Golden Dog

I'll be down in Pirates Cove all next week and hopefully heading offshore, weather permitting. I called the DMF today and they indicated there are no saltwater license or permit requirement in NC until 1/1/06. I want to make sure I'm playing by the rules while down there. Can anyone confirm what I was told above.

Thanks!

GD

UNCFISH

you don't need a license this year for recreational saltwater fishing

Capt Rick/NC

What UNCFISH said.

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Golden Dog

Thanks guys.

moorhen

Aren't there some federal migratory fish permits that are needed for tuna and some other fish? NC does not have a state saltwater recreational fishing license.

mj1angier

Make sure you have your Fed. Tuna Permit if you are on your own boat.

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Mickey Barbour-2004 Sea Pro 235 w/a- 200hp Rude

UNCFISH

isn't that just if you are going to sell the fish?

Golden Dog

Think this spells it out....

http://www.nmfspermits.com/PermitList.asp

Atlantic Tunas Permit (Commercial) Description
All owners/operators of vessels (except charter/headboats and recreational vessels) fishing for and/or retaining regulated Atlantic tunas (Atlantic bluefin, yellowfin, skipjack, albacore, and bigeye tunas) in the Atlantic Ocean, including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, must obtain an Atlantic tunas permit. Atlantic tunas permits cost $22.00. In the regulations implementing the Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish, and Sharks, NMFS changed the fishing year for Atlantic tunas to June through May of the following year in order to facilitate timely implementation of international fishery recommendations. Therefore, 2005 Atlantic tunas permits will be valid from the date of issuance through May 31, 2006.

Atlantic HMS Angling Permit (Recreational) Description

All owners/operators of vessels fishing recreationally for and/or retaining regulated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (Atlantic tunas, sharks, swordfish and billfish) in the Atlantic Ocean, including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, must obtain an Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) permit. Similar to Atlantic tunas permits, 2005 Atlantic HMS permits cost $22.00 and will be valid from the date of issuance through May 31, 2006.

Atlantic HMS Charter/Headboat Permit Description

All owners/operators of charter/headboat vessels fishing for and/or retaining regulated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (Atlantic tunas, sharks, swordfish and billfish) in the Atlantic Ocean, including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, must obtain an Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) permit. Similar to Atlantic tunas permits, 2005 Atlantic HMS permits cost $22.00 and will be valid from the date of issuance through May 31, 2006.

I got mine....

moorhen

I think recreational fishermen have to have one to fish for or keep any of the covered species.

UNCFISH

so if i randomly catch a yellowfin while king mackeral fishing or something, i can't keep it without a license? bummer. not like that happens too regularly, but its still a bummer. I think its more likely that i'd catch a Blackfin, and those don't show up on that list, so i guess i could keep those

moorhen

That seems to be the situation. I seems to be sort of like a federal duck stamp for fish.

auguste

The federal license is only $22 and can be ordered on line . . . very little pain . . . more than worth it even if you get only one stray tune . . . and what if you catch a dozen

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offshore3144

If you have a Tuna in the box you need a permit for your boat for that tuna!! Mark

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Tsunami

Unless you catch it within three miles of the beach you need the permit to keep one.

Kirk

Whiteowl

the key words are "fishing for". If you are fishing in an area known to be inhabited by the license species with tackle that might catch one, you need the permit. Whether or not you keep is not a factor. Live bait tackle on the Atlas or Naeco? You can argue, but you need to have the permit. It is not unusuall to catch Sailfish inshore and they do have a bill. With Sails and sharks in the mix, just about everyone needs to have the permit to be legal.

Hydro

So who enforces the federal permit? NCDENR (Wildlife) or federal agents? I doubt if NC Wildlife could enforce anything past 3 miles, but i don't want to find out the hard way. I don't target tuna, but i do look for sails, wahoo, kings, and mahi around the offshore wrecks.

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Whiteowl

The NCDMF and the USCG would be the ones to look for. I have never been checked for the HMS permit by anyone.

Tsunami

The only time I have heard of federal agents being involved is during bluefin tuna season.

Kirk