4+ day, 20+ hour ago   (247+ words) The North Carolina Coastal Counties Fisheries Coalition presented its work to county leaders from across the state during an Aug. 21 panel discussion at the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners Annual Conference in Durham. Dare County Commissioner Mary Ellon Ballance…...

1+ week, 6+ day ago   (222+ words) Island Free Press Recreational flounder season opens Tuesday The 2026 recreational flounder season will open Sept. 1-14 in Coastal and Joint Fishing Waters of the state. The two-week season is the same dates as were open in 2025. “North Carolina’s decision to open…...

2+ week, 4+ day ago   (291+ words) Island Free Press Marine Fisheries Commission receives draft Coastal Habitat Protection Plan Amendment The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission received a presentation on the draft Coastal Habitat Protection Plan 2026 Amendment, one of several agenda items during the board’s regular quarterly business meeting…...

2+ week, 5+ day ago   (280+ words) The NC Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries will collect flounder carcasses from recreational fishermen during the 2026 season, held Sept. 1-14 in joint and coastal waters. The carcasses will be used for research purposes. Recreational anglers who donate flounder…...

3+ week, 4+ day ago   (1394+ words) North Carolina violated its constitutional and public-trust obligations to protect coastal fisheries, a Wake County judge has ruled in a major victory for a recreational fishing organization and 86 residents who sued the state nearly six years ago. Superior Court Judge…...

4+ week, 19+ hour ago   (1159+ words) A planned vote that could have moved possible new protections for submerged grass beds and other fish habitat in the Albemarle and Pamlico sounds toward public review has reportedly been removed from next week’s N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission agenda. The…...