Saltwater Fishing & Boating News

New Federal Rules for Recreational and Commercial Shark Fishing

Starting January 1st, 2018:

• Highly Migratory Species (HMS) permit holders who fish for shark recreationally will need to obtain a shark endorsement, which requires completion of an online shark identification and fishing regulation training course.
• HMS permit holders with a shark endorsement will be required to use non-offset, non-stainless steel circle hooks while fishing for sharks recreationally in federal waters (3 – 200 miles offshore) south of 41°43’N latitude (Chatham, MA), except when fishing with flies or artificial lures
• Commercial HMS directed shark permit holders using bottom longline gear will also be required to use circle hooks.

See new NOAA fisheries requirements, and Highly Migratory Species permit information.

New York State already requires that sharks, excluding spiny dogfish, shall not be taken for commercial or recreational purposes by baited hooking except with the use of non-stainless steel non-offset circle hooks in state waters (0 – 3 miles offshore). Also, no person shall conduct, sponsor or participate in any shark tournament unless said tournament’s rules and regulations require the exclusive use of non-stainless steel, non-offset circle hooks.

For more information about shark fishing in New York State, please visit the DEC website.

New Federal Charter and Party Vessel Electronic Reporting

Starting March 12, 2018, all federally permitted for-hire vessels fishing for the below managed species must submit electronic vessel trip reports.

Vessels with Federal charter or party permits for any of the following species will be bound by this rule: Atlantic mackerel, Black sea bass, Bluefish, Butterfish, Scup, Squid, Summer Flounder, and Tilefish.

New York Boat Show

Come visit us at the annual New York Boat Show! The show is at at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, (625 W 34th St., New York City) and starts Wednesday, January 24 and runs through Sunday, January 28. Show hours are 12:00 PM – 9:00 PM on weekdays, 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM on Saturday, and 10:00 AM – 6:00 AM on Sunday.

Important Dates

Meetings

Hearing on Lobster Draft Addendum XXVI
Thursday January 9, 2018 6:30 PM – 10:30 PM
NYSDEC Division of Marine Resources
205 N Belle Mead Road, Suite 1 East Setauket, NY 11733

The American Lobster Management Board initiated the addendum to improve harvest reporting and biological data collection in the American lobster fishery.

Hearing on Black Sea Bass Draft Addendum XXX
Thursday January 11, 2018 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
NYSDEC Division of Marine Resources
205 N Belle Mead Road, Suite 1 East Setauket, NY 11733

The draft addendum considers alternative regional management approaches for the recreational fishery including options for regional allocation of the recreational harvest limit (RHL) based on historical harvest and exploitable biomass.

Marine Resource Advisory Council
Tuesday January 23, 2018 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM
NYSDEC Division of Marine Resources
205 N Belle Mead Road, Suite 1 East Setauket, NY 11733

Check the Council website (https://you.stonybrook.edu/mrac/) for more information.