By Nicole Fonzino
The Massachusetts’ Division of Marine Fisheries recently approved the recreational limits for fluke, scup and black sea bass. These fishing regulations, which were approved by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, will begin in May due to the late approval.
The fluke season for private anglers and for-hire anglers will begin on May 22, 2014. This is the first year that Massachusetts
will be considered its own region, which will help increase equity in catching fluke. Normally, Massachusetts is combined with Rhode Island on these limitations. For a private angler, you will be allowed to catch five fluke fish and the minimum size will be 16 inches.
May 1 will be the start of scup fishing in Massachusetts. While the regulations did not tighten on this fish, the regulations from
last year will be maintained throughout the 2014 season. Massachusetts, combined with states through New York, will be considered one full region. A private angler will be allowed to catch 30 scup fish, 150 maximum per boat, at 10 inches minimum. From May 1 to June 30, a for-hire bonus will be put in place, where you will be able to catch 45 fish at 10 inches minimum. The for-hire regular season will not begin until July 1.
Last year, black sea bass were over harvested in the northeastern region combining all states from New Jersey to Massachusetts. Because of this, the black sea bass season will be shortened about 52 days. While the season is shortened, there has been a for-hire special access program enacted, where if you apply for a required letter of authorization, you will be able to double the number of fish you can catch for the month of September. The private angler and for-hire black sea bass season will begin on May 17 and last until September 15. Anglers can catch eight fish at 14 inches minimum.
Also beginning on May 1, the NOAA has changed the regulations to the Gulf of Maine recreational cod and haddock fishing. These changes are due to the fact that both types of fish exceeded their catch limit last season.
For cod fishing, the limit per bag will remain the same at nine fish per day, but the minimum fish size has increased to 21 inches. The NOAA has also increased the cod closed season by two months. The cod closed season will now be from Sept. 1, 2014 to April 14, 2015.
For haddock, the minimum fish size will remain at 21 inches. However, the number of bag limit is decreasing to three fish per angler. The closed haddock season will also be increased by four months. The closed haddock season will now be from Sept. 1, 2014 to Nov. 30, 2014, and March 1, 2015 to April 30, 2015.
Before heading out to fish, be sure to check both state and federal regulations for any changes. For more information on these regulation changes, please visit www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/dfg/.