COASTAL RECREATIONAL FISHING DIGEST Saltwater Regulations and More

FREE NORTH CAROLINA 2016 COASTAL RECREATIONAL FISHING DIGEST Saltwater Regulations and More

How to Fish on an Artificial Reef Pages 8 - 9 Seasons, Size and Creel Limits Begin on page 12 License Information Page 4

Product of the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality | Division of Marine Fisheries Good Reef! It’s Fishing Time in Coastal North Carolina!

It’s a great new year for fishing on As always, this digest contains information Cobia the North Carolina coast, and the on fishing license options, tips for ethical The daily angling, how to identify and measure fish, N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries is recreational and a regulations table. bag limit pleased to introduce the 2016 Coastal Because marine fisheries regulations are for cobia Recreational Fishing Digest. subject to change frequently, anglers should dropped to one-fish-per-person in February. check the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries’ New to this year’s digest is an article on how website at http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/mf/ Fishermen should also frequently check to fish on North Carolina’s artificial reefs. recreational-fishing-size-and-bag-limits for http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/mf/ the most up-to-date fishing regulations. proclamations for an announcement of a An artificial reef is a manmade underwater cobia season closure. structure designed to serve many of the Notable regulatory changes this year include: habitat functions as a natural reef. North Carolina has 42 ocean artificial reefs Sheepshead Flounder and 20 estuarine reefs and oyster/fishing A 10-inch fork length The flounder sanctuaries. Coordinates and information size limit and 10-fish- season will close about the materials on these reefs can be per-person daily bag Oct. 16-Dec. 31 found at http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/mf/ limit on sheepshead was for the recreational hook-and-line and gig artificial-reefs-program. established in June 2015. fisheries.

Coastal Angling Program Fish bones for science Occasionally, while you are fishing you may Fishermen can help the N.C. Division of be approached by someone from the N.C. Marine Fisheries collect scientific data on the Division of Marine Fisheries who is carrying recreational fishery by donating their cleaned a clipboard and wants to ask you some fish to the Carcass Collection Program. The questions. program collects carcasses from many species. This person is conducting an in-person When a fisherman cleans a fish, he should leave interview for the division’s Coastal Angling the head and tail intact on the carcass, and then Program, which includes recreational fishing take it to one of the division’s freezer locations. survey programs that gather statistics that are Instructions on target species and how to used to help determine the health of fish In addition, the division sends written deposit the carcasses are posted on the freezer. populations and what size and bag limits or questionnaires through the mail to Coastal Those participating will be required to provide seasons are needed. Recreational Fishing License holders their name and address. Anglers also will be throughout the year. The questionnaires asked to give information related to when and Division staff go out to boat ramps, to the ask for information such as where an angler beach and piers to ask fishermen where they where the fish was caught. Rewards will be fished, how many fish they caught, and how given to anglers taking part in the program. fished, how long they fished and what fish many fish they threw back. Anglers can they targeted. They will ask to weigh and answer this survey by mail or online at Division biologists will collect the carcasses, measure the fish caught and ask what was http://ncrecfish.com. measure the fish, determine the sex, if thrown back. They may also ask questions possible, and remove the otoliths (ear bones) about trip expenditures. Anglers can also use this web-based tool to determine the fish’s age. The information to record their individual fishing trips and collected will be used for stock assessments at The division interviews roughly 20,000 monitor their fishing success. Information the state and federal levels. anglers per year during both day and from the Coastal Angling Journal enables nighttime hours, at public and private water the division to better characterize and assess For more information, see http://portal. access sites. recreational fisheries. ncdenr.org/web/mf/carcass-collection.

2 N.C. Coastal Recreational Fishing Digest — 2016 Get Hooked on Ethical Angling

Tools of the ethical angler: needle nose pliers, de-hooking device and barbless hook. If possible, leave the fish in the water while using a de-hooking device to remove the hook.

