2011 SCUP, BLACK SEA BASS, AND FLUKE REGULATIONS

The Commonwealth’s Marine Fisheries Advisory Commission met on April 7 and approved proposed regulations for commercial and recreational scup, black sea bass, and fluke management in 2011. The recreational black sea bass regulations also required approval by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, which was granted on April 20. Due to the late timing of the action, MarineFisheries is enacting emergency regulations for the upcoming season. These regulations will allow Massachusetts to remain in compliance with the interstate plans and in some cases to capitalize on more liberal catch limits allowed under the plans.

The following changes are in effect for 2011:

Commercial Scup: An increase of 50,000 pounds to the quota set-aside for the weir fishery; a doubling of the trip limits for all other authorized gears; replacement of Thursday with Wednesday as an open fishing day for the May fish pot and hook-and-line fishery; and a one-month earlier season opening for the summer directed fishery, with the addition of Sunday as a fishing day for the fish pot and hook-and-line fishery.

Commercial Scup	*Season* *(quota dependent)*	*Gear Type*	*Open Fishing Days*	*Possession Limit* (lbs)	*Size Limit*
	May - October	Fish Weir	All	275,000 in aggregate	9”
	April 23 – June 9	Trawlers during squid and fluke seasons	All	800
	June 10 – October 31	Trawlers during squid and fluke seasons	Sunday - Thursday	800
	May 1 – May 31	Fish pot and hook-and-line	Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday	400
	July 1 – October 31	Fish pot and hook-and-line	Sunday - Thursday	800

Commercial Black Sea Bass: For the spring fishery, extension of the season by seven days, replacement of Thursday with Wednesday as an open fishing day, and a 60 percent reduction to the daily trip limit for all gears. For the summer fishery, alignment of the possession limits with the spring fishery.

Commercial Black Sea Bass	*Season*	*Gear Type*	*Open Fishing Days*	*Possession Limit (lbs)*	*Size Limit*
	January – April	All authorized	All	100	12”
	May 1 – May 31	Fish pot & weir	Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday	200
	May 1 – May 31	All others authorized	Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday	80
	August 1 – Quota	Fish pot	Sunday - Thursday	200
	August 1 – Quota	All others authorized	Sunday - Thursday	80

Commercial Fluke: No changes from 2010 management.

Commercial Fluke	*Gear*	*Season*	*Minimum Size*	*Trip Limits (lbs)*
	Nets	February 1 – April 22	14”	w/o LOA: 500 w/ LOA: 2,000
	Nets	April 23 – June 9		100
	Longlines	April 23 – June 9		100
	Nets	June 10 – Quota		300
	Longlines	June 10 – Quota		200
	Handlines/Rod & Reel	June 10 – Quota		200

(LOA = letter of authorization)

Recreational Scup: No changes from 2010 management.

Recreational Scup	*Trip Type*	*Season*	*Possession Limit*	*Size Limit*
	Private	May 24 – September 26	10 fish (with 50 fish vessel limit)	10.5”
	For-hire	May 15 – June 18	40 fish	11”
	For-hire	June 19 – September 17	10 fish	11”

Recreational Black Sea Bass: A shortening of the season by 61 days (no November and December fishery), a decrease in the possession limit by 10 fish, and an increase in the minimum size limit by 1.5 inches.

Recreational Black Sea Bass	*Season*	*Possession Limit*	*Size Limit*
Recreational Black Sea Bass	May 22 – October 11	10 fish	14”

Recreational Fluke: A lengthening of the season by 24 days in September, and a decrease in the minimum size limit of one inch.

Recreational Fluke	*Season*	*Possession Limit*	*Size Limit*
Recreational Fluke	May 22 – September 30	5 fish	17.5”

Contact MarineFisheries for additional information at 617-626-1520 or visit the website at: www.mass.gov/marinefisheries.