New Rules For Trout, Flounder, and Drum

Tight Lines

August 5, 2011

New Rules For Trout, Flounder, and Drum

FOR THE DAILY SOUTHERNER Rick Goines The Daily Southerner Fri Aug 05, 2011, 04:10 PM EDT

TARBORO — New North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission regulations that standardize seasons and size and creel limits for sea trout (spotted or speckled), flounder, gray trout (weakfish) and red drum taken in inland waters with joint or coastal fishing waters became effective Aug. 1.

Regulations for saltwater fishes found in inland waters are set by the Wildlife Resources Commission and typically mirror the rules established by the Marine Fisheries Commission in adjacent joint and coastal waters. However, because the rule-making timelines for the two agencies differ, it often takes up to a year or more to unify a change in regulations across all jurisdictional waters.

The new rule will expedite this process by establishing the same seasons and size and creel limits for these four saltwater fish species, when caught in inland waters, by referencing those regulations set by the Marine Fisheries Commission in adjacent joint and coastal waters. This change will provide consistency for managing these four saltwater fish species and should minimize confusion for anglers fishing in different jurisdictional waters.

Online and print versions of the Commission’s 2011-2012 North Carolina Inland Fishing, Hunting and Trapping Regulations Digest direct anglers to the Division of Marine Fisheries’ phone numbers and website for information regarding the current seasons and size and creel limits.

“The disparity in rule cycles between the Marine Fisheries Commission and the Wildlife Resources Commission often resulted in regulations being different for anglers fishing for the same species in coastal waters and those fishing in inland waters,” said Christian Waters, program manager for the Wildlife Commission’s Division of Inland Fisheries.

“We hope these new regulations to standardize seasons and size and creel limits for these four marine species among the jurisdictional waters will eliminate any angler confusion, streamline future regulation changes and improve communications with all our fishing constituents.”

For more information on fishing in inland waters, visit www.ncwildlife.org/fishing or call 919-707-0220.

Minnesota angler, Jeff Kolozinski, recently set a Guinness world record catching 2,649 fish in 24 hours. He did it jigging off a pier at Lake Minnetonka, Minnesota. Almost all his caught fish were from the bluegill family. Jeff participated in this marathon event as part of Fishing for Life, a non-profit organization that exposes kids to the great outdoors, and creates a sense of community through fishing.

It is interesting to note that not everyone was pleased with this contest and its outcome. Some took great offense at him jerking 2,649 fish out of the water. A few thought it not too sporty of him. Since it was for a good cause, and I trust the fish were quickly returned to the water, I have a hard time seeing much negative about Jeff’s actions. I love to fish, but 24 straight hours is a little much for me. I wonder if he got bathroom and food breaks, and did the clock stop or keep running? I can visualize some comical scenarios.

Hotspot of the Week: The feedback I am getting indicates that summer flounder are bending rods all over in Eastern North Carolina. Drifting and bouncing minnows on the bottom is the tried and true sure-fire method to catch flatties. Gulp! Baits have been a real game changer for most flounder fishermen. Not having to find live minnows is a big time and effort saver for those seeking Freddie The Flatfish, and some swear the Gulp! Baits match up nicely to any minnows you could catch and/or buy.

One of our Tight Lines faithful, who wishes to remain anonymous, went flounder fishing recently with a neighbor in the Belhaven area. He is an experienced fisherman that has caught some flounder while fishing for others types of scaly wonders, but never specifically targeted flounder. He became a flounder-pounder believer after catching a 29-inch flattie that weighed 10.5 pounds. Wow! Some guy’s fish for flounder all their lives, and never catch anything close to a 10 pounder. I saw a picture of it, and it REALLY did look large enough to be a REAL doormat, as the big ones are called. Both men caught their 6-fish keeper limit, and released a whole bunch more.

Gary and Richard Bateman continue to enjoy some flounder and speckled trout success around Swan Quarter. It’s not unusual to catch trout and flounder on the same baits, and in the same locale. Sometimes a puppy drum might also make quick work of those baits. It’s fun to hook a fish, and guess what is on the other end of the line. I don’t mind losing a fish before I get it on the deck, but I at least like to see what it was. I have dreams, sometimes nightmares, about hooked fish that got off before I could get a good gander at ‘em.

Rick’s Soapbox: Early August means it’s time to start thinking about back-to-school for the kids. You still have time to take-a-kid-fishing, and make that summer of 2011 fishing outing a lifelong pleasant memory. As the Nike folks like to remind us, “Just Do It.”

Catching fish? Tell us about it. Better yet, send us a picture with all the details. We love to hear from you at CarolinaAngler@Gmail.com.

See you on the water, my friend!

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Tight Lines

Shad Season in Review
All things considered, 2013 was a good shad season, thoroughly enjoyed the fishing activity and usual camaraderie among shad fishing friends. Shad fishing to me is about so much more than just catching fish. It’s a total package of enjoyment as it captivates and dominates my life February through May.
Wayne Harrell kicked off the season winning the first shad contest catching his hickory shad on a cold 19-degree Saturday morning, February 2.
The shad hole on East River Road in Tarboro was a little disappointing this year. Untimely flood waters might have limited our regular peak run. Fish were caught and we had some good days, but not the action we have experienced in past years.

