New York DEC Announces Changes to 2012 Recreational Fishing Regulations
OutdoorHub 04.30.12
New recreational fishing regulations are now effective for summer flounder (fluke), scup (porgy) and black sea bass, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced today. These new regulations are less restrictive than current rules and specify changes to the minimum size limit, possession limit and open season for all three species.
Summer Flounder: The new regulations include a 4-fish possession limit, a 19.5-inch minimum size limit and a May 1 through September 30 open season.
“These regulation changes reflect improvements to populations of scup, black sea bass and summer flounder,” said DEC Assistant Commissioner for Natural Resources, Kathy Moser. “The scup population is particularly robust at this time, and we encourage anglers to get out on the water and enjoy the increased opportunity for anglers to bring home freshly caught fish.”
Scup: The new recreational scup season will run from May 1 through December 31. In addition, anglers will be able to keep 20 fish of 10½ inches or longer. Anglers fishing from licensed party and charter vessels must abide by an 11-inch minimum size limit for their 20 fish during the May 1 through December 31 season, but can take 40 fish during the months of September and October.
Black Sea Bass: The new regulations include a 15-fish possession limit and an open season from June 15 through December 31. The minimum size limit remains 13 inches.
New York State participates in the cooperative management of migratory marine fisheries as a member of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC). ASMFC adopts Interstate Fisheries Management Plans (FMP’s) for the prudent management and conservation of quota managed species along the Atlantic Coast. Under management by ASMFC and its member states, fluke, porgy and black sea bass stocks are rebuilt and should provide excellent recreational fishing opportunities now and into the future.
In order to take advantage of the opportunity to implement less restrictive regulations as soon as possible, these new rules are effective immediately and will be in place for 90 days. DEC has filed these regulations changes as rule-change proposals to extend these regulations beyond 90 days. The text of the new regulation will be published in the State Register on May 2, 2012 and is available on the DEC website http://www.dec.ny.gov/regulations/34113.html#part40e2. DEC will be accepting public comments on the new marine fish recreational regulations through June 18, 2012.
Recreational marine fishing regulations can be viewed on the DEC website http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/7894.html . For additional information, contact DEC Marine Resources Division at 631-444-0435.
