Saltwater Fishing Newsletter

In This Issue:

• New York's Marine Recreational Angler Records Program
• Changes to Commercial Fishing Limits
• Watch Out for Whales in New York Waters
• Proposed Offshore Wind Development Virtual Meetings 
• ASMFC & MAFMC Annual Summer Meeting Summaries
• Northern New York Bight Port Access Route Study Public Meetings

New York's Marine Recreational Angler Records Program

From deep, offshore ocean waters to surfcasting on sandy beaches, New York's marine waters offer exciting world-class saltwater fishing opportunities.

The Marine Recreational Angler Records Program recognizes exceptional saltwater fish and blue crab caught in New York, including long-standing state records for the heaviest fish and annual awards for the longest fish of a qualifying species. 

Think you caught record-breaking fish? Review the rules of entry, current records, and qualifying lengths on DEC's website: New York Marine Recreational Angler Records Rules (PDF).

To submit your catch information to DEC, use the online entry form.

DEC has received three new state records in 2021 for marine fish. Congratulations to the following anglers for catching New York State Record fish!

• 18.05 lb. false albacore caught by Jason Fassino on June 15, 2021
• 68.25 lb. golden tilefish caught by Robert Foley on July 11, 2021
• 97.40 lb. cobia caught by Daniel McMahon on July 24, 2021

Be sure to check New York's Recreational Saltwater Fishing Regulations for the current open season and size limit regulations before you head out on your next fishing trip. Anglers 16 years and older must enroll in the no-fee Recreational Marine Fishing Registry, register through DECALS online, by calling 1-866-933-2257, or visiting a License Issuing Agent. 

Photo caption: Robert Foley weighing the new state record 68.25-pound golden tilefish. 

Changes to Commercial Fishing Limits

The following changes only apply to New York State commercial fishing permit holders. For information on commercial fishing permits and licenses, contact DEC Marine Permit Office at MPO@dec.ny.gov or call 631-444-0470. 

Black Sea Bass

• Effective August 23, 2021, and until further notice, two (2) Food Fish License holders are permitted per vessel to possess and land the black sea bass trip limit of 70 pounds each on any one calendar day.
• To clarify, two trip limits (currently up to 140 lbs. total) of black sea bass, may be on board a vessel, if there are two (2) Food Fish license holders on board at that time.

Holders of the Summer Flounder Permit

• Effective August 23, 2021, the daily trip limit for summer flounder is increased to 350 lbs. This trip limit will remain in effect until further notice.  

Holders of the Commercial Horseshoe Crab Permit 

• Effective September 1, 2021, the daily limit for commercial horseshoe crab is increased to 250 crab. This 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 DEC’s website for the current Commercial Harvest Limits in effect.

Watch Out for Whales in New York Waters

New York’s marine waters are home to various marine life, including large whales!

Whales are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, and boaters must stay at least 500 yards (1,500 feet) away from North Atlantic right whales and at least 100 yards from all other whales. If a whale approaches you, 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. For more information visit, NOAA’s Marine Life Viewing Guidelines. 

Report all 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, call the New York Stranding Hotline at 631-369-9829 to report the animal. 

NOAA Fisheries announced a new and extended voluntary right whale Slow Zone in response to the Center for Coastal Studies aerial survey team sighting the presence of right whales south and southeast of Nantucket, MA on August 16, 2021. The Slow Zones are in effect immediately through August 31, 2021. Mariners are requested to avoid or transit at 10 knots or less inside the following areas. Visit NOAA's website for more information.

Proposed Offshore Wind Development Virtual Meetings 

The U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) announced a proposed sale for offshore wind development on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) in the New York Bight. The proposed lease areas have the potential to unlock over seven gigawatts of offshore wind energy, powering more than 2.6 million homes and supporting thousands of new jobs. 

BOEM's Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) evaluates the potential impacts of the issuance of commercial and research leases within the nearly 800,000-acre wind energy areas (WEAs) of the New York Bight. The release of the EA initiates a 30-day public comment period that ends on September 9, 2021. BOEM will be hosting two virtual meetings where you can learn more about the draft EA, ask questions, and provide oral testimony.

The virtual meetings will be held on:

• Tuesday, August 24, 2021, at 1:00 p.m. Eastern
• Wednesday, August 25, 2021, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern

For more information on participating in the virtual meetings or providing written comments, please see BOEM's NY Bight Virtual Meeting Room.

ASMFC & MAFMC Annual Summer Meeting Summaries

New York State manages numerous marine fisheries cooperatively with neighboring states and federal agencies. DEC participates in the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC), which provide cooperative management of marine species on the Atlantic Coast. These organizations meet several times a year and provide recommendations and determinations on fishery status and fishery management plans (FMPs). Below is a summary of actions taken during recent meetings:

Striped Bass

ASMFC's Striped Bass Management Board determined states achieved Addendum VI’s goal of reducing total removals relative to 2017 levels, reaching an estimated 28% reduction in total removals coastwide. The Board also initiated a Draft Addendum VII to Amendment 6 to consider allowing voluntary transfer of commercial striped bass quota between states or jurisdictions that have a commercial quota.

Draft Amendment 7 of the Atlantic Striped Bass FMP has also been initiated to reflect current fishery needs and priorities reflected in Amendment 6 that was developed in 2003. Topics under consideration for Draft Amendment 7 include recreational release mortality, conservation equivalency, management triggers, and intends to build on actions to end overfishing and initiate rebuilding in Addendum VI. The Board’s next opportunity to meet and consider approval for public comment of Draft Amendment 7 and Draft Addendum VII to Amendment 6 will be in October during ASMFC's Annual Meeting.

Black Sea Bass

MAFMC approved a 1% increase in New York’s black sea bass commercial allocation, bringing New York’s baseline share of the coastwide quota to 8%. In March 2021, New York appealed the original allocation changes, arguing that New York's baseline quota should be increased, just as Connecticut's baseline allocation was increased to adjust for the disparity between allocation and increased availability of black sea bass in Long Island Sound.

This action modifies the state-by-state commercial quota allocations that had been previously approved through the MAFMC's Black Sea Bass Commercial State Allocation Amendment and ASMFC's Addendum XXXIII to the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan. The Council will forward its revised recommendations to NOAA Fisheries for final approval. Visit ASMFC's website for a table containing the revised state allocations of the black sea bass commercial quota and the complete Summer 2021 Meeting Summary (PDF).

Photo captions: Illustrations of Atlantic striped bass and black sea bass provided by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC).

Northern New York Bight Port Access Route Study Public Meetings

The United States Coast Guard (USCG) conducts Port Access Route Studies (PARS) whenever changes are proposed for ports within the territorial seas. The U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security may designate or adjust fairways and Traffic Separation Schemes (TSS) to provide safe access routes for vessel traffic. The designation or adjustment of fairways and TSS recognizes the paramount right of navigation over all other uses in the designated areas.

A Notice announcing the Draft Northern New York Bight PARS has been published in the Federal Register and seeks public comments through August 30, 2021. The First Coast Guard District is hosting in-person public meetings to provide an opportunity for oral comments:

• Tuesday, August 24, 2021, 4:00 PM
  Montauk Fire District
  12 Flamingo Avenue
  Montauk, New York 
• Wednesday, August 25, 2021, 4:00 PM
  Portuguese Holy Ghost Society
  26 Main Street
  Stonington, Connecticut

For more information, please see the USCG Northern New York Bight PARS Meeting Notice.