| Species | Pounds | Value* |
| Hard Crabs | 60.4 million | $40.5 million |
| Atlantic Menhaden | 57.4 million | $4 million |
| Atlantic Croaker | 10.8 million | $3.4 million |
| Thread Herring | 6.6 million | $560 thousand |
| Dogfish Sharks | 5.4 million | $742 thousand |
| Shrimp | 4.6 million | $10.8 million |
| Southern Flounder | 4 million | $7.1 million |
| Weakfish | 3.4 million | $1.7 million |
| Summer Flounder | 3 million | $5.4 million |
| Spot | 2.4 million | $1 million |
*Values are ex-vessel value, which is the dollar amount commercial fishermen are paid for their catch.
This is the second largest landing of crabs on record; in 1996 North Carolina fishermen landed 65.6 million pounds of crabs, valued at $39.8 million. The top-five gears by fishing trip in 1998 were:
| Gear | Number of Fishing Trips |
| Crab Pots | 127,966 |
| Anchor Gill Nets | 50,786 |
| Rakes | 28,016 |
| Shrimp Trawl | 12,200 |
| Crab Trawl | 5,710 |
1998 landings were 48 million pounds less than 1997 landings, primarily because the menhaden catch was lower. In 1997, 229 million pounds of seafood, worth $109 million, were landed at North Carolina ports.
Landing statistics are gathered by the Division of Marine Fisheries’ Trip Ticket Program, which collects data on North Carolina commercial landings and effort (trips) by requiring seafood dealers to record each landing of fish and shellfish, and submit copies of “trip tickets” on a monthly basis. The data gathered from the program help fishery managers and the commercial fishing industry ensure that North Carolina marine resources remain well-managed and abundant.
To receive the North Carolina Commercial Landings for 1998 or for more information about the trip ticket program, contact Dee Lupton, DMF-Morehead City, at 252-726-7021 or 1-800-682-2632.
Contact: Nancy Fish, (252) 726-7021
Date Posted: April 1, 1999
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