management changes should be considered. If changes are identified, the DMF will draft an Amendment to the FMP. If no changes are identified, the DMF will develop an information update to maintain current management.
The most recent Red Drum stock assessment, approved in October 2024 by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC), found the Northern stock (North Carolina to New Jersey) is not overfished and overfishing is not occurring. Overfished means the population is too small; overfishing means the removal rate is too high. However, the stock assessment noted concern about increased fishing mortality rates in the final year of the assessment (2021), likely driven by increased recreational harvest in Virginia and Maryland.
Based on the 2024 stock assessment, the ASMFC developed and approved Addendum II to Amendment 2 to the Interstate FMP for Red Drum in October 2025. Addendum II standardized recreational regulations in the Chesapeake Bay region but did not require North Carolina to modify its existing management measures.
More information is available on DMF’s Red Drum Scoping Information Page.
RED DRUM SCOPING PERIOD Oct. 1-30, 2026 | |
| Written Comments | |
Submit Comments Online N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries Red Drum Scoping P.O. Box 769 Morehead City, NC 28557 Written comments must be postmarked by 5 p.m. Oct. 30, 2026. | |
| PUBLIC MEETINGS | |
| Tuesday, Oct. 13 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Cape Fear Community College Room U528 502 N. Front St. Wilmington, NC 28401 | Thursday, Oct. 15
Meeting Number: 2420 493 0018 Password: 1234 (1234 when dialing from a phone or video system) Join by phone: 1-415-655·0003 (US Toll) 1-904-900-2303 (US Toll) Access code: 2420 493 0018 |
| Tuesday, Oct. 20 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Craven Community College Room AMC 102 800 College Court New Bern, NC 28562 | Thursday, Oct. 22 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. College of the Albemarle Room 110 205 US-64 Manteo, NC 27954 |
For questions about Red Drum biology, life history and management please contact:
| Cara Kowalchyk Washington Office Cara.Kowalchyk@deq.nc.gov 252-948-3875 | Melinda Lambert Manteo Office Melinda.Lambert@deq.nc.gov 252-423-5266 |