May 24, 2013
Banner Day at Battle Park
Sunday was Mother’s Day. I am not a mother, but I played one in a school play years ago, so I figured that entitled me to go fishing on Mother’s Day. Need an excuse or rationalization to go fishing? Check with me, I’ve got plenty!
After suffering through 2-3 days of a rain induced swollen, unfishable Tar River at Battle Park in Rocky Mount, it was jackpot time on Sunday. Without a doubt, I had my best white shad fishing day ever, fishing from sunrise to early evening. Action was good all day, with a little lull for about 2-hours in the heat of the afternoon.
I am proud to report to you that I enjoyed a 50-fish day. I caught a personal best 46 white shad, 3 hickory shad, and foul-hooked a very angry, upset 3-foot gar. I thought I had two large white shad, or maybe a big rockfish, so I was a little surprised to see Mr. Gar. It was like reeling in an uncooperative 2x4 piece of lumber.

May 17, 2013
NCWRC enforcement officers doing a great job
North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission has two enforcement officers assigned to each county. That’s 200 dedicated, educated, and highly trained individuals protecting our North Carolina environment and natural resources. To become an enforcement officer applicant, one must participate in a highly competitive selection process. A typical candidate is required to pass extensive background and psychological screening. Also included is a vigorous 19-week training academy that is patterned after a military boot camp, with an emphasis on physical fitness.

May 10, 2013
Tight Lines declares Ginger Perry of Nashville the shad queen
One of my favorite places to bank fish is the boat ramp at Battle Park in Rocky Mount. I have met a lot of interesting people there. Three or four times this season, I have watched this amazing lady, Ginger Perry, fishing with her friend, Big Kelly, for white shad. Simply put, she is one good angler! She casts and retrieves like a pro, and always catches her fair share of fish. Maybe a few more than her fair share! This lady can flat-out fish!

April 19, 2013
Time for the John Cherry Rockfish Rodeo on the Tar river
Tarboro Association of Saltwater Sportsman (TASS) presents the annual John Cherry Rockfish Rodeo on the Tar on Saturday, April 27th. Entry fee is $100 per boat.
Registration and information is available daily at Roberson & Dupree Shoe Store, Main Street, Tarboro. The absolute registration deadline is Friday, April 26, by 8 p.m., at the boat landing on River Road, or when the maximum limit 40 boats have been signed-up. Attendance at the Captain’s meeting Friday night, 7 p.m. at the boat landing on River Road, is highly recommended. Rules will be read, questions answered, and you will receive your Captain’s Bag, tournament t-shirt, and other goodies. Each boat is allowed to weigh-in 2 of their largest rockfish, as chosen by the Captain.

April 12, 2013
Sign-up this Saturday for John Cherry Rockfish Rodeo
One of the TASS premier events that local anglers always enjoy is the annual John Cherry Rockfish Rodeo. Registration is limited to the first 40 boats. Full grown men, me included, will be standing in line like giddy teeny-boppers looking concert tickets early Saturday morning waiting for Roberson & Dupree Shoe Store to open at 9 am to plunk down that registration fee.

April 5, 2013
Bottoms Up! Greg Bottoms Wins TASS Shad Tournament
To my knowledge, Greg Bottoms does not smoke or drink, but he does have another habit, and an enviable one at that. Greg wins fishing tournaments. He won the Fall Speckled Trout Tournament, and last week claimed top honors in the shad tournament. Obviously, the man knows his way around a rod & reel. Greg is a skilled angler, and a nice guy, deserving of that success.

March 29, 2013
Shad Tournament participants weighing-in some good fish
All indications are that this will be a banner year for the 12th Annual TASS Hickory
Shad Tournament. The timing is perfect because the shad “bite” has turned on
considerably everywhere. At the halfway point through the week-long tournament, the leader board is already showing some impressive fish weights. Charles Strickland leads the top tier adult category with a healthy 2.56 Hickory Shad. That will be a hard “Hick” to beat!

March 22, 2013
Time to sign-up for the 12th Annual Hickory Shad Tournament
The TASS Twelfth Annual Hickory Shad Tournament week is one of my favorite weeks of the year. This year’s tournament dates are Saturday, March 16th through Noon, Saturday, March 23.
Entry fee is only $10, but you must sign-up before 5:30 p.m. Friday, March 15, if you wish to be involved. You do not need to be a member of TASS to participate, but you must be a member of TASS to receive TASS bonus-money. Registration is at Roberson & Dupree Shoe Store, 418 Main Street, in downtown historic Tarboro.

March 8, 2013
Anglers kindness and generosity never fail to amaze me
The “Shad Hole” on River Road in Tarboro functions not only as a great place to fish, but also a good place to meet and greet like-minded fishing enthusiasts. An informal group usually congregates at the “Shad Hole” nightly during shad season to wet a hook, or simply to exchange pleasantries. These “Shad Hole” friends come in different ages, and walks of life. These are salt-of-the-earth type guys. If it ever comes down to “Us” versus ‘Them,’ I want these guys in my foxhole watching my back.

March 1, 2013
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