At a June 4, 2009 business meeting the Massachusetts Marine Fisheries Advisory Commission (MFC) approved final measures for the 2009 scup, black sea bass and summer flounder (fluke) fisheries as well as a revised haddock minimum size and witch flounder commercial trip limit.

Scup, Black Sea Bass & Fluke
The MFC approved the Division’s proposals to:

1. increase the recreational minimum size for sea bass to 12 ½”;
2. increase the recreational minimum size for summer flounder to 18 ½” and establish the open season as July 1 – August 13;
3. establish a May 1 – May 24 spring sea bass commercial fishery during open-fishing days of Sunday, Tuesday & Thursday and a provision to have the Director establish the summer-time (August 1st and beyond) trip limits based on available quota;
4. reinstate the spring season black sea bass trip limit to 200-lbs. for fishermen using hook-and-line (limit also applies to catches from lobster traps);
5. amend the open-fishing days to  Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays for the May scup directed fishery;
6. amend the open-fishing days to  Monday through Thursday for the directed summer-fall scup fishery beginning August 1st;
7. increase of the commercial scup allocation to the weir sector to 177,000-lbs.; and
8. reinstate language establishing commercial scup and black sea bass daily possession limits as vessel limits that apply regardless of the number of commercial fishermen with scup or black sea bass special permits onboard.

Haddock & Witch Flounder
The MFC approved DMF’s proposal to implement as final an 18” minimum size for haddock harvested commercially and recreationally as well as a 1,000-lb. daily commercial trip limit for witch flounder (grey sole).