NMFS is issuing regulations for the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) offshore from Maine through Florida that impose a minimum size limit of 12 inches (30.5 cm) (total length); minimum mesh sizes in the EEZ of 3 1/4-inch (8.3 cm) square stretch mesh or 3 3/4-inch (9.5 cm) diamond stretch mesh for trawls, and 2 7/8-inch (7.3 cm) stretch mesh for gill nets; a bycatch possession limit of 150 lb (67 kg) for fisheries using smaller mesh sizes for any one day or trip, whichever is longer; a prohibition on the use of flynets in a closed area of the EEZ off North Carolina, south of Cape Hatteras from 3 nm to about 40 nm offshore; a prohibition on the possession of any weakfish in the closed area of the EEZ off North Carolina when using shrimp trawls or crab trawls; and a requirement that weakfish harvested for commercial purposes in the EEZ be landed only in the following states: Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, or North Carolina. In addition, weakfish fishing must be in accordance with the laws of the state where weakfish are landed if the state's regulations are more restrictive than the Federal regulations. The intent of the regulations is to provide protection to the overfished stock of weakfish, ensure the effectiveness of state regulations, and aid in the rebuilding of the stock.