08-07-2012, 11:10 AM
The previous regulation at lakes Cammack and Holt allowed anglers to harvest five fish 14 inches or larger daily with the exception that two fish could be less than 14 inches. Fisheries biologists proposed eliminating the minimum size limit and increasing the daily creel limit for largemouth bass in these lakes to encourage harvest of fish less than 14 inches.
Harvesting more bass less than 14 inches reduces competition among fish and allows the remaining fish to grow bigger, faster.
"Both Lake Cammack and Lake Holt largemouth bass populations are overcrowded, so increasing harvest will reduce competition for bait fish among the remaining bass and allow them to grow larger," said Corey Oakley, the Commission's Piedmont fisheries research coordinator. "It will also help maintain a healthier, more balanced population of largemouth bass.
"Angler harvest is the most effective management tool to enhance a largemouth bass fishery. In fact, most largemouth bass fisheries would benefit from legal harvest. The new size and creel limits at lakes Cammack and Holt are unique because those systems have an overabundance of largemouth bass between 10 and 14 inches."
The Wildlife Commission took the proposed black bass regulation for lakes Cammack and Holt to public hearings in September 2011 and the Wildlife Commissioners approved it at its November business meeting.
For more information on fishing in public, inland waters, visit www.ncwildlife.org/fishing.
About the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission
Since 1947, the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission has been dedicated to the conservation and sustainability of the state's fish and wildlife resources through research, scientific management, wise use, and public input. The Commission is the state regulatory agency responsible for the enforcement of fishing, hunting, trapping and boating laws and provides programs and opportunities for wildlife-related educational, recreational and sporting activities. To learn more, visit www.ncwildlife.org.
Harvesting more bass less than 14 inches reduces competition among fish and allows the remaining fish to grow bigger, faster.
"Both Lake Cammack and Lake Holt largemouth bass populations are overcrowded, so increasing harvest will reduce competition for bait fish among the remaining bass and allow them to grow larger," said Corey Oakley, the Commission's Piedmont fisheries research coordinator. "It will also help maintain a healthier, more balanced population of largemouth bass.
"Angler harvest is the most effective management tool to enhance a largemouth bass fishery. In fact, most largemouth bass fisheries would benefit from legal harvest. The new size and creel limits at lakes Cammack and Holt are unique because those systems have an overabundance of largemouth bass between 10 and 14 inches."
The Wildlife Commission took the proposed black bass regulation for lakes Cammack and Holt to public hearings in September 2011 and the Wildlife Commissioners approved it at its November business meeting.
For more information on fishing in public, inland waters, visit www.ncwildlife.org/fishing.
About the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission
Since 1947, the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission has been dedicated to the conservation and sustainability of the state's fish and wildlife resources through research, scientific management, wise use, and public input. The Commission is the state regulatory agency responsible for the enforcement of fishing, hunting, trapping and boating laws and provides programs and opportunities for wildlife-related educational, recreational and sporting activities. To learn more, visit www.ncwildlife.org.