Division officials summarized the 2024 benchmark assessment finding the northern red drum stock is not overfished and not experiencing overfishing, while warning of concerning trends including increasing fishing mortality driven mainly by recreational fishing.

Presenters summarized ASMFC's Addendum 2 adoption for the northern region (alignment with Virginia option) leaving NC at status quo for now, and said an updated traffic-light analysis with recalibrated MRIP estimates could be produced as early as 2027.

Presenters said North Carolina accounted for about 74% of northern-region red drum harvest over the assessment period and that recreational fishing comprised approximately 87% of total removals, with recent increases in landed pounds noted after the assessment terminal year (2021).

Presenters showed historical landings from 19812025 and said recreational harvest has increased since 2000; recent estimates attribute about 70% of kingfish harvest to recreational fishing and about 30% to commercial fishing, with 2021 peak recreational landings estimated at ~6,000,000 pounds.