North Carolina Marine Fisheries Proclamation FF-10-2019 opens the recreational cobia fishery at 12:01 a.m. on May 1 and maintains the season for the commercial cobia fishery. The recreational season will remain open through Dec. 31.

Recreation rules include a harvest size of not less than 36 inches fork length.

A possession limit of one cobia per person per day.

Recreation season runs from May 1 to Dec. 31.

Private vessel for recreational purpose from May 1 to May 31 may possess two cobia or one person per day if only one person is aboard. From June 1 to Dec. 31, the limit is one person per vessel per day.

For-hire vessel while engaged in for-hire operation is limited to four cobia per vessel per day or one cobia per person per day if fewer than four people are aboard.

For the commercial fishery, the cobia is not less than 33 inches fork length.

Harvest limit is two cobia per day or six per vessel per day, whichever is more restrictive.

A commercial and recreation limit of cobia cannot be on the same vessel.

“The intent of this proclamation is to manage the commercial and recreational fishery for cobia in Coastal Fishing Waters consistent with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Interstate Cobia Fishery Management Plan,” states the proclamation.

READ MORE IN OUR ON THE WATER SECTION HERE.