What is ethical angling? While you fish • Use a de-hooking device or needle-nose Ethical angling is a set of habits adopted by • Practice catch and release. Many released pliers to grip the hook and gently pull conservation-minded fishermen that aims to fish survive to be caught another day. the hook free. Do not twist the hook. If necessary, cut the hook to remove it. protect the well-being of one of North Carolina’s • Use circle hooks to help prevent the fish most prized natural resources – its fisheries. from swallowing the hook. • If the hook has been swallowed, cut the fishing line as close to the hook as While regulations are in place to ensure that • Pinch the barb down on circle hooks and possible; the hook may dissolve in the J-hooks to make it easier to release the fish fish populations can reproduce and sustain fish’s digestive system. the population, ethical anglers go beyond just without causing more damage. • Return the fish to the water as gently as obeying size and bag limits. Ethical anglers • Match your gear size and strength to possible. If possible, slide the fish back fish in a way that minimizes harm to the fish your target species. Using proper gear into the water, holding it near the surface, and their environment. reduces the time that a fish is on the line, allowing water to pass over its gills. When improving a released fish’s survival odds. Here are some easy ways to get started the fish attempts to swim on its own, it on becoming an ethical angler, but more • Use non-stainless steel hooks. If lost to the is ready to be let go. Tossing the fish back information, including sample riggings, environment or left inside a fish, they will into the water may harm it. videos on ethical technique and habitat rust away. protection information, can be found at • Do not fight a fish to exhaustion. Tighten Protect the environment http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/mf/edu/ the drag and land it as quickly as possible. • Never throw trash overboard. Take it to ethical-angling. shore and properly dispose of it. • Do not discard a previously caught legal fish for a larger fish to remain within the • Never dump raw sewage overboard. Use Before you go bag limit. This is a waste of fish. pump-out facilities and dump stations • Make sure you have a valid Coastal to dispose of sewage. Dumping sewage Recreational Fishing License or are To release your catch directly into the water is illegal and can covered under an exemption. • If possible, leave the fish in the water while introduce disease into the water. removing the hook. If you must remove • Check the latest size and bag limits on • Avoid spilling oil and gasoline into the the fish from the water, use a rubber dip the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries’ water or on land. net to lift the fish. website, http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/mf/ • Never harm marine mammals or birds recreational-fishing-size-and-bag-limits. • Keep the fish out of the water for as little even if they try to steal your bait or catch. Size and bag limits can change frequently. time as possible. If taking a picture, have your camera ready to shoot before the fish • Attempt to retrieve all tackle and gear that • Become familiar with the fish commonly is landed so that you can return the catch may get snagged or fall overboard. caught in North Carolina waters so that to the water with minimal stress. • Use fish-cleaning stations and trash you can properly apply size and bag limits • Handle the fish as little as possible. When receptacles. Excessive fish waste deposited (see center poster of this digest). you must handle the fish, be gentle, but directly into marine basins can produce • Stock your tackle box with a pair of still grip it firmly enough to prevent it foul odors and impair water quality. needle-nose pliers or a de-hooking device, from thrashing around. Never touch a • Report any pollution or environmental a tape measure and a glove or towel. fish’s gills. damage to the appropriate authorities.

N.C. Coastal Recreational Fishing Digest — 2016 3 Coastal Recreational Fishing License

