Fayetteville Area Angler's Network
Friendships and Fishing
F.A.A.N. Announcements:
August 22nd 2008:
Thanks to Big Osh. Fort Bragg Fisheries Manager, Joe Heisinger will be present at our September 4th meeting. Joe will describe Fort Bragg Fisheries management and explain about the Fishing opportunities available on Fort Bragg. We will move the meeting back to Sammio's on Raeford Road and will begin at 7pm. I'm sure that this will be a very informative session. Mark your calendars!!!!
June 26th 2008:
All FAAN meeetings will be held on the first Thursday of each. We will make an attempt to schedule a different program (I.E. Knot Tying, Cast Netting, Fishing techniques)
Thank you,
Tom (Backlash)
8-27-08 Hope Mills
Hope Mills lake is once again a lake. Rain from the past several days has been enough to top of the lake. However the construction wasn't quite finished . Equipment is still sitting at the waters edge, some was even in the water. Hopefully, all will be completed soon and the lake will be well on the way to being a local Hot Spot.


Raleigh-WRC
Justification for the New Rule Defining Artificial Lures and Natural Bait When Fishing on
Public Mountain Trout Waters
A new rule enacted by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission defining artificial lures and
natural bait becomes effective July 1, 2008, when fishing on designated public mountain trout
waters (DPMTW). Several factors made it necessary to do so, including: the repeal of legislation
that defined natural bait in 2006; angler confusion over the classification of flavored and scented
baits; and biologist concerns over increased catch-and-release mortality attributed to these
attractant baits. Artificial lures are now defined as a fishing lure that neither contains, nor has
been treated with any substance that attracts fish by the sense of taste or smell. Natural bait is
defined as any living or dead organism (plant or animal), or parts thereof, or prepared substances
designed to attract fish by the sense of taste or smell.
In July 2006, the N.C. General Assembly repealed legislation that provided license exemptions to
state residents who fished with hook and line in their county of residence using natural bait,
which was defined as “bait which may be beneficially digested by fish.” As a result, there was no
longer a legal definition of natural bait and by extension, artificial lures, which are specified for
mountain trout fishing. Artificial lures with one single hook are required on DPMTW classified
as Wild, Catch and Release/Artificial Lure Only or Delayed Harvest trout waters. Natural bait is
allowed in DPMTW classified as Hatchery Supported Trout Waters or Wild Trout/Natural Bait
Trout Waters. Without clear definition, anglers could not easily determine what category
attractant baits, which attempt to mimic natural baits, fit into. This rule change allows people to clearly distinguish between natural and artificial lures.
Originally, artificial lure requirements were implemented on certain trout streams to minimize
catch-and-release angling mortality. This is particularly important for the delayed harvest
management classification, which requires each stocked trout to be captured and released
multiple times during the 8-month catch-and-release period for the program to be successful. The
use of these natural bait-mimicking substances had become increasingly popular on delayed
harvest and other waters requiring that only artificial lures be used. Research suggests that these
attractant baits can lead to increased catch-and-release hooking mortality. It has been found that
deep hooking wounds are primarily responsible for catch-and-release mortality of stocked trout.
Deep hooking wounds usually result when trout ingest bait deep into the esophagus or stomach
prior to being captured. Angler dissatisfaction with the catch-and-release trout management
program would probably increase should catch rates decline significantly as a result of this
mortality.
The new rule defining natural bait and artificial lures received widespread public support during
the Commission’s public hearings in January 2008. In addition, a 2007 survey of resident trout
anglers indicated that more anglers opposed (44 percent) the use of artificial bait substances in
Delayed Harvest waters than supported (33 percent) it. Based on public support, the regulation
was approved at the March 2008 meeting of the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission.
