February seabass

[frugalfisherman]

Just happen to see this






Effective Date: January 1, 2019

We have published a final rule that implements the following measures:
1.Summer flounder and black sea bass 2019 commercial and recreational catch limits (including state quotas for summer flounder);
2.A commercial summer flounder accountability measure that adjusts the 2019 annual catch target and quota because of a prior year overage;
3.Reopens the black sea bass recreational fishery for the month of February; and
4.Increases the commercial incidental possession limit from April 15 through June 15 for scup.

The 2019 scup catch limits are unchanged from those implemented last year but are repeated here for ease of reference.

A new assessment for summer flounder will be finalized in early 2019; any adjustment to the summer flounder specifications as a result will be taken up by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council and Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. Additional letters will be sent outlining any changes being implemented mid-year.

Summer Flounder Specifications

[joy luck]

This is federal for seabass, right? Is NJ/DE/MD still closed? I'd love to fish for them in Feb if any boats are going for them...

[torchee]

Offshore Feb would be great.

Just took a trip - it was all seabass...

Not Like Feb when there are some cod- pollock - many porgies as well

[torchee]

And Jersey needs to quickly change its rule...

Will that happen?

[tautog]

The way the sea bass are shooting South this year. They should not change the rule. Main biomass is going to wind up well south of Cape May which means 8 hr steams for the Central NJ boats.

[Finprof]

Virginia and North Carolina had seasons open until February last year.
The main body of sea bass appears to be off Maryland right now.

[bulletbob]

Originally Posted by tautog

The way the sea bass are shooting South this year. They should not change the rule. Main biomass is going to wind up well south of Cape May which means 8 hr steams for the Central NJ boats.

Interesting.. I have always considered sea bass as having more of an inshore in summer/offshore in winter migration pattern, and not so much of a north/south migration. bob

[Gerry Zagorski]

Regardless of what the fed does, it will be up to NJ to open up February or not... The last time this came up, NJ opted not to open it up since it would have negatively impacted the rest of the season with a shorter season or lower bag limits. The thought then was why jeopardize the normal season when more people fish for them for the few boats and people that would fish for them in Feb.

[ESFISH]

Virginia is going to have a Feb. season 15 fish @ 12.5".

[dales529]

Originally Posted by Gerry Zagorski

Regardless of what the fed does, it will be up to NJ to open up February or not... The last time this came up, NJ opted not to open it up since it would have negatively impacted the rest of the season with a shorter season or lower bag limits. The thought then was why jeopardize the normal season when more people fish for them for the few boats and people that would fish for them in Feb.

Thats correct. At a public meeting in November 2018 (very lightly attended as usual) it was discussed and NJ opted to NOT open Feb 2019 seabass as the harvest would have to be accounted for against either the spring or fall 2019 seasons which could have resulted in lost days on those seasons. There will be NO Feb season in NJ as decision was made in November