Recreational Commercial North Carolina requires people 16 or older to hold a Coastal Recreational Fishing License to fish Gear License in coastal waters of the state. A variety of license options are available and they can be purchased at many tackle shops, at N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries and N.C. Wildlife Resources Recreational fishermen who Commission offices and online at http://www.ncwildlife.org. A $2 transaction fee will be added want to use a gill net or other to the price of all licenses. commercial gear in N.C. coastal Revenues from license sales are used to manage, protect, restore, develop, cultivate, conserve and waters need to purchase a enhance North Carolina’s marine resources. Recreational Commercial Gear License. Annual Coastal Recreational Lifetime Unified Sportsman/ The license costs $70 per Fishing Licenses Coastal Recreational Fishing year for residents and $500 State Residents* — $15 Licenses per year for nonresidents. It is Nonresidents — $30 Infant: younger than one year — $275 available at N.C. Division of Youth: ages 1-11 — $450 Marine Fisheries’ offices and at 10-day Coastal Recreational Resident Adult*: ages 12-senior** — $675 many bait and tackle shops. Nonresident Adult: ages 12 and older — Fishing Licenses The license authorizes the holder to $1550 State Residents* — $5 use limited amounts of commercial Resident Senior* ** — $30 Nonresidents, ages 16 or older — $10 gear to harvest seafood for personal Resident Disabled Veteran* — 50 percent or Blocks of Ten 10-day — $150 consumption. more disabled — $110 Resident Totally Disabled*: Totally and Seafood harvested under this license permanently disabled — $110 cannot be sold and the license Lifetime Coastal Recreational holder must adhere to recreational Fishing Licenses Lifetime Unified Inland/Coastal size and possession limits, as well as Infant: younger than one year — $100 other gear restrictions. Youth: ages 1-11 — $150 Recreational Fishing License Resident Adult*: ages 12-senior** — Resident Legally Blind — No charge You will need this license if you $250 Resident Adult Care Home — No charge want to use: Nonresident Adult: ages 12 and older — • Seine net (30 to 100 feet) $500 Exemptions • Shrimp trawl (skimmer or otter) Resident Senior* **— $15 • N.C. residents serving on full-time active Resident Disabled Veteran*: 50 percent or duty in the military or reserves outside • Eel, fish, shrimp or crab pots* more disabled — $10 of the state are exempt from license • Trotline Resident Totally Disabled*: totally and requirements while on leave for fewer than permanently disabled — $10 30 days. • Gill net • Those who held a Wildlife Resources • Shrimp pound Annual Unified Inland/Coastal Commission Lifetime Sportsman License • Electronic shocking devices to or Lifetime Comprehensive Fishing catch catfish in certain areas of Recreational Fishing License License prior to Jan. 1, 2006 are exempt the Cape Fear River Resident* — $40 from Coastal Recreational Fishing License requirements. More information about the Annual Unified Sportsman/ • No license is required to fish on July 4 or license and its requirements can for children, ages 0-15. be found on the N.C. Division Coastal Recreational Fishing of Marine Fisheries’ website at Licenses • Annual Resident Subsistence Waivers are available at no charge for qualified http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/ Resident* — $65 mf/recreational-commercial-gear- individuals through their county license. For restrictions on specific Department of Social Services. gears, call 252-726-7021 or * Out-of-state students attending a university, college, or community college in North Carolina are considered residents. 800-682-2632. Members of the military stationed in North Carolina and their dependents are considered residents.

* One crab pot per person may be attached ** Residents born on or before Aug. 1, 1953 are eligible to purchase a senior lifetime license when they turn 65 years of age. to the shore on privately owned land or to a Those born after Aug. 1, 1953 are eligible to purchase a senior lifetime license when they turn 70 years of age. privately owned pier without a license.

4 N.C. Coastal Recreational Fishing Digest — 2016 Tag: You’re It! ( A way to help fisheries biologists with their research)

Ever catch a tagged fish and wonder striped bass, red drum, southern flounder and Helpful Hints what it’s all about? Why should you spotted seatrout per year. The information • Cut off the tag, do not pull it out. report it? the division collects through returned tags helps researchers answer some very important • If you are releasing the fish, cut the tag as close to the body of the fish as possible. There are several good reasons. For one, you questions, such as: may be eligible for a reward. Another good • What are the migration patterns of these • Record the tag number in case you reason is you can help fisheries biologists col- fish? misplace the tag before reporting it. lect the information they need to understand • If the tag has algae growth, do not scrape and assess fish populations. • What kinds of habitat do these fish use? the algae off. Scraping the algae can lead • What is the population structure of these If you turn in a red tag from a fish released by to tag damage that inhibits the division stocks? the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries, along from recognizing what fish it came from. If with all the required information, you will re- • What is the fishing mortality rate? you come across algae growth on the tag, ceive a $100 reward. The tags are marked on either send the tag to the N.C. Division one side: “$100 REWARD” with a unique If you’re fishing and you catch a tagged fish, of Marine Fisheries or let the tag soak in tag number. The other side gives the phone please cut off the tag and record the following: soapy warm water until the algae comes number to call “NCDMF.” 1. Species off. If you turn in a yellow tag with all required 2. Tag number • Be careful when handling fish you intend information you may choose from a hat, $5 3. Date to release. Handle it as little as possible, or other rewards. The tags are marked with a using wet hands or wet gloves. Return the unique tag number and the phone number to 4. Location captured (water body and nearest landmark or latitude/longitude) fish to the water quickly to give the fish the call “NCDMF.” greatest chance of post-release survival. 5. Length (total or fork length) You will also receive a letter and personalized • Be alert! Tags are designed to be as 6. Fate of the fish (kept, released alive, etc.) certificate that states where and when the fish unobtrusive as possible, so they don’t was tagged, the number of days it was at large 7. Gear used for capture change the fish’s behavior. That means and the distance between the original tagging Then report the information to that you might not see one if you’re not location and where the fish was recaptured. 800-682-2632 or 252-726-7021. looking. Please report all tag and species In addition, all those who turn in tags will be information to the N.C. Division of Red tags must be cut off and returned to the entered into an end-of-year cash drawing. Marine Fisheries. N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries, The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries’ P.O. Box 769 Morehead City, N.C. 28557 • Some fish will have two tags, so check both researchers are tagging more than 15,000 to receive the $100 reward. sides of the fish and report both tags.

