New Jersey State Record Black Sea Bass

The NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife recently certified the catch of a new state record black sea bass.

Steve Singler of Philadelphia, PA, caught the new record fish on December 12, 2015. The monster sea bass weighed in at 9 pounds, 0 ounces, measured 27.5" in length and had a girth of 18.5".

Steve was bottom fishing in 180-200 feet of water off the boat Voyager, captained by Jeff Gutman when the fish hit.

For more information on the New Jersey Record Fish Program, visit www.njfishandwildlife.com.

source: New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Division of Fish and Wildlife

2015-2016 Black Sea Bass Season (South Atlantic)

The 2015-2016 recreational fishing season for black sea bass in the South Atlantic Region will start on April 1, 2015, and end on March 31, 2016, according to NOAA Fisheries.

Landings in the past three fishing years have not come close to the current annual catch limit of 1,033,980 pounds whole weight; therefore, black sea bass will be open for the entire April 1, 2015-March 31, 2016, recreational fishing season.

This announcement is in compliance with the final rule for Regulatory Amendment 14 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region, which published on November 7, 2014 (79 FR 66316). Regulations were effective on December 8, 2014.

For the black sea bass recreational sector, the final rule for Regulatory Amendment 14 revised:

The recreational fishing year for black sea bass from June 1 through May 31, to April 1 through March 31.

The black sea bass recreational accountability measure to have NOAA Fisheries announce the length of the recreational season for black sea bass annually in the Federal Register prior to the April 1 recreational fishing year start date based on when NOAA Fisheries projects the recreational sector's annual catch limit will be met.

For more information on the final rule for Regulatory Amendment 14, visit www.safmc.net.

source: South Atlantic Fishery Management Council

2013 Top Recreational Fishing Saltwater Species

U.S. recreational anglers took 71 million trips and caught nearly 430 million fish in 2013. Over 61 percent of these fish were released alive. Spotted seatrout was the top catch for recreational anglers in 2013, with 38 million fish caught.

Top 5 Recreational Fishing Saltwater Species (2013):

1. spotted seatrout
2. Atlantic croaker
3. black sea bass
4. summer flounder
5. red drum

source: Fisheries of the United States, 2013 (NOAA Fisheries)

2014 North Carolina Black Sea Bass Season - north of Cape Hatteras

The recreational black sea bass fishing season will open May 19 in both federal and North Carolina waters north of Cape Hatteras, according to North Carolina's Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

During the open season, the minimum size limit will be 12.5 inches, and the bag limit will be 15 fish per person, per day.

The season will close Sept. 18, and will reopen again from Oct. 18 through Dec. 31.

The recreational black sea bass regulations north of Cape Hatteras comply with the Mid Atlantic Fishery Management Council and Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass Management Plan.

The recreational black sea bass fishery south of Cape Hatteras is managed by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council. South of Cape Hatteras, the minimum size limit is 13 inches and the bag limit is five fish per person per day.

The recreational black sea bass season begins June 1 each year and closes when the quota is met. The 2013-2014 season is still open.

For more information, visit: http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/mf/proclamations.

source: North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources

Management Proposals Approved for 2014 Black Sea Bass Recreational Fisheries

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass Management Board approved state proposals for the 2014 black sea bass recreational fishery in accordance with Addendum XXV to the Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan.

For black sea bass, the Board approved the methodologies used by the states of Massachusetts through New Jersey to establish their minimum size, bag limits, and season lengths to achieve a 7% reduction in the 2014 recreational harvest levels from the 2013 harvest level. The 7% reduction is in response to harvest overages that occurred in 2013.

States will be finalizing their regulations over the next couple of weeks. The Board also agreed to a send letter to NOAA Fisheries requesting a review of the 2013 final Marine Recreational Information Program black sea bass harvest numbers when determining the final rule for 2014 measures.

For more information, visit: http://www.asmfc.org/

source: Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission

ASMFC Approves Regional Management for 2014 Recreational Black Sea Bass

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass Management Board approved Addendum XXV to the Summer Flounder and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan, establishing regional recreational management for both species for the 2014 fishing year.

For black sea bass, the Board approved the continuation of ad hoc regional management measures by northern (Massachusetts – New Jersey) and southern regions (Delaware – North Carolina). This approach has been used since 2011 and offers some advantages over coastwide regulations, which can disproportionately impact states within the management unit.

