RALEIGH, NC – The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission is reminding anglers that they cannot harvest or possess blueback herring and alewife, collectively known as “river herring,” greater than 6 inches in length while boating on or fishing in inland fishing waters of coastal rivers and their tributaries.

The regulation, which went into effect Aug. 1, 2013, applies to all river herring, regardless of origin, in inland fishing waters of the Roanoke, Tar, Neuse, Cape Fear, Waccamaw and Pee Dee rivers and their tributaries up to the first impoundment of the main course of the river, the Lumber River, including Drowning Creek, and all other inland fishing waters east of I-95.

Visit the interactive fishing map to view designations for specific coastal waters. Learn more about blueback and alewife herring by downloading the Herring and Shad in North Carolina flier (PDF) or find more information about fishing in public, inland waters by visiting www.ncwildlife.org/fishing.

CONTACT: Jodie B. Owen 919-707-0187 jodie.owen@ncwildlife.org