Red drum is North Carolina’s official state saltwater fish, and a popular one at that. Those who fish for red drum, also known as puppy drum, redfish, bull drum and channel bass, should save the dates for an upcoming scoping period, which includes four public meetings.
The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) will hold a scoping period Oct. 1-30 to provide fishermen and other stakeholders an opportunity to share ideas on potential management strategies for the scheduled comprehensive review of the N.C. Red Drum Fishery Management Plan (FMP).
DMF is statutorily required to conduct a comprehensive review of each state fishery management plan at least every five years. Scoping is the first stage of this review process and is intended to gather information from stakeholders. DMF has not developed management options for the Red Drum FMP and will consider input gathered during the scoping period to determine if management changes should be considered. If changes are identified, DMF will draft an amendment to the FMP. If no changes are identified, DMF may develop an information update to maintain current management…