Specifically, regional measures address geographic differences in the stock (size, abundance and seasonality) while maintaining the consistent application of management measures by neighboring states.

States in the northern region will reduce their catch based on the region’s performance in 2013. The Technical Committee will work with the states to develop regional management measures for Board consideration and approval.

States in the southern region will implement measures consistent with federal regulations (current recommended federal measures are a 12.5 inch TL minimum fish size, 15 fish possession limit, and open season from May 19 – September 18 and October 18 – December 31).

The regulations of the two regions combined will achieve the required coastwide harvest reduction in order to not exceed the 2014 recreational harvest limit. The Board approved the ad hoc regional measures approach for the 2014 fishing year, with the option of extending it through 2015 by Board action.

Addendum XXV will be available on the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission website by the end of February.

source: Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission

2014 Recreational Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Management

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council met jointly with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Board recently to adopt 2014 recreational management measures for summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass.

During the meeting, the Board approved Draft Addendum XXV for public comment. The addendum, which is intended to provide more equity in recreational harvest opportunities, includes options for regional management of summer flounder and ad-hoc regional management of black sea bass.

Summer Flounder

Based on the recreational harvest limit of 7.01 million pounds, the Council and Board recommended the use of conservation equivalency for the recreational summer flounder fishery in 2014.

Conservation equivalency allows individual states or voluntary regions to develop recreational measures that achieve a region- or state-specific harvest target.

The combination of state- or region-specific measures would be equivalent to the Council- and Board-approved non-preferred coastwide measures of an 18-inch TL minimum fish size, a 4 fish possession limit, and a May 1 – September 30 season.

Black Sea Bass

The Council and Board recommended that the 7% coastwide reduction needed to achieve the 2014 recreational harvest limit (2.26 million lbs) be taken in both state and federal waters.

If the state waters measures under Addendum XXV address the required reduction, the Council and Board recommended that federal waters measures include a 12.5-inch TL minimum size, a 15 fish possession limit, and open seasons from May 19 – September 18 and October 18 – December 31.

If the addendum does not address the required reduction, then coastwide measures for both state and federal waters would be set at a 13-inch TL minimum size, a 5 fish possession limit, and a June 1-September 30 season.

Scup

Based on the associated recreational harvest of 7.03 million pounds, the Council and Board approved federal water measures including a 9-inch minimum size, a 30 fish possession limit, and open season January 1-December 31. In state waters, the Board voted to continue using a regional approach to scup management under which states may set different measures.

source: Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council

North Carolina Black Sea Bass Season Closure North of Cape Hatteras

North Carolina's Division of Marine Fisheries recently issued a reminder to fishermen that the recreational season for black sea bass closes north of Cape Hatteras at midnight Dec. 31, 2013.

The closure complies with regulations implemented by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and the Mid Atlantic Fishery Management Council through the Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass Fisheries Management Plan.

The 2014 recreational management measures for black sea bass will be established later this winter.

For more information, contact the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries at 252-808-8009.

source: North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries

Regional Fishery Councils Approve Summer Flounder, Scup, Black Sea Bass, and Bluefish Specifications

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (Commission) and the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) have established commercial quotas and recreational harvest limits for summer flounder, scup, black sea bass, and bluefish for the 2014 fishing season and beyond.

For more information, visit: http://www.asmfc.org/



source: Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission

Black Sea Bass Stock is Rebuilt

Southern black sea bass rebuilt catch limits will more than double this fall, as a result of rebuilt populations.

The southern stock of black sea bass, which ranges from Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, to the Florida Keys, was declared overfished in 2005.

The following year, the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council implemented the rebuilding plan, which ended successfully this past spring.

The rebuilding plan was required by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the law that governs the nation’s marine fisheries. The Act requires that overfishing end immediately, that overfished stocks be rebuilt, and that stocks be subject to annual catch limits.

For Robert Johnson, a charter boat captain out of St. Augustine, Florida, this will mean a longer fishing season and more customers. "We're a tourist-driven economy here in Florida," Johnson said, noting that hotels and restaurants in his area are also looking forward to a longer fishing season.

Black sea bass is a popular species among recreational anglers throughout its range. That’s because in addition to being a particularly tasty fish, black sea bass are relatively accessible. “The nice thing about black sea bass is you don’t need a million-dollar boat to catch them,” Johnson said.

