Mandatory Harvest Reporting
New harvest reporting requirements will impact recreational and commercial fishermen starting Dec. 1, 2025.
State law will require any person who recreationally harvests Red Drum, flounder, Spotted Seatrout (speckled trout), Striped Bass and Weakfish (gray trout) to report that harvest to the NC Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF). This applies to Coastal Fishing Waters, Joint Fishing Waters and Inland Fishing Waters adjacent to Coastal and Joint Fishing Waters.
Additionally, it requires anyone holding a commercial fishing license, who is engaged in a commercial fishing operation, to report all fish harvested to DMF, regardless of sale.
Frequently Asked Questions about Mandatory Harvest Reporting
Those participating in recreational fishing must report the harvest of Red Drum, Flounder, Spotted Seatrout, Striped Bass, and Weakfish starting December 1, 2025.
When do I report?
At the time harvest is complete.
- If fishing from a boat, this is when the fish reach the shore/dock
- If shore based, this is once you have stowed your gear
What do I report?
- Fishing license number or full name and zip code of residence
- Date of harvest
- Number of each of the five species caught and kept
- Area where the fish were harvested
- Type of gear used (e.g., hook and line or gig)
How do I report?
Use the webform at: deq.nc.gov/report-my-fish
Those engaged in a commercial fishing operation must report all fish harvested, even if it’s not sold.
When do I report?
Harvest must be unloaded at a seafood dealer within 48 hours of landing.
What must I report?
All harvest, regardless of sale. This includes finfish, shellfish, and crustaceans.
Where do I report?
Continue to report sales using the trip ticket program. Report any personal consumption to a seafood dealer.
- Seafood dealers will record unsold harvest on the trip ticket using the personal consumption disposition codes.
- Seafood dealers who do not have the appropriate dealer license category will be allowed to write trip tickets for commercial fishermen who are harvesting catch for personal consumption by using the personal consumption disposition codes.
Mandatory harvest reporting will be enforced by DMF’s Marine Patrol and the WRC’s Law Enforcement Division. Enforcement will be phased in over a period of three years.
Phase 1: Effective December 1, 2025, and includes a verbal warning for failure to report harvest.
Phase 2: Starting December 1, 2026, warning tickets will be issued.
Phase 3: Starting December 1, 2027, an infraction with a $35 fine. These infractions count towards suspension of fishing licenses and permits.
Background
The N.C. General Assembly passed Session Law 2023-137, Section 6, which established the new mandatory harvest reporting requirements. DMF staff, in collaboration with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, are developing reporting methods that will be used to meet this mandate. The reporting system was funded through a one-time, $5 million allocation to DMF.
A one-year extension passed by the legislature will allow DMF and WRC to actively engage with stakeholders, not only to inform them about the requirements, but also to ensure that the reporting process and tool(s) are robust and user-friendly.
The State law enacting mandatory harvest reporting, required that the agencies adopt temporary rules to implement mandatory reporting.
The requirement to report harvest is not temporary, but this process allows the agencies to adopt regulations in time to meet a statutory deadline. The temporary rules will function as permanent rules until permanent rules are adopted.
This two-step process also provides an opportunity for the agencies to develop, implement, and try a reporting process and platform, then take the information gained from the initial phase of implementation to fine tune the requirements for the permanent rules.