Observer Trip Scheduling System

Who must use OTSS?

If you answer YES to all of the following questions, you must use OTSS.

•  Are you planning to fish gill nets in a Management Unit (see map)?
• Do you plan to use gill nets other than:
  • Run-around, strike, or drop gill nets - gill nets that are actively fished by either (1) using the boat to run a net around a school of fish, creating a closed circle, or (2) using the boat after the net is set to herd fish into the net without delay, whereby soak time does not exceed 30 minutes from the end of the set to the beginning of the haul.
  • Drift gill nets - gill nets that are used to capture fish while being moved along by water currents whereby the net stays attached to the vessel from deployment through retrieval.

When do you report?

Report your plans to fish non-exempt gill nets one week in advance between between 12:01 am Monday and 11:59 pm Wednesday.

HOW do you report?

There are two options to report your fishing plans:

• Call 833-ITP-TRIP (833-487-8747)
• Go to https://dmf.ncdenr.org/OTSSPublic/

The fishing week is divided into three week portions:

1. Monday, Tuesday (M-T)
2. Wednesday, Thursday (W-Th)
3. Friday, Saturday, Sunday (F-Su)

You’ll report the Management Unit, the mesh size category, and the week portion(s) you plan to fish.

What happens after you report?

On Thursday, you will be notified whether you were SELECTED or NOT SELECTED to take an Observer for each week portion during the following week (M-T, W-Th, and/or F-Su).

For each week portion:

• IF YOU ARE SELECTED: Contact your assigned Observer by 4:00pm Friday.
• IF YOU ARE NOT SELECTED: You will get a confirmation number.

You will not be able to legally fish EGNP-Permitted gill nets without either an Observer or a Confirmation Number.