Highly Migratory Species Carolina must participate in a state tagging The number of bluefin tuna landed was so and reporting procedure that takes the place small that the state was unable to estimate the Vessel owners or operators who recreationally of the National Marine Fisheries Service call- landings through its normal survey process. fish for regulated Atlantic tunas (bluefin, in or website reporting process. Fishermen The state modeled the reporting system after yellowfin, bigeye, albacore and skipjack), must stop by one of the Highly Migratory those that wildlife agencies used for big game. sharks, swordfish and billfish must obtain a Species Reporting Stations on their way in Highly Migratory Species Angling category Later, as regulations on billfish became more from fishing, fill out a catch card, and receive restrictive, the state added blue marlin, white permit or a Highly Migratory Species a landing tag. Charter/Headboat Permit from the National marlin, sailfish and swordfish to the program. Marine Fisheries Service. This requirement The landing tag must be affixed to the fish Last year, sharks were added to the program applies even for those who fish exclusively before it is removed from the vessel. Captains on a voluntary basis. in state waters. Highly Migratory Species or operators from trailered vessels must affix Permits may be obtained online at https:// the landing tag before the vessel is removed hmspermits.noaa.gov/ or by contacting the from the water. More information on this reporting system, including a list of reporting stations, can be Highly Migratory Species customer service North Carolina began this reporting program representative at 888-872-8862. found on the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries’ in the mid-1990s, when recreational website at http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/mf// Those who land bluefin tuna, blue marlin, fishermen started landing more bluefin tuna nmfs-highly-migratory-species-permits. white marlin, sailfish or swordfish in North in this state. CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

N.C. Coastal Recreational Fishing Digest — 2016 5 Protected Species How to Measure a Fish The Endangered Species Act prohibits the Total Length (TL) – The length of a fish as measured from the tip of the snout to the tip of the tail. Fork Length (FL) – The length of a fish as measured from the tip of its snout to the fork of the tail. take of endangered species, including sea Curved Fork Length (CFL) – The length of a fish as measured on a line tracing the contour of the body from the tip of turtles and sturgeons. The Marine Mammal the upper jawSpeckled to the Troutfork of the tail. Protection Act prohibits the take of marine Lower Jaw Fork Length (LJFL) – The length of a fish as measured from the tip of its lower jaw to the fork of the tail. mammals. Total LengthLength Three species of sea turtles are prevalent in North Carolina waters (loggerhead, Kemp’s ridley and green) and two species (leatherback and hawksbill) occur less frequently. Atlantic Spanish Mackerel and shortnose sturgeon are both found in North Carolina waters, with Atlantic being more common. (Pinch tailtail together together when measuring)measuring) There are 36 species of marine mammals that can inhabit North Carolina waters, including bottlenose dolphin, several species of whales, harbor porpoises, seals and manatees. What to do if you catch a sea turtle: Slow the boat and move towards the turtle. Once the turtle is alongside the vessel, stop and put the vessel in neutral. Do not use sharp objects in direct contact with the turtle. If ForkFork Length you believe the sea turtle is gut hooked or CurvedCurved Fork Fork Length Length otherwise injured, contact the Sea Turtle Stranding Network at 252-241-7367 or the North Carolina Marine Patrol at 252-726- 7021. Otherwise, remove the hook with a de- hooking device while the turtle remains in the water. If the hook cannot be removed safely, cut the line as close to the turtle as possible. For more information, see the National Marine Fisheries Service Southeastern Regional Office website at http://www.sefsc. noaa.gov/species/turtles/. What to do if you catch a sea turtle while fishing from a pier: Contact the Sea Turtle Stranding Network at 252-241-7367 or the North Carolina Marine Patrol at 252-726- 7021. While you wait for a response team, keep your hands away from the turtle’s mouth LowerLower Jaw Jaw Fork LengthLength and flippers. Use a net or lift the turtle by the shell to bring it onto the pier or land. Do not What to do if you catch a sturgeon: If see the National Marine Fisheries Service lift the turtle by the hook or by pulling on the possible, remove the hook while the sturgeon Greater Atlantic Regional Office website at line. If the turtle is too large to net or lift, try remains in the water while the boat motor http://www.greateratlantic.fisheries.noaa. to walk it to shore. When you have control of is out of gear. If you need to remove the gov/protected/index.html. the sea turtle, use blunt scissors or a knife to fish from the water, use wet hands or a wet rag and support the belly. If the hook is cut the line, leaving at least two feet of line to What to do if you encounter a stranded swallowed or if it is not safe to remove it, aid rescuers in dehooking. Leave the hook in marine mammal: Report stranded marine cut the line as close to the mouth as possible mammals to the stranding coordinator at place because removing it could cause more without causing injury to yourself or the 252-241-5119 or the N.C. Marine Patrol harm. Keep the turtle out of direct sunlight, animal. Deeply ingested hooks (where the and cover the shell with a damp towel. If you insertion point of the barb is not visible) at 252-726-7021. Report entanglements of cannot reach a response team or are unable to should not be removed. Always support the large whales to the Center for Coastal Studies bring the turtle to shore, cut the line as short fish in the water until it is able to swim away. at 800-900-3622 or to the U.S. Coast Guard as possible to release the turtle. For more information on release of sturgeon, channel 16.

