The Division of Marine Fisheries (MarineFisheries) will increase the commercial scup possession limit to 1,000-lbs. effective Sunday, September 9th through the summer/fall quota period that ends on October 31st or when the quota is reached, whichever comes first. This action is being taken to increase fishing opportunities and support harvest of the full May-October commercial quota of 1,025,645 pounds. Note, Fridays and Saturdays remain no-fishing days.

Through September 1 st, just under 53% 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 13,000 lbs. per day.

On November 1st, the federally managed Winter II period opens. Due to un-harvested quota from the Winter I period, the Winter II trip limit has been increased to 3,500-lbs. per trip as approved by NOAA Fisheries and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. By November, the fishery is predominately in offshore (federal) waters when scup migrate to deeper waters in response to dropping temperatures.