Saltwater Fishing & Boating Newsletter

In This Issue:

• New Recreational Summer Flounder Regulations
• Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Team Meeting May 9-13
• New Whelk Regulations Adopted on May 11, 2022
• Hashamomuck Marine Waterway Access Site is Open
• Plastic Pollution and You: NY Sea Grant Curriculum 
• Upcoming Meetings

New Recreational Summer Flounder Fishing Regulations

DEC announced new recreational saltwater fishing regulations for the summer flounder (fluke) season that began on May 1. Changes will provide more opportunities for anglers by extending the season a total of 12 fishing days to end on Oct. 9, 2022, and decreasing the minimum size limit by half an inch.

The New York State recreational summer flounder season in 2022 is open from May 1 to October 9, 2022, and anglers are allowed four fish at a minimum size limit of 18.5 inches in response to new interstate fishery management plan requirements. New York State’s recreational regulations for summer flounder are the same as Connecticut’s regulations to maintain consistency in the Long Island Sound and maximize the benefit to recreational anglers and associated industries.

The complete text of the rulemaking is available on DEC's website. DEC is accepting comments on the regulations from May 18, 2022, through July 18, 2022. Written comments can be sent by mail to Rachel Sysak, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, 123 Kings Park Blvd., Kings Park, NY 11754 or by email to fw.marine@dec.ny.gov.

For the current regulations in effect, check DEC’s Recreational Saltwater Fishing Regulations. Anglers must enroll in the annual no-fee Recreational Marine Fishing Registry before going fishing in New York's 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). Anglers can enroll for the registry online or by phone or by visiting a license issuing agent location.

Looking for A Spot to Go Saltwater Fishing?

Find fishing locations using DEC's Marine Boat Ramp and Fishing Access Interactive Map and for additional information, visit Public Access to New York's Marine Waters. 

Submit Your Catches to DEC's Marine Recreational Angler Records Program! 

If you catch a large fish or crab in New York, DEC wants to hear from you! Visit DEC's Marine Recreational Angler Records Program for program details and information on how to submit your fishing information.

New Whelk Regulations Adopted on May 11

Effective May 11, 2022, the minimum size limit for whelk is 5 ½ inches shell length or 2 ¼ inches shell height for all marine waters of New York State except Long Island Sound Region (LIS). 

Effective August 1, 2022, the minimum size limit for whelk in LIS is 4 ¾ inches shell length or 1 15/16 inches shell height. Shell length will increase by ¼ inch every other year through 2028 to coordinate with Connecticut.

The LIS includes all marine and coastal district waters lying east of the Throgs Neck Bridge and west of a line that runs from Orient Point, NY to Watch Hill, RI. 

Additional regulations changes:

• A bait saving device is required to contain horseshoe crabs or horseshoe crab parts used for bait in whelk pots or traps.
• Establishes gear marking requirements consistent with New York State commercial crab and lobster fisheries.
• A buoy line must be constructed so that the line does not float at the surface, such as a sinking line or weighted line.
• Whelk pots or traps cannot exceed a volume larger than 22,950 cubic inches.
• Whelk cannot be taken by whelk pots or traps one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise.
• Whelk pots or traps cannot be placed within 25 feet of designated navigation channels.
• Clarification that marine and coastal district food fish and crustacea dealers and shippers license holders must report purchases of marine food fish, crustacea, horseshoe crabs, and whelks from harvesters consistent with requirements currently in place in 6 NYCRR Parts 40 and 44.

The complete text of the new regulations can be found on DEC’s website. Please contact Kim McKown at kim.mckown@dec.ny.gov or 631-444-0454 for additional information or questions regarding the regulations.

Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Team Meeting May 9-13

NOAA Fisheries is preparing to reduce the risk of large whale entanglement in gillnet, Atlantic mixed species trap/pot and Mid-Atlantic lobster and Jonah crab trap/pot fisheries. These measures must reach a minimum 90 percent risk reduction for the endangered North Atlantic right whale. Potential modifications include seasonal area closures and/or gear modifications (such as weak buoy lines, trawling up, and gear markings).

Determinations will be made by the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Team (ALWTRT) meeting next week and New York's commercial fisheries may be affected by the outcome of this meeting.

The webinar meeting is open to the public, but participation is limited to remarks or input during public comment periods. Register for the meeting online. 

Hashamomuck Marine Waterway Access Site is Open

DEC announced the opening of the Hashamomuck Marine Waterway Access Site in the town of Southold, Suffolk County. The site is DEC's first and only unrestricted waterway access site on the Peconic Estuary and will provide public fishing and recreational boating access to this popular waterbody.

The Hashamomuck Marine Waterway Access Site is a 3.2-acre waterfront property located at 750 Old Main Road, Southold, and now includes a public boat ramp, canoe and kayak launch, boat pump-out station, washdown station, fishing pier and observation platform, accessible pathway, restrooms, and 37-vehicle parking lot for 31 trailers and six vehicles. These amenities are universally accessible and available to the public free of charge. 

DEC purchased the Southold property, formerly known as The Old Barge Restaurant, in 2012 from the Reiter family of Mattituck. The purchase and construction were funded with a Sport Fish Restoration Program grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), matched by State funding. In addition, a generous charitable donation from the Carl D. and Helen Reiter and Reiter-Denson families helped DEC acquire the parcel.

For more information, visit DEC's Marine Waterway Access Sites webpage. 

Plastic Pollution and You: NY Sea Grant Curriculum 

New York Sea Grant published “Plastic Pollution and You,” a 15-lesson curriculum focused on a human-induced threat to the health of New York’s marine and freshwater aquatic ecosystems. 

The curriculum is designed to be appropriate for multiple grade levels, meets New York State and Next Generation Learning Standards, and aligns with New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) New York Ocean Action Plan and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Marine Debris Program initiatives. Funding for this curriculum development was provided through New York State’s Environmental Protection Fund administered by DEC. Skills developed through the curriculum lessons include data collection, charting, mapping, position statement preparation, and the design of technological solutions, behavior change campaigns, public policy, and community-level action to address the plastic pollution problem.

Check out NY SeaGrant's YouTube Video for more information on the curriculum. To receive a copy, please submit a request using the Plastic Pollution & You Curriculum Request Form.

Upcoming Meetings

NOAA Fisheries Black Sea Bass Stakeholder Meeting Webinar

The Black Sea Bass Working Group will hold a virtual stakeholder to provide an overview of the black seas bass assessment and highlight stakeholder input. 

• Date: Monday, May 16 at 1 p.m.
  RSVP: To join this meeting, please register using this RSVP link before May 13, 2022.
  If you are unable to attend but would like to add a question or comment you can submit one via the RSVP link. 

Marine Resources Advisory Council Meeting

• Date: Tuesday, May 17 at 2 p.m.
  Location: DEC Division of Marine Resources 123 Kings Park Blvd, Kings Park

A link to listen to the meeting will be available on DEC's website prior to the meeting. Once available, a complete agenda for the meeting can be found on Marine Resources Advisory Council's website.