Tom Burgess is a commercial fisherman out of Sneed's Ferry, North Carolina. Like most commercial black sea bass fishermen, he catches the fish in baited pots. "What we’re experiencing now was worth the wait," said Burgess, who expects his income to rise with the catch limit.

Last year both the recreational and commercial seasons were over by early fall. This year fishermen should still be having at it into late fall or early winter..

For more information, visit: http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/documents/main_articles/html/index.html

source: NOAA Fisheries

Black Sea Bass South of Hatteras Listed as Viable in State’s Stock Status Report

Black sea bass south of Hatteras has recovered and is listed as Viable in the 2013 Stock Status Report released by the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries.

A 2013 South Atlantic stock assessment found that the spawning stock has rebuilt and overfishing is not occurring.

The black sea bass stock south of Cape Hatteras has been under a federally managed rebuilding plan since 2006. Last year, the stock status was upgraded to Recovering.

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council increased quotas for the 2013-2014 fishing season for both recreational and commercial fisheries.

The division annually grades the status of marine finfish, shellfish, shrimp and crabs as Viable, Recovering, Concern, Depleted or Unknown.

More information is available online at:

 http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/mf/stock-status-categories-and-definitions

The complete 2013 Stock Status Report can be found at http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/mf/stock-status-reports

source: N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries

South Atlantic Black Sea Bass Catch Limits

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council has proposed to more than double the current black sea bass annual catch limit (ACL) from 847,000 pounds (whole weight) to 1,814,000 pounds.

NOAA Fisheries is in the process of reviewing the request and a proposed rule for public comment is expected later this summer. The black sea bass fishery opens for both commercial and recreational fishermen on June 1, 2013 in federal waters from Cape Hatteras, North Carolina southward along the east coast of Florida.

Earlier this month, the Council met during a special session and approved the increase to the overall annual catch limit.  The proposed increase is based on the most recent stock assessment update, completed in early 2013 through the Southeast Data, Assessment and Review program.

The updated black sea bass stock assessment concluded that the stock is no longer overfished or undergoing overfishing, and is rebuilt.

The increase in the catch limit is proposed through Regulatory Amendment 19 to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan and must be approved by the Secretary of Commerce for implementation later this year.

The Council is proposing the increase go into effect as soon as possible in order to extend the 2013 fishing season.  The current bag limit is 5 fish per person per day with a 13" total length minimum size limit for the recreational fishery.  There are no changes proposed to the size and bag limits.

More Information:

South Atlantic Fishery Management Council at www.safmc.net

NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office at http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/sustainable_fisheries/s_atl/sg/bsb/index.html

source: South Atlantic Fishery Management Council

2013 North Carolina Black Sea Bass Regulations

The recreational black sea bass fishing season will open May 19 in both federal and North Carolina waters north of Cape Hatteras, according to North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries.

During the open season, the minimum size limit will be 12.5 inches, and the bag limit will be 20 fish per person, per day.
The season will close Oct. 14, and will reopen again from Nov. 1 through Dec. 31.

The recreational black sea bass fishery south of Cape Hatteras is managed by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council and will remain closed until June 1.

source: North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries

2013 New Jersey Black Sea Bass Regulations

The NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife recently announced new black sea bass regulations which begin on January 1, 2013. The recreational black sea bass fishery will open from January 1 through February 28.

The minimum size limit remains at 12.5 inches and the possession limit will be 15 fish. These regulations pertain to both New Jersey state waters as well as Federal waters.

The Division also announced that recreational black sea bass measures are likely change from 2012 regulations later in 2013. Recreational anglers should look for new regulations on the division website.

source: NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife

South Atlantic Recreational Black Sea Bass Season Closed

After determining that the 2012-2013 South Atlantic recreational annual catch limit of 409,000 pounds for black sea bass had been reached, NOAA Fisheries Service closed the fishery.

Recreational fishing for black sea bass in federal waters of the South Atlantic from the latitude of Cape Hatteras Light, North Carolina to Key West, Florida, will remain closed from September 4, 2012, through 12:01 a.m. June 1, 2013.

For vessels with a valid federal charter vessel/headboat permit for South Atlantic snapper grouper, the closure applies to state and federal waters. The operator of a vessel that has a federal for-hire permit for snapper grouper must land any black sea bass harvested from either state or federal waters prior to 12:01 a.m., local time, September 4, 2012.

