In 1994, the National Marine Fisheries Service Northeast Fisheries Observer Program documented sea turtle bycatch in the Atlantic croaker (Micropogonias undulatus) and weakfish (Cynoscion regalis) trawl fishery off North Carolina. The fishery utilized a high opening bottom trawl locally known as a “flynet.” In 1998, the NMFS Southeast Fisheries Science Center Mississippi Laboratories initiated research to develop a Turtle Excluder Device (TED) for the flynet fishery. Over the next 10 years, numerous prototype designs were trialed to determine feasibility of use in the fishery. During the 2008 and 2009 fishing seasons a specialized TED, the Flexible Flatbar Flynet TED, developed specifically for the flynet fishery was tested for catch retention and bycatch reduction. Due to the highly variable catch rates in the fishery, a standard flynet was modified to utilize the “trouser trawl” comparative testing technique. The objectives of the study were to quantify the target and bycatch species catch loss associated with TED use in the Atlantic croaker targeted flynet fishery operating off North Carolina. In addition, usability testing was carried out to identify handling problems and specialized handling techniques required when using TEDs in this fishery. The study was carried out aboard a contracted commercial vessel operating along the North Carolina coast. Tow level data were collected and included; date, vessel identifier, TED position (port or starboard), target species, total catch, target catch, and bycatch. Start and end location, time, depth, and temperature were also collected. Data were used to determine TED efficiency with regard to target catch.