General Description of Proposed Change: Establish an 8-inch minimum size limit and a 20-fish daily creel limit for crappie at Shearon Harris Reservoir. Justification: While catch rates of crappie in commission sampling have remained relatively constant over the past decade, the maximum age of crappie collected has declined more than 50 percent. Sampling results from the fall of 2023 indicated the fishery was supported by only two year-classes (ages 2 and 3), and no age 1 fish were collected.
Anglers have expressed concern that crappie are being overharvested in the reservoir and have indicated they would prefer a size and creel limit for crappie. 15A NCAC 10C .0306 CRAPPIE