6 N.C. Coastal Recreational Fishing Digest — 2016 Fishing Tournaments

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries station and then recorded on an official Trophies are awarded at the conclusion of manages two recreational fishing tournament application form. For release citations, an the tournament series for the most points programs: angler or mate must touch the fish or the in both the private boat and charter boat leader. The angler and a witness must fill out categories. Individual awards are given to the The North Carolina Saltwater Fishing and sign an application at an official weigh outstanding junior boy, outstanding junior Tournament, also known as the Citation station. For a list of weigh stations, see girl and lady angler. Program, recognizes exceptional catches of http://tinyurl.com/officialweighstations. North Carolina’s most popular sport fish. Additionally, trophies are awarded for the The tournament runs from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31 The North Carolina Governor’s Cup largest blue marlin, yellowfin tuna, wahoo each year and is open to any angler, except Billfishing Conservation Series is an annual and dolphin. those who captain or work on a for-hire sport fishing series operating cooperatively vessel or those who sell their fish. with eight major billfish tournaments in the state. To qualify for a citation, the fish must More information about the Governor’s Cup be caught on hook-and-line and landed Participating boats or teams earn points and Saltwater Fishing tournaments can be without the use of electric or hydraulic cumulatively throughout the series for billfish found online at http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/mf/ equipment. The fish must meet program size landed or released. Penalty points are assessed recreational-fishing-tournaments. requirements, be weighed at an official weigh for undersized fish taken.

The Official 2016 North Carolina Saltwater Fishing Tournament Minimum Weights

A = Award for live release of fish, regardless of size F = Award for live release of fish, 40 inches or longer B = Award for live release of fish, 24 inches or longer G = Award for live release of fish, 45 inches or longer C = Award for live release of fish, 32 inches or longer H = Award for live release of fish, 50 inches or longer D = Award for live release of fish, 33 inches or longer I = Award for live release of fish, 70 inches or longer E = Award for live release of fish, 34 inches or longer J = Award for live release of fish, 80 inches or longer

N.C. Coastal Recreational Fishing Digest — 2016 7 How to Fish on North Carolina’s Artificial Reefs

Fishing the reefs Any successful fishing trip begins with a good game plan. When planning, first consider your limitations. North Carolina’s artificial reefs are found in a wide range of locations and environments, so be safe and do not exceed your capabilities. Only experienced crew with larger vessels should attempt to fish on offshore reefs. In many cases, nearshore reefs are just as productive as offshore reefs. Nearshore reefs can also be extremely dangerous in hazardous weather, so plan accordingly.

