Regulations
| |
Size Limit (Total Length)
|
Bag Limit
|
|
State waters
|
12" Atlantic; 10" Gulf
|
15 Atlantic
|
|
**Federal waters
|
12" Atlantic
|
5 Atlantic (effective 6/22/11)
|
**New: Closed in Atlantic Federal waters October 17, 2011. Will reopen June 1,2012.
*Note: Gear rules require circle hooks, dehooking and venting tools to be used in the Gulf and Atlantic reef fish fishery.
Atlantic Ocean
NOAA Fisheries Service determined that the 2010-2011 recreational annual catch limit (ACL) of 409,000 pounds for black sea bass (set in Amendment 17B) was reached before the end of the fishing year. As an accountability measure, the recreational fishery for black sea bass in federal waters of the South Atlantic closed Feb. 12, 2011 and reopened June 1, 2011. This action was intended to prevent overfishing of black sea bass.
When final recreational landings for the 2010-2011 fishing year became available, NOAA Fisheries Service determined that the ACL was exceeded by 67,253 pounds. In response, NOAA Fisheries Service reduced the 2011-2012 recreational ACL from 409,000 pounds to 341,747 pounds to account for the 67,253 pound overage. NOAA Fisheries Service has determined that the 2011-2012 recreational annual catch limit has been reached. As a result the recreational sector for black sea bass in federal waters of the south atlantic will close October 17, 2011 until May 31, 2012.
In an effort to keep anglers from exceeding the annual catch limit for black sea bass in future fishing years, NOAA Fisheries Service approved regulations that reduce the recreational bag limit for black sea bass from 15 to five per harvester per day in federal waters of the Atlantic. This bag limit reduction took effect June 22, 2011 in Atlantic federal waters only.
Charter and headboats that hold federal snapper-grouper permits are required to abide by these federal rules, even in state waters. The recreational bag limit for black sea bass harvested in state waters of the Atlantic will remain at 15 per harvester per day for anglers who are not fishing from federally permitted vessels. State waters extend three nautical miles from shore into the Atlantic.
For more information:
Persons with Disabilities