New fishing regulations reducing the harvest of black sea bass and scup are now in effect in New York’s Marine and Coastal District, the State Department of Environmental Conservation announced this week.
The minimum size for black sea bass keepers is now 16.5 inches. From June 23, when New York’s recreational bass season opens, through Aug. 31, recreational anglers may possess three black sea bass per day. From Sept. 1 until Dec. 31, anglers are allowed six fish per day.
New York State is required to reduce harvest by 10 percent per a joint decision by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, the DEC said in a press release. New York is complying with the new rule by increasing the minimum size limit by one half-inch, the agency said.
New regulations also reduce the minimum size for scup: for recreational anglers from shore the minimum is 9.5 inches and for vessel-based anglers the minimum size is 10.5 inches.
Recreational anglers may possess 30 fish per day and anglers aboard licensed party/charter boats may possess 40 fish from Sept. 1 through Oct. 31.
The recreational scup season opened May 1 and runs through Dec. 31.
New York State’s changes to the open season and possession limit for for-hire anglers during September and October maintains consistency with the rules in federal waters, the DEC said. Combined with the increase in the minimum size for vessel-based anglers, these changes are expected to reduce harvest of recreational scup in New York waters by 10 percent, as required by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council.
The complete text of the rule-making is available on DEC’s website.
The new rules took effect immediately.
DEC is accepting comments on the regulations from May 18, through July 17, 2023. Written comments can be sent by mail to Rachel Sysak, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, 123 Kings Park Blvd., Kings Park, NY 11754, or by email.
Assembly Member Fred Thiele (D-Sag Harbor) voiced opposition to the new regulations last week in a letter to DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos. Thiele said the new rules would harm the East End fishing industry and the local economy.
“These restrictions will only create a disadvantage for Long Island’s for-hire industry and negatively impact our local small businesses,” Thiele wrote in a letter dated April 28. “I urge you to reconsider these regulations and work with the Montauk Boatmen and Captains Association to find other alternatives that will ultimately help protect the environment without placing an undue and unfair burden on our region’s fishing industry.”
“New York’s failure to implement these restrictions would place the state out of compliance with Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission requirements and could result in the closure of New York’s scup and black sea bass recreational fisheries,” the DEC said in its May 1 press release.
For current regulations, check DEC’s Recreational Saltwater Fishing Regulations . Anglers must enroll in the annual no-fee Recreational Marine Fishing Registry before fishing New York’s Marine and Coastal District waters or when fishing in the Hudson River and its tributaries for “migratory fish of the sea”. Anglers can enroll for the registry online, by phone (1-866-933-2257, option 2), or by visiting a license issuing agent location.
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