Due to declining catch rates during the last two weeks of the commercial striped bass fishery, the commercial landings taken through the August 16 th projected closure date fell short of the commercial quota by approximately 80,000 pounds. Therefore, MarineFisheries is re-opening the commercial striped bass fishery for two days starting at 0001 hours on Wednesday, August 29th through Thursday, August 30th.

The commercial fishery will re-close at 00:01 hours on Friday, August 31, 2007 and f ishermen will be prohibited from landing fish for commercial purposes until the 2008 fishery opens in July of 2008.

If you have already submitted your 2007 Striped Bass Catch Report, please submit another catch report to the MADMF Statistics Project with any additional catch and effort information. Catch reports are due no later than October 15, 2007, even if the permit was not fished. These reports should be sent to DMF Statistics Project, 30 Emerson Ave , Gloucester , MA 01930 . Please ensure that a catch report is received by MarineFisheries no later than the deadline. Failure to submit a timely 2007 striped bass catch report may result in the non-renewal of a striped bass endorsement for 2008. Blank forms and instructions were mailed out at the beginning of the 2007 striped bass season, but additional forms can be obtained from the MarineFisheries web site at:

http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dmf/commercialfishing/cr_striped_bass_2007.pdf
or by calling the Statistics Project at (978) 282-0308 (ext. 115).

Dealers are reminded that all striped bass imported into Massachusetts shall meet or exceed 34” through September 4th. After September 4th all striped bass imported into Massachusetts must be tagged designating the state of origin and shall meet or exceed the minimum size in place for the state of origin.