The Division of Marine Fisheries (MarineFisheries) issued a notice on May 31st that the commercial black sea bass fishery would close effective 0001 hours on Tuesday, June 5, 2007 through July 31, 2007 . Consequently, the fishery for scup is closed for those fishermen using hook-and-line and fish pots until August 1. Regulations allow scup retention (200 lbs.) for fishermen using sea bass pots or hook and- line during the open sea bass fishing days and season. However, retention is not allowed when the sea bass fishery is closed through July 31 st .

On August 1 st the directed scup fishery will open for hook and line and pot fishermen at a 400-lb. possession limit. The summer/fall black sea bass season will also re-open on August 1 st at a 500 lb. trip limit for pots, 200 lbs. for hook-and-liners, and 100 lbs. for coastal lobster fishermen using lobster pots. No-fishing days in both fisheries will be Friday and Saturday.

For further information including quota totals and regulations please visit the MarineFisheries web site at: www.mass.gov/marinefisheries.

Scup Trip Limits

* Weir landings are regulated by a fishery-wide set-aside of 225,000 lbs.