Saltwater Fishing & Boating Newsletter

Dive Deep into Shark Week

Shark Week 2019 is almost here and New York's marine waters provide important habitat to many shark species! Before shark fishing, you must apply for the NYS Recreational Marine Fishing Registry and an NMFS Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Permit.

NOAA Fisheries has increased the recreational minimum size limit for shortfin mako shark caught in federal waters (3 - 200 miles offshore) to 71 inches (fork length) for male sharks, and 83 inches (fork length) for female sharks. Visit NOAA’s website for information on how to determine the sex of a shark. 

Please remember, sharks with an interdorsal ridge (which is a visible line of raised skin between the two dorsal fins) are known as ridgeback sharks. All ridgeback sharks (except the tiger, oceanic whitetip, and smoothhound) are prohibited to target and possess. Dusky and sandbar (brown) sharks are commonly found ridgebacks that are prohibited from taking.

If you catch a prohibited shark, please remember the following best practices:

• Minimize your fight time and release time. Exhaustion can cause the shark to die. Do not delay the release to take pictures.
• Always keep the shark in the water. If fishing from shore, do not drag a shark beyond the surf zone. If fishing from a boat, keep the shark in the water alongside your boat facing into the current.
• If the shark is hooked in the jaw, use a long-handled de-hooking device to help with hook removal or bolt cutters to cut the hook.
• If it is not possible to remove the hook, cut the leader as close to the hook as safely as the situation allows. Long lengths of leader left with the shark decrease its chance of survival after it is released.
• Remember, “If you don’t know, let it go!”

Tagging sharks as a volunteer does not exempt you from state regulations. Special licenses are required for individuals to collect and tag prohibited species.

Visit DEC’s website to learn more about local shark species.

Watch Out for Whales

Attention All Marine Boaters! During the summer, there’s an increase of marine life off of our coasts, including large whales and dolphins. Humpback whales are one of the most common whale species found in New York’s waters. They can be found close to shore due to their diet of nearshore small fish and crustaceans, mainly menhaden (bunker) and krill. They are also commonly seen close to the surface, and display breaching (jumping out of the water) and slapping of their tail and fins, which scientists believe is a form of communication.

All whales are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, and members of the public are instructed to remain at least 500 yards (1,500 feet) away from North Atlantic right whales and at least 100 feet from all other whales. If a whale approaches you, please remember to idle your engine and not to re-engage power until the whale has cleared your path. Attempting to leave the area may interrupt natural behaviors such as feeding, nursing, resting, and traveling, or could result in a vessel strike causing harm to the whale and/or boat.

Please remember to be extra attentive to these animals when boating, for both the safety of the whales and yourself. For more information view NOAA’s marine viewing guidelines.

Report any sightings of marine mammals or sea turtles to DEC by using our Flipper Files digital survey. If you suspect a marine mammal or sea turtle is sick or injured, please call the New York Stranding Hotline at 631-369-9829 to report the animal.

Wanted: Blue Crab Fishing Information 

Have you caught a blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) with a yellow wire tag across its shell (carapace), as seen in the accompanying photo? This tag includes a specific number that identifies the individual crab and the date and location where the crab was initially tagged.

If you do capture a tagged crab, please contribute that information to the Blue Crab Tagging Program by answering a few quick questions about your catch. This information helps DEC investigate the migration patterns, habitat preferences, and life-history traits of blue crabs in New York's waters.

You can also help DEC collect important data by submitting information from each of your crabbing trips to the Digital Survey of Recreational Blue Crabbing. Simply fill out the quick and easy form on your internet-connected smartphone, tablet, or computer at the end of each of your crabbing trips. Remember to submit information for the trips where you don't catch any crabs. By participating in the digital survey, you will provide DEC's Division of Marine Resources staff with important data that we would otherwise be unable to collect.

For more information, visit Crabbing in New York!

Important Dates

Meetings

Marine Resources Advisory Council Meeting
Tuesday, July 23, 2019, 6 p.m.
Stony Brook University, Charles B. Wang Center
100 Nicolls Road, Stony Brook, NY 11794
(Google Maps)

Note: During this MRAC meeting, public comments will be accepted regarding the Commercial Fisheries Licensing Review. Please review a copy of the New York Marine Fisheries Licensing Report (PDF) that will be a topic of discussion at the meeting. In August 2019, DEC will host two additional meetings in both Suffolk and Nassau counties for stakeholders to review the report, ask questions, and provide verbal and written comments. Public comments on the report will be accepted through September 30, 2019. Provide written comments by e-mail to FW.Marine@dec.ny.gov with the subject line "GLP Permits," or by mail to Maureen Davidson, NYSDEC, 205 Belle Mead Road, Suite #1, East Setauket, New York 11733.

Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission Summer Meeting
August 6-8, 2019
The Westin Crystal City
1800 S. Eads Street, Arlington, VA 22202
(Google Maps)

Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council Meeting
August 13-15, 2019
Courtyard Philadelphia Downtown
21 N. Juniper Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107
(Google Maps)