The Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) is seeking public input on potential regulations for Massachusetts’ 2016 recreational black sea bass fishery. A mandatory harvest reduction of 23% compared to the state’s estimated 2015 harvest is required.
There are numerous combinations of changes to the possession limit, size limit, and season that could achieve the required reduction. This Advisory aims to provide a range of possible options. The final regulations may differ from all presented options based on public input. Not all presented options have been approved for use by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, which is required before state implementation. DMF’s goal is to announce the 2016 regulations by mid-March.
Public input can be provided by either attending a February 26 Scoping Meeting or submitting written comments by March 3 (Midnight). Details are below.
Scoping Meeting
February 26, 2016
1:00 PM
Hyannis Doubletree Hotel
287 Iyannough Road
Hyannis, MA
Written Comment (March 3 Deadline)
Address to: David Pierce, DMF Director
251 Causeway Street, 4th Floor
Boston, MA 02114
Email: marine.fish@state.ma.us
Fax: (617) 626-1509
Challenges
Enacting regulations that are projected to reduce harvest is relatively straightforward but accommodating all the various stakeholders is not. Black sea bass are not evenly distributed in time and space within Massachusetts, so amending the open season or possession limit can have uneven impacts on user groups. In addition, catch rates in recent years have been substantially higher in May and June than the later summer and fall months. Consequently, shortening the season from the front end is projected to achieve more reduction in harvest than cutting the same number of days from the tail end of the season.
Moreover, the desires of the various fishery participants are wide-ranging. Regulatory preferences are often based on fishing mode (shore, private vessel, charter and party boats) and geographic location. For example, testimony from past public hearings has revealed several trends, including:
• Many anglers that fish from shore or a private vessel favor a longer season at a lower bag limit to a shorter season at a higher bag limit.
• Certain charter and party vessel operators on the South Shore and Cape Cod place priority on having a spring fishery (opening mid-May) at the highest bag limit possible, at the expense of season length, in order to meet the demands of their clients. They indicate that an early season closure for black sea bass is acceptable because other fish are available and targeted in summer and fall.
• Some charter and party vessel operators (e.g., from Nantucket) would forgo a spring fishery in order to have a season throughout summer and early fall, because black sea bass don’t tend to arrive locally until the summer months. The tourists that comprise their clientele show a similar seasonality and are satisfied with a low possession limit.
Options
With an understanding of the traditional views of the various user groups and angler types, DMF has devised the following array of options to reduce recreational black sea bass harvest in Massachusetts by the required rate in 2016. Note that proposals only include amendments to season and possession limit. An increase in the minimum size limit is not on the table due to concerns about effectiveness in reducing harvest and non-compliance. For reference, Massachusetts’ 2015 regulations are listed first.
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Fishing Mode |
Open Season |
Possession Limit |
Minimum Size |
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2015 Regulations |
All private anglers and for-hire patrons |
May 23–August 27 (97 days) |
8 fish |
14” |
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SINGLE MODE, UNIFORM POSSESSION LIMIT Options A–D apply a single set of regulations to all anglers, whether fishing from shore, private vessel, or hired vessel (charter or party boat). A uniform possession limit applies throughout the open season. |
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Fishing Mode |
Open Season |
Possession Limit |
Minimum Size |
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Option A |
All private anglers and for-hire patrons |
May 21–July 1 (42 days) |
8 fish |
14” |
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This option provides the same opening date (third Saturday of May) and bag limit as 2015. Because of high angler effort and black sea bass catchability in May and June, this option requires closing the fishery 55 days earlier than in 2015. |
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Option B |
All private anglers and for-hire patrons |
May 28–July 29 (63 days) |
8 fish |
14” |
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This option demonstrates how, compared to Option A, delaying the opening date by one week adds 28 days to the end of the season, for a net gain of 21 days. A season beginning on May 28 includes the Memorial Day Holiday Weekend (May 28–30). |
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Option C |
All private anglers and for-hire patrons |
May 21–September 5 (108 days) |
3 fish |
14” |
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This option provides the same opening date (third Saturday of May) as 2015 at a reduced possession limit in order to extend the season through the Labor Day Holiday Weekend (September 3–5). If the opening date were May 28 instead, the season could extend through September 13. |
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Option D |
All private anglers and for-hire patrons |
May 28–August 20 (85 days) |
5 fish |
14” |