Once you have considered safety and limitations, the fun part begins. First, learn about the reef site by visiting the online guide, found at http://portal.ncdenr.org/ web/mf/artificial-reefs-program. It will also help to pay attention to fishing reports and stop by local tackle shops to see what’s biting. From there, select the fish you’d like to catch and how you’d like to catch it. While there are many ways to catch fish on artificial reefs, here are some of the most effective: Trolling Trolling is the preferred method for targeting large pelagic fish such as tuna, billfish, dolphin fish, king mackerel, Spanish mackerel and bluefish. If done correctly, trolling can be very easy and effective. Typically, one or more fishing lines, baited with lures, bait fish or spoons are dragged through the water while the boat travels around and across the reef structure. For this type of fishing, anglers use heavier rods and conventional-type reels designed Looking for a different, rewarding fishing experience? to hold the resistance weight of lures in the Try fishing on one of North Carolina’s artificial reefs. water and battle the powerful fish that may take the bait. There are many ways to rig up An artificial reef is a manmade structure built targeted at nearshore reefs. Bottom fish caught for trolling, but in most cases, a snap swivel to enhance fisheries habitat and improve during this same period include black sea links to a trolling sinker or small planer, fishing opportunities. Artificial reefs attract bass, gray triggerfish, flounder, sheepshead, followed by some length of leader line and every type of fish from bottom dwellers to weakfish, red drum and black drum. connected to the bait or lure. When trolling, pelagic fish (those that mostly swim in mid- be certain to set the drag on your reel so that In the winter, nearshore artificial reefs serve water or near the surface), sharks and baitfish. the fish has an opportunity to run when it as a popular haven for large black sea bass, Depending on the reef, fishing technique, strikes. It may take some patience, but you’ll sheepshead, weakfish and red drum. Farther and time of year, a wide assortment of surely feel the thrill when the reel screams offshore, artificial reefs attract warm water popular fish can be caught. from that first bite. species year-round, such as snapper, grouper, Peak fishing activity occurs on the reefs from dolphin fish, wahoo, tuna, sailfish and marlin. Drift fishing May through November, but excellent fishing Keep in mind that North Carolina reefs are Drift fishing is another fishing method used can occur year-round, weather permitting. popular. Watch out for scuba divers in the on artificial reefs. With drift fishing, live baits During the spring, bluefish, cobia, amberjack, water, and give them plenty of room. As for or artificial lures are drifted through the water Spanish mackerel and king mackerel are other anglers, it’s always best to work together column. Depending on the weight of your among the more popular pelagic species so everyone gets a chance at the big one. lure and type of bait, drifting can be excellent

