The Division of Marine Fisheries (MarineFisheries) will increase the commercial scup possession limit to 2,000-lbs. effective Sunday, September 24 through the end of the summer/fall quota period that ends on October 31 or when the quota is reached. This action will increase scup landings to improve the chances of the May-October commercial quota of 989,014-lbs. being reached. Please note that Friday and Saturday remain no-fishing days.

To date, just under 65 percent of the 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 48,000 lbs. per week. At the current rate, about 25% of the summer/fall quota would go unused unless these adjustments were made.

On November 1, the federally managed Winter II period opens and the trip limit will be 6,500 lbs. (see September 8th MarineFisheries Advisory). By November, the fishery is predominately in offshore (federal) waters when scup migrate to deeper waters in response to dropping temperatures.