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This option takes two weeks off the season compared to 2015, one at the beginning and one at the end, which allows a possession limit of 5 fish. |
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SINGLE MODE, IN-SEASON DECREASE IN THE POSSESSION LIMIT Options E–G apply a single set of regulations to all anglers, whether fishing from shore, private vessel, or hired vessel (charter or party boat). The possession limit is split into two sub-periods, starting at a higher limit when black sea bass are generally most available in Massachusetts, then decreasing to a lower limit in order to maintain a longer season. Because recreational fishing data are collected in two-month periods (January/February, March/April, etc.), the split occurs after June 30. |
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Fishing Mode |
Open Season |
Possession Limit |
Minimum Size |
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Option E |
All private anglers and for-hire patrons |
May 21–June 30 |
6 fish |
14” |
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July 1–July 24 |
2 fish |
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With the same opening date (third Saturday of May) as 2015, this option provides a 65-day season, with 41 days at 6-fish and then 24 days at 2-fish. |
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Option F |
All private anglers and for-hire patrons |
May 28–June 30 |
6 fish |
14” |
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July 1–September 2 |
2 fish |
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This option provides 33 more days than Option E by delaying the opening date by one week. Total season length is 98 days (similar to 2015), with 34 days at 6-fish and 64 days at 2-fish. The last open day would be the Friday before the Labor Day Holiday Weekend (September 3–5). |
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Option G |
All private anglers and for-hire patrons |
May 28–June 30 |
5 fish |
14” |
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July 1–September 6 |
2 fish |
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Compared to Option F, this option includes the Labor Day Holiday Weekend by setting the initial possession limit at 5 fish instead of 6 fish. Total season length is 102 days (34 days at 5-fish and 68 days at 2-fish). |
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TWO MODES Options H and I provide different regulations for private anglers and for-hire vessel patrons. Any of Options H1-H4 can be combined with any of Options I1-I4. These options were developed in response to various for-hire permit holders’ requests to have separate regulations applicable to patrons aboard their vessels to accommodate consumer demand and business needs. |
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Fishing Mode |
Open Season |
Possession Limit |
Minimum Size |
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Option H |
(1) |
Private anglers only |
May 21–August 14 (86 days) |
4 fish |
14” |
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(2) |
Private anglers only |
May 21–September 3 (106 days) |
3 fish |
14” |
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(3) |
Private anglers only |
May 28–September 2 (98 days) |
4 fish |
14” |
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(4) |
Private anglers only |
May 28–September 10 (106 days) |
3 fish |
14” |
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These options for anglers fishing from shore or private vessel compare the possible seasons at 3-fish and 4-fish possession limits, beginning either the same day as 2015 (third Saturday of May) or a one-week delay. |
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Option I |
(1) |
For-hire patrons only |
May 21–June 24 (35 days) |
8 fish |
14” |
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(2) |
For-hire patrons only |
May 21–June 30 |
4 fish |
14” |
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July 1–September 4 |
2 fish |
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(3) |
For-hire patrons only |
May 28–June 30 |
4 fish |
14” |
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July 1–October 10 |
2 fish |
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(4) |
For-hire patrons only |
May 28–June 30 |
6 fish |
14” |
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July 1–September 8 |
2 fish |
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These options for anglers fishing aboard for-hire vessels compare possible seasons at a single possession limit (8 fish, same as 2015) and several dual possession limits. At a 4-fish and then 2-fish possession limit, Options I2 and I3 demonstrate how delaying the opening date by one week affects season length (107 days vs. 136 days). Option I4 provides a higher starting bag limit than Options I2 and I3 and a total season length of 104 days, from the Memorial Day Holiday Weekend to just after the Labor Day Holiday Weekend. |
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The Division recognizes that all options require a sacrifice from one or more user groups. We join all stakeholders in hoping that the 2016 Benchmark Stock Assessment for black sea bass will reflect the true stock abundance of this species and result in a more realistic Recreational Harvest Limit for 2017, allowing for more liberal regulations at that time.
I would like to see option H 1, gives a long season, no one needs more than 3 fish.
Awesome post.
im for a longer season and lower bag limit
Option D would be my choice. Be able to get a few on each outing during the entire season that most of us Recs fish.
