The Division of Marine Fisheries (MarineFisheries) is increasing the commercial scup possession limit to 4,000-lbs. effective 0001 hours Friday, October 27th 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 989,014-lbs. being reached. MarineFisheries had increased the trip limit to 2,000-lbs. on September 20th (see MarineFisheries Advisory), but to date, just over 80% percent of the Commonwealth’s summer/fall quota has been harvested.

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.