Saltwater Fishing & Boating Newsletter

In This Issue:

• Changes to Commercial Fishing Limits
• Get Involved and Become a Citizen Scientist
• Register for New York's Recreational Marine Fishing Registry
• Public Comment Period Deadlines 

Changes to Commercial Fishing Limits

For holders of New York State Horseshoe Crab Permit only.

• Effective Saturday, June 19, 2021, the daily trip limit is set to 75 crabs.
• This trip limit will remain in effect until further notice.

All horseshoe crab harvest must be reported on the vessel trip report (VTR). Weekly submission of horseshoe crab VTRs is required from April through July. If you need extra VTRs, or would like information on online reporting, please call 631-444-0857.

For holders of a Summer Flounder Permit only.

• Effective, Saturday, June 19, 2021, the daily trip limit is set at 210 pounds. 
• This daily trip limit will remain in effect until further notice.  

This action is taken pursuant to the quota distribution schedule of subdivision 40.1 (u)(1)(2) and 44.3 (b)(2) of 6 NYCRR.

Visit Commercial Harvest Limits for all current trip limits in effect. 

Get Involved and Become a Citizen Scientist

DEC offers a variety of opportunities to participate in marine science research and conservation efforts. Participating in citizen science programs offers hands-on experiences in data collection and research methods, while also providing valuable data to scientists to make informed decisions to better conserve important local marine species.

Learn about some of the projects you can help get involved with below: 

Artificial Reef Fishing & Diving Survey 

If you're fishing or diving on one of New York's artificial reefs, submit a digital survey of your observations. All the information you provide is important supplemental reef monitoring data and helps NYSDEC effectively manage and enhance our artificial reefs.

(Photo of fluke taken by Rob Schepis)

Atlantic Sturgeon Salvage Program

Report sightings of live or dead sturgeon to help us better understand the occurrence of Atlantic Sturgeon in New York's waters. Report sturgeon in the Hudson River to 845-256-3073 and in marine waters to 631-444-0444, or by emailing us.

Blue Crab Recreational Survey & Tagging Program

Do you fish recreationally for blue crab in New York's marine district? If so, we would like you to participate in our Volunteer Blue Crab Fishery Survey. Blue crabs are commonly targeted by recreational fishermen in New York, and monitoring catch and effort from the recreational community is vital to properly manage their populations. Also, if you catch a crab with a yellow-wired tag on it, please report it to DEC Blue Crab Tagging Program. 

Shark Spotter

Submit your observations of sharks in the wild to help biologists record their presence in New York State waters and further understand local shark ecology and behavior. If you are fishing, boating, or enjoying the beach and observe a shark, please report your sighting using the DEC Shark Spotter digital survey.

Striped Bass Cooperative Angler

By joining the Striped Bass Cooperative Anglers Program (SBCA), you can take part in an effort to help manage and maintain a healthy striped bass population. Volunteer anglers will record fishing trip information and take scale samples from striped bass to be submitted to DEC. At the end of the season, the data is used to determine the fishing effort and helps to assess the striped bass population in the region. 

Long Island Coastal Bioblitz

Seatuck Environmental Association, Long Island Sound Study, Peconic Estuary Partnership, South Shore Estuary Reserve, New York Sea Grant, and the Long Island Invasive Species Management Area (LIISMA) are hosting a bioblitz from June 26 to July 3, to engage the Long Island community in exploring all of the island’s incredible habitats and species diversity. The information collected during the bioblitz will help guide environmental groups in better preserving important habitats and wildlife. A training webinar will be provided on June 23 at 7:00 p.m. to introduce participants to the bioblitz format. For more information and to register for the training webinar, visit LI Coastal Bioblitz.

For more exciting citizen science opportunities, visit Wildlife Monitoring Network Long Island, a one-stop-shop for wildlife monitoring surveys that are conducted for species found throughout Long Island.

Register for New York's Recreational Marine Fishing Registry

The marine waters of New York host varied and exciting fishing opportunities for recreational anglers. Before going fishing, enroll in the annual no-fee Recreational Marine Fishing Registry.

The registry is required when fishing in the marine and coastal district waters or when fishing in the Hudson River and its tributaries for "migratory fish of the sea", such as striped bass. Register through DECALS online, by calling 1-866-933-2257, or visiting a License Issuing Agent. Also, be sure to always check New York's Recreational Saltwater Fishing Regulations for the current size limits, possession limits, and seasons.

When out on the water this summer, keep an eye out for NOAA Fisheries Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP) field interviewers that collect information on saltwater fishing activity at fishing access sites, such as boat ramps, docks, piers, bridges, and jetties. These shoreside interviews are part of the Access Point Angler Intercept Survey, which collects vital data used to produce estimates of total recreational catch. During the interview, an interviewer asks about your day of fishing and any fish you may have kept or released. They also weigh and measure the fish you kept - important information needed for fisheries stock assessments. All interviews are confidential, and interviewers play no role in law enforcement. Learn more about MRIP on NOAA Fisheries website. 

For more information on fishing in New York's marine waters, visit Saltwater Fishing. 

Public Comment Deadlines

Proposed Changes to Whelk Harvesting
Public Comment Deadline - June 21, 2021

DEC announced proposed changes to whelk harvesting regulations in New York's Marine and Coastal District to adopt a minimum size limit for whelk. The proposed changes will help protect immature females in the population and increase their potential to reach reproductive maturity. Proposed regulation changes include:

• Implementing a minimum size limit of 5½ inches in length or three inches in width for the harvest of channel and knobbed whelk.
• Mandatory use of bait bags in whelk traps to decrease the amount of horseshoe crabs needed for bait and lessen harvest pressure on New York's horseshoe crab population.
• Adopt gear and reporting regulations consistent with current rules for crab and lobster fisheries.

The proposed regulations and additional information are available on DEC's website. The proposal is available for public comment through June 21, 2021. Send written comments on the proposed regulations to:

Kim McKown
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
205 Belle Mead Road, Suite 1
East Setauket, NY 11733
Email: fw.marine@dec.ny.gov

Recreational Striped Bass Circle Hook Requirements
Public Comment Deadline - June 28, 2021

Effective April 21, 2021, anglers are required to use non-offset (inline) circle hooks when recreational fishing for striped bass with bait, which is defined as any whole or part of a marine or aquatic organism or terrestrial invertebrate. The full text of the regulation is available on DEC's website. The public comment period is open from May 12 through June 28, 2021.

• A non-offset (inline) circle hook means the point and barb of the hook are in the same plane as the shank and the tip of the hook is turned perpendicularly back toward the shank.
• Bait is defined as any whole or part of a marine or aquatic organism or terrestrial invertebrate, both live or dead.
• Circle hooks are not required when fishing with an artificial lure, whether or not they are tipped with bait as previously described.
• Some examples of artificial lure exemptions include pork rinds on bucktail jigs, eel skin plugs, tube and worm, and any man-made flies.

The full text of the regulation is available on DEC's website. The public comment period is open through June 28, 2021. Submit written comments to:

Carol Hoffman
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
Division of Marine Resources
205 N. Belle Mead Road, Suite 1, East Setauket, NY 11733
Email: FW.Marine@dec.ny.gov

Visit Recreational Saltwater Fishing Regulations for current regulations in effect.