H1 , sad to say I’ve seen people catch their limit everyday and take more than they need to eat in a year the the rest is freezer Burned then goes in the trash. Saw people complaining of usi g crazy amounts of gas to go on an outing for these things. They are close to shore and keeper sized, Kayak distance. These fish need a break or they will end like the stripers in the past.
Encourage all OTW readers to send in their opinion via email to marine.fish@state.ma.us
I wrote in today and told them my preference is Option F. In late summer we catch sea bass as bycatch while fishing for other species; at least a chance to keep some. Though most of the bycatch happens in the fall when targeting tog and none of the options allow anglers to keep a large sea bass caught in the fall. Hopefully indeed this year’s Benchmark Assessment will help Fisheries Management folk to make better limits for the 2017 season.
option B, along with a size increase………………..PUNISH POACHERS MORE SEVERELY
Options D or F are the choices that seem most fair to all anglers. We use a Food Saver and still have quite a few nice sea bass fillets from last season. Other anglers I know also use similar means to freeze fish throughout the winter.
Option A
I’m for a longer season with 3 to 4 fish limit. I believe the commercial rod and reel regulations and limits need to be addressed as well.
My choice would be Option C for a longer season.
I agree with pretty much all the options if it protects our fisheries.I’ve been fishing for seabass for years don’t have any problems finding them the last six or seven seasons have been excellent! I haven’t seen any reduction in seabass fisherie?
H1 would be my choice. 3 fish per person is plenty. Also poachers need to be prosecuted. I have seen lots of violations to marine fisheries
Option C makes sense to me. 3 fish are enough. Why not increase the size limit to 15″? I think this would make a big difference.
If we are to save on our Seabass numbers I would go H-opt. 3 for Private and I-opt.3 for hire just to keep it a plain grounds and everybody enjoy’s while at the same time conserves for our future fisherman which are our children!
I would prefer option B. No way H or I. Why should someone on a party boat be able to catch more sea bass than a private fisherman? That is totally unfair. That’s not done for haddock on a deep-sea boat. Why should sea bass be different? Deep-six H and I. Now I live 100 miles from the ocean. It takes me a lot of planning, time, effort, and money to put together a salt water fishing trip in my 1963 16′ aluminum boat. I want to maximize my time on the water with a catch of 8 fish. I think if you were in the same situation you would too. Those of you who live close to the ocean, you can go many more times than I can and might be OK with a 3 fish limit. I do well to get to the salt water once in a summer. Twice rarely happens for me. And I am by myself since the rest of the family hates fishing and boats. Sorry – 3 fish is not enough. And I never even got my limit anyhow except once with the past regulations. That’s because I am a really bad fisherman. If there were more like me – you wouldn’t need strict regulations. Also I don’t waste fish. I have a vacuum sealer that keeps the fish very fresh – no freezer burn or throw away. I do not throw away edible fish or let them rot. That is a travesty. If fact, I do not throw away the carcasses. Just the guts. I make fish stock with the heads and bones.
Option C Longer season and lower bag limit. 3 Fish limit is fine
Therefore if you should be buying recreation with limitless items please feel liberated to obtain it
below.
I’m in favor of option A. I work two jobs and don’t make it out as much as I’d like. There is no way I want to put the boat in the water for 3 fish. With a shorter season maybe it will be easier to crack down on the idiots that feel the need to poach.
Is it the new fashionable PC thing to do to support all proposed regulation even if a species is thriving? This is the most common fish in our waters! Please take up golf if you don’t enjoy harvesting such a tasty plentiful fish.
I would go with option 14 ,but regulate commercial bag limit for party boats etc.. recreational fisherman like myself,love this tasty fish,its a wonderful food source, its by chance,u hit a day where u catch more than 4 or 5 any way, 4 or 5 at 14 inces or more is plenty of fish, limit the party boat take to 3 or 4,they are the ones bottom fishing all summer long with 20 or more people at a time can easiliy over harvest a breeding pod of this precious fish. certainly never allow this fish to be sold commercially
I would vote for option C (longer season – fewer fish) but if at all possible close 1-2 days during the week in order to increase the bag limit to 4-5 fish. 4 fish a day is plenty when you have to fillet your fish and your guests… lol!
option C, less fish catch em more often
option B