Speckled Trout FMP

Tune into another Episode of Fisheries Gone Wild with CCA NC!!! This week we dive deep into the upcoming Speckled Trout Fisheries Management Plan. Stuart Creighton explains the ins and outs of the FMP process and the proposal that Commercial Commisioner Doug Cross has proposed at the last MFC meeting in February.

The NC Division of Marine Fisheries latest Spotted Seatrout stock assessment has determined that the stock is not overfished but overfishing is occurring (Catching more fish faster than the stock can replenish). The Division is mandated by state statute to end overfishing within two years, to do so the Division will need a reduction in total removals of speckled trout between 14.6-39.6%.

CCA NC will continue to advocate for maintaining angler access to the speckled trout fishery while ensuring a healthy sustainable stock. CCA NC is interested in garnering feedback from the fishing public on options to help reduce overfishing while maintaining a healthy, sustainable stock.

The public scoping period is the best opportunity for the fishing public to provide input on the plan! Decades of mismanagement and commercial overfishing have led to depleted stocks and severely restricted access for the fishing public to our public trust resources.

Participating in our survey is an opportunity to ensure that the fishing public has a strong voice in the shaping future of speckled trout fisheries management in North Carolina.

Let your voice be heard!

Take a minute and fill out the survey below:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSecYma7SqLjwAL0y9T6zNOFhqm6SuwScw6LQX2aDz439shEWQ/viewform