According to NOAA Fisheries Service, black sea bass are experiencing overfishing.

source: SAFMC

2012 North Carolina Black Sea Bass Stock Status Report

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries recently listed black sea bass as “Recovering” in its 2012 Stock Status Report. The report upgrades the black sea bass stock south of Cape Hatteras from “Depleted” in 2011 and the stock north of Cape Hatteras from “Concern” in 2011.

The black sea bass stock south of Cape Hatteras has been under a federally managed rebuilding plan since 2006. A 2011 federal stock assessment found the stock is not overfished but has not yet met the rebuilding target.

The black sea bass stock north of Cape Hatteras, continues to show signs that the stock is improving. A 2010 National Marine Fisheries Service’s updated stock assessment found that the stock is considered rebuilt. However, uncertainty in the stock status has resulted in conservative management of this stock.

DMF annually grades the status of marine finfish, shellfish, shrimp and crabs as either “Viable,” “Recovering,” “Concern,” “Depleted” or “Unknown.” The grades serve as a barometer of the overall health of the state’s fishery resources, and they are used to prioritize development of fishery management plans.

A complete list of the 2012 Stock Status Report can be found on the division’s website at http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/mf/2012-stock-status-report

source: North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries

Comments Sought for South Atlantic Black Sea Bass Regulations

NOAA Fisheries requests public comments on proposed regulations for Amendment 18A to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region.

The primary purpose of Amendment 18A is to implement management measures that would optimize fishing opportunities for black sea bass, and improve data reporting in the for-hire sector of the snapper-grouper fishery.

Comments on the proposed rule for Amendment 18A must be received no later than April 23, 2012.

source: NOAA FishNews

2012 Atlantic Coast Black Sea Bass Regulations

2012 Atlantic Coast Black Sea Bass Regulations

After reviewing 2011 black sea bass recreational data, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Management Board modified the percent that states may liberalize their 2012 recreational management measures to achieve the 1.32 million pound (942,857 fish) harvest limit for the 2012 fishery.

Since the Board's approval of Addendum XXII and the resultant 2012 state recreational management measures in February 2012, new 2011 recreational harvest estimates were released by the National Marine Fisheries Service. The coastwide recreational harvest for the 2011 black sea bass fishery is now estimated at 713,478 fish.

Based on the stock projections completed in 2011, the black sea bass stock is not overfished and overfishing is not occurring. The projections indicate the stock is at about 111% of its biomass target.

source: ASMFC

2012 Atlantic Coast Black Sea Bass Regulations

The ASFMC Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass Management Board recently approved Addendum XXII to the Fishery Management Plan. The Addendum, which applies only to black sea bass, replaces coastwide recreational management measures for the second consecutive year and attempts to again mitigate potential disproportionate impacts to some Mid-Atlantic states whose landings have declined markedly in recent years.

In 2011, Addendum XXI established state-by-state measures, requiring states from Massachusetts to New Jersey, plus North Carolina to cut harvest by 37% to 43% to meet the coastwide recreational harvest target.

Addendum XXII establishes a regional management approach which allows the northern region states (Massachusetts to New Jersey) to collectively liberalize up to 57%.

The southern region states (Delaware to North Carolina) have committed to implementing measures consistent with those recommended for federal waters (the 25 fish, 12.5 inches TL minimum fish size, and an open season from May 19 to October 14 and November 1 to December 31).

Preliminary estimated harvest in 2011 was 0.99 million pounds, approximately 0.8 million pounds below the 2012 harvest target. While not required, states in the northern region will strive to implement similar recreational measures throughout that region. The regulations will be implemented for state waters only. Over the next two months, states will submit proposed recreational measures for Technical Committee review and Board approval.

source: ASFMC

2011 Maryland Black Sea Bass Season

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recently released the 2011 black sea bass season and catch limits.

From now until October 11, anglers may possess up to 25 black sea bass, 12.5 inches or larger, per day. The season will reopen for two months between November 1 and the end of the year.

The black sea bass fishery is managed cooperatively by the Mid-Atlantic Fisheries Management Council (MAFMC) and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC), which set overall conservation and harvest goals for fish populations that are shared between state and federal waters.

Maryland black sea bass regulations were set thru a cooperative effort which involved fisheries managers and Maryland DNR’s Coastal Fisheries Advisory Committee (CFAC).


The CFAC is composed of representatives of local tackle stores, conservation organizations, sport fishing organizations and charter boat captains.

source: MD DNR