Justification for the New Striped Bass Rules on the Tar, Neuse and Cape Fear Rivers
New rules enacted by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission (WRC) for striped bass fishing when
fishing on the Tar, Neuse and Cape Fear Rivers become effective July 1, 2008. These rules are designed to conserve spawning stock by reducing harvest and catch-and-release mortality so as to ensure the longterm viability of North Carolina’s striped bass fisheries. WRC biologists collect striped bass each spring from the Tar, Neuse and Cape Fear rivers to characterize the abundance, size and age distribution, and growth of the spawning stock. These annual electrofishing surveys began in 1994 on the Neuse and Tar rivers, and in 2003 on the Cape Fear River. Sampling begins each spring as the water temperature approach 57o F, prior to the optimum spawning temperatures range of 64o-71o F, and ends when spawning is completed. Striped bass are aged by examining scales and when age and abundance are tracked across years, we can estimate total and fishing mortality (death) mortality. Fishing mortality is a measure of how quickly striped bass are removed from the population due to recreational and commercial fishing. It is especially important for striped bass to maintain an abundance of older fish because annual reproductive success ranges from poor to good depending on a number of factors, including the volume and stability of river flows and water temperatures. As such, populations and fishing are sustained by the periodic good year classes. Adequate spawning stock is necessary to weather the years when reproduction is less successful. In addition, older females produce the greatest numbers of eggs and contribute significantly to the spawning population. Producing large numbers of eggs is important because striped bass are broadcast spawners that do not take care of their eggs or young as do some other fish species. Estimates of fishing mortality from the Tar, Neuse and Cape Fear rivers have greatly exceeded the rate necessary for population growth and sustainability for a number of years. Populations in these systems are well below their potential and although larger fish (>27 inches) are occasionally found, the population is dominated by age-4 and younger fish. While good numbers of young fish are seen, they quickly drop out of the population in subsequent years as a result of fishing mortality. Our work on the Neuse and Cape Fear rivers continues to indicate low numbers of fish returning to spawn each year. In order for these fisheries to rebuild, fishing mortality must be reduced substantially. The protective slot limit of 22 to 27 inches will protect 5- to 8-year-old sexually mature female striped bass. The 7-month harvest season will concentrate harvest during cool water months when hooking mortality is lowest. Based on our research with striped bass in coastal North Carolina, we know that hooking mortality increases significantly as water temperatures exceed 70o F. By avoiding harvest during the primary spawning month (May) when temperatures begin to exceed 70o F, we hope to provide maximum protection to the spawning populations. The striped bass population in the Cape Fear River is at such low abundance that it has become necessary to close the harvest season until it begins to rebuild. Management responsibility for striped bass populations in the Tar-Pamlico, Neuse and Cape Fear rivers is shared by WRC and the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF). Data collected by DMF is conclusive that gill net bycatch is the greatest source of striped bass mortalities in these systems, with annual commercial gill-net discards estimated at nearly 95,000 pounds. WRC has no regulatory authority governing gill nets in joint or coastal waters. However, DMF has agreed to implement new gill net restrictions that are designed to significantly reduce commercial interactions with striped bass. Specific gill net rule changes include mandatory float line tie-downs and minimum distance from shore requirements. WRC and DMF will work cooperatively to evaluate the effectiveness of these new recreational and commercial changes. We are also working to better understand and quantify environmental factors, including spring flows, water, temperature, and accessibility to spawning grounds that may affect striped bass spawning success.
CCA NC Applauds Division Proclamation on Red Drum Harvest
Dr. Louis Daniel, III the Director of the Division of Marine Fisheries has by proclamation set guidelines for the commercial harvest of red drum during the fall season (September to April). While the Coastal Conservation Association of North Carolina (CCA NC) is opposed to destructive fishing practices in our state waters, CCA NC believes that these regulations do take positive steps towards ensuring that the red drum fishery is not a species targeted for harvest by commercial fishermen.
CCANC applauds the Division for its attempt at conserving our state fish and is hopeful that these regulations regarding the commercial harvest of red drum will remain in effect throughout the fall season and that steps will be taken to enforce the 100,000 pound cap to commercial fishermen for this period.
** Below is the proclamation issued by Director Daniel.**
FF-59-2008
PROCLAMATION
RE: RED DRUM-COMMERCIAL FISHING OPERATONS
Dr. Louis B. Daniel III, Director, Division of Marine Fisheries, hereby announces that effective at 12:01 A.M., Monday, September 1, 2008, the following restrictions will apply to the taking of red drum (channel bass) in a commercial fishing operation:
I. HARVEST LIMIT
A. No person may possess red drum incidental to any commercial fishing operation unless the weight of the combined catch of flounder and/or striped mullet exceeds the weight of the red drum retained.
B. Subject to I. A. above, it is unlawful to possess more than four (4) red drum per day taken in a commercial fishing operation, regardless of the number of individuals or vessels involved.
C. The commercial harvest limit for the period from September 1 through April 30 is 100,000 pounds. A proclamation limiting or prohibiting harvest will be issued if that harvest limit is approached before April 30, 2009.
II. TRANSFER AND SALE
A. It is unlawful to transfer red drum from one vessel to another during a fishing operation.
B. All red drum shall be sold to a licensed North Carolina seafood fish dealer and the red drum shall be sold prior to the sale of the flounder and/or striped mullet component of the landed catch.
C. All red drum, flounder and/or striped mullet taken in a commercial operation shall remain in the possession of the harvester and be transported together up to the point of sale.
III. GENERAL INFORMATION
A. This proclamation is issued under the authority of N.C.G.S. 170.4; 113-170.5; 113-182; 113-221.1; 143B-289.52; and N.C. Marine Fisheries Rules 15A NCAC 3H .0103, 3M .0501 and 3M .0512.
B. It is unlawful to violate the provisions of any proclamation issued by the Fisheries Director under his delegated authority pursuant to N.C. Marine Fisheries Rule 15A NCAC 3H .0103.
C. This action is being taken to reduce the regulatory discards of red drum in the commercial harvest. This does not change the current size limit implemented by the N.C. Red Drum Fishery Management Plan. It is unlawful to possess red drum less than 18 inches total length or greater than 27 inches total length.
D. The annual commercial harvest limit for red drum for the fishing year September 1 through August 31 will remain 250,000 pounds. This period (September, 2008 through April, 2009), the harvest limit will be 100,000 pounds. A total of 50,000 pounds has been deducted as partial payback for overages during the last fishing year.