The Division of Marine Fisheries (MarineFisheries) has projected that 100% of the Commonwealth’s scup quota for the summer/fall fishery will be taken by Thursday, August 14, 2008. Consequently, fishermen are prohibited from landing or possessing scup for commercial purposes effective 0001 hours on Friday, August 15. Note, federally permitted commercial fishermen have been prohibited from landing or possessing scup since NOAA Fisheries closed the summer period federal fishery on June 16, 2008.

The federally-managed Winter II period opens on November 1st with a possession limit of 2,000-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 inshore.

Recreational fishermen are reminded that the scup recreational fishery will be closed beginning September 18 for anglers aboard for-hire vessels and beginning September 27 for anglers aboard private vessels or fishing from shore. Dealers are reminded that it is unlawful to purchase scup from Massachusetts commercial fishermen when the fishery is closed.

Quota totals and regulations can be monitored through the MarineFisheries web site.