It shall be unlawful to possess, sell, or purchase finfish under four inches in length except:

1. (1) as bait in the crab pot fishery in North Carolina, if such crab pot bait is not transported west of U.S. Interstate 95 and, when transported, is accompanied by documentation showing the name and address of the shipper, the name and address of the consignee, and the total weight of the shipment;

2. (2) bait in the finfish fishery with the following provisions:

   1. (a) it shall be unlawful to possess more than 200 pounds of live finfish or 100 pounds of dead finfish; and
   2. (b) such finfish bait is not transported outside of North Carolina;
3. (3) live finfish in aquaria, provided that the finfish are not subject to other minimum size limits under the authority of Marine Fisheries Commission rules; and

4. (4) Atlantic menhaden, Atlantic thread herring, gizzard shad, and pinfish.

   Bait dealers who possess a valid finfish dealer license from the Division of Marine Fisheries shall be exempt from Sub-Items (2)(a) and (b) of this Rule. Tolerance of not more than five percent by number of species shall be allowed.

History Note: Authority G.S. 113-134; 113-182; 113-185; 143B-289.52;
Eff. July 1, 1993;
Amended Eff. April 1, 2014;
Readopted Eff. April 1, 2019.