8 N.C. Coastal Recreational Fishing Digest — 2016 for catching bottom dwelling species, such as flounder or pelagic fish, like Spanish or Aging Lab Has Bones Coming Out the Ears king mackerel. Another plus of drift fishing is that you can drift over many fish targets in one pass, increasing your chances of success. When your target species hits, it’s frequently explosive. If planning to drift fish, look closely at your reef guide for details of the reef you want to drift over. At the reef site, set up a search pattern using your fish finder, and mark points where you see fish targets. Knowing the current and wind direction will also be important to help you determine how the boat will drift. Start 20 to 50 yards up wind or up current (whichever is prevailing) from your target location, drop your bait to Every fish ear bone tells a story, and the Where scales from different fish can be whatever depth you picked, idle your motor N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries’ aging similar, otoliths are very distinct. When and start drifting across the reef. The first technicians know how to read it. They take biologists look at the stomach contents of drift will often be a bit of a guess, taking into a sliver of ear bone, mount it to a glass a fish to study its diet, they look for the consideration the direction of the wind and slide and place it under a microscope. An otoliths of the eaten fish, which take longer current. After a few tries, you should have a image pops up on a computer screen and to digest than other parts of the meal. better idea of where and how your boat will the technician counts the rings, called Some of the biggest fish have the smallest drift across the reef, which will allow you to annuli, on the ear bone (otolith). The same otoliths. For instance, the otolith of a reposition your drifts each time. can be done with fish scales. marlin is about the size of a pin head. Each ring represents one year of the fish’s life. The otolith of a red drum is the size of a Bottom fishing Both put down a growth pattern. It is very quarter. Bottom fishing is the most common way to similar to looking at growth rings on a tree. There are two methods of removing fish reefs. Bottom fishing can lure any of the The technician can tell the years when a fish otoliths from a fish. The easier method is to local bottom fish species, including black has its biggest growth spurts (usually its first slice the fish’s head off, but at tournaments sea bass, sheepshead, porgy, flounder, red years of life), and with American shad, he and fish markets, it’s better to go in drum, black drum, grouper, snapper and gray can even tell at what age the fish spawned. through the gills so that the fish remains intact. triggerfish. Anglers usually rely on a one- or Make no bones about it, this is important work. two-hook bottom rig with cut bait (especially Most of the otoliths that come to the Aging The age and maturity data collected by squid) or live bait. Lab come from various division sampling the Aging Lab helps stock assessment programs with a form that lists the species, While seemingly easy, bottom fishing can scientists determine the health of fish length, weight and sex of the fish. take a bit of practice to be successful. The key stocks in North Carolina. is positioning. When you arrive at the reef, Aging Lab technicians use a rock cutting Otoliths taken from fish at fish houses and explore the area with a fish finder, looking saw with a diamond saw blade to grind to fishing tournaments show the ages generally for fish hovering above structure in the water the middle otolith, called the focus. They caught by the commercial and recreational column. Reef fish do not stray far away from use ultraviolet glue to mount the ground fishermen. structure, so anchor your boat to hover just side to a glass slide. Then, they grind in a above the reef. Pay attention to the wind and The Aging Lab also samples otoliths taken from different direction to the other side of the current to help set your anchor course. fish caught when biologists sample the waters. focus until it is paper thin and can read through it. Tackle is another important consideration. These samples offer a good picture of the When you have hooked a fish in deep waters age composition that is out there and gives The division has been aging fish since the and near a structure, the first thing the fish the scientists a better understanding of the late 1980s, but the Aging Lab did not form will try to do is escape into the reef. Too dynamics of the population. Understanding until 1995. By centralizing the operation, many fish stories end this way. Be certain to the dynamics of the population and how the division was able to concentrate all its match your equipment to the type of fish it responds to fishing pressure allows for aging equipment into one place and hire you are targeting. Grouper, for example, are better management decisions to be made. employees who specialize in this area. powerful fighters, so stout tackle is required. Otoliths are a calcium carbonate structure, Funded by a federal Sport Fish Restoration In any case, braided line can be a good way and they are pretty essential to fish. They Fund grant, Aging Lab staff age 18 different to resist breaking your line on the reef, but it sit in a membrane at the base of the skull species, all recreational fish. From 2010 to is also less forgiving with snags. and they act as the fish’s inner ear. There 2013, the Aging Lab aged 29,890 fish of all are small hairs in the membrane that the ages up to a 43-year-old red drum. fish uses for balance. The fish also uses the The Aging Lab also has a Marine Fisheries To learn more about the states artificial reefs, inner ear to sense vibrations that alert it to Initiative (MARFIN) grant from NOAA go to http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/mf/artificial- predators. Fisheries Service to conduct length and reefs-program. You can also email questions to [email protected]. Otoliths are pretty important to those who age sampling of the commercial snapper/ study fish, as well. grouper fishery.

N.C. Coastal Recreational Fishing Digest — 2016 9 Common North Carolina Saltwater Fishes

Greater Amberjack Seriola dumerili Summer Flounder Northern Puffer Paralichthys dentatus Sphoeroides maculatus

Black Sea Bass Centropristis striata Gag Grouper Sailfish Mycteroperca microlepis Istiophorus albicans

King Mackerel Striped Bass Scomberomorus cavalla Sheepshead Morone saxatilis Archosargus probatocephalus

Spanish Mackerel Vermilion Snapper Bluefish Scomberomorus maculatus Rhomboplites aurorubens Pomatomus saltatrix

White Marlin Cobia Tetrapturus albidus Rachycentron canadum Atlantic Spadefish Chaetodipterus faber

Spot Atlantic Croaker Leiostomus xanthurus Micropogonias undulatus Blue Marlin Makaira nigricans

Dolphin Coryphaena hippurus Spotted Seatrout (Speckled Trout) Southern Kingfish Cynoscion nebulosus Menticirrhus americanus

Pigfish Yellowfin Tuna Black Drum Orthopristis chrysoptera Thunnus albacares Pogonias cromis

Little Tunny Euthynnus alletteratus Pinfish Lagodon rhomboides Red Drum Sciaenops ocellatus

Weakfish (Gray Trout) Cynoscion regalis Red Porgy Pagrus pagrus