MarineFisheries will increase the commercial scup possession limit to 800-lbs. on Monday September 12 through the end of the summer/fall quota period that ends on October 31. Also the rule governing no-fishing days (Saturday and Sunday) will be lifted. This action will increase scup landings to improve the chances of the May-October commercial quota of 1,062,132 lbs. being reached.

To date, less than 50 percent summer/fall quota has been harvested. The management goal to protect spawning fish from directed fisheries during May – July has contributed to the low landings. The directed fishery, primarily prosecuted by fish pots and hook and line, opened on August 1 and has averaged about 50,000 lbs. per week. At the current rate, about 30% of the summer/fall quota would go unused unless these adjustments were made.

On November1, the federally managed Winter II period opens and the trip limit will be 1,500 lbs. unless raised by MarineFisheries to be consistent with federal rules. By November, the fishery is predominately in offshore (federal) waters when scup migrate to deeper waters in response to dropping temperatures.