a man fishes from the edge of the beach next to a boat in New Hanover

Fish Science Simplified

Hook, Line, & Science distills the latest fishery and fish-related research, delivering valuable insights and knowledge tailored for North Carolina anglers

image: Andros Island Bahamas.

How Do You Generate Long-Term Support for Marine Conservation?

Researchers journeyed to a community that has protected marine areas for two decades to find the answers. Research Need Many coastal communities rely on healthy fisheries for economic stability and…

Lionfish. Credit: NOAA.

Can We Use Deepwater Traps to Catch Lionfish?

Scientists compared how three different traps worked on the invasive species.

Top left: Three prominent ocellated spots form a triangle on the body of Gulf flounder. Top right: On summer flounder, five ocellated spots form a pattern like the five side of a die. Bottom: Southern flounder have non-ocellated spots. Courtesy of the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries

Can You Identify North Carolina’s Three Species of Flounder?

It turns out, most anglers can’t. Luckily, NCDMF has some tips.

Have Bigger Sharks Given Way to Smaller Sharks Along the North Carolina Coast?

Over the last 50 years, many shark species have trended toward smaller-sized individuals around Cape Lookout.

Are East Coast Anglers Catching Tunas, Sharks, and Billfishes Farther North?

Trends from a longstanding recreational survey can help anglers, tournaments, and communities plan for changing fisheries.

Are Young Great Whites Swimming Coastal Carolina Waters?

New research shows these sharks might not be spending their winters where we expected.

Dr. Joel Fodrie handles a juvenile dusky shark while research technician Holly Doerr records photos and data. Credit: M. May.

Reel Insights: Guest Posts on Fish Science