Saltwater Fishing & Boating Newsletter

In This Issue:

• Annual Temporary Closure of Three Shellfishing Areas
• Changes to Commercial Fishing Limits
• DEC to Host Third Annual Women's Fishing Expo
• Shortfin Mako Shark Possession Prohibited in New York State
• Environmental Conservation Police on Patrol
• Upcoming Meetings

Annual Temporary Closure of Three Shellfishing Areas

DEC announced the temporary closure of three shellfishing areas on the north shore of Long Island during the upcoming Labor Day holiday period. These closures are imposed during busy holidays to protect public health from potentially contaminated shellfish associated with increased boating activity. Boaters are reminded to use pump-out facilities to help protect these waters.

DEC will designate the following areas, all on the north shore of Long Island, as closed to the harvest of shellfish beginning at sunrise on Friday, Sept. 2, and continuing through Wednesday, Sept. 7:

• 445 acres in a section of Oyster Bay Harbor, town of Oyster Bay, Nassau County;
• 50 acres in the area known as the Sand Hole, town of Huntington, Suffolk County; and
• 347 acres in northern Port Jefferson Harbor, town of Brookhaven, Suffolk County.

Shellfish harvesting is expected to resume in these areas on Thursday, Sept. 8. If poor weather causes fewer boaters to visit these areas, DEC may rescind the closure and reopen the areas earlier to harvesting.

A recorded message advising the public about temporary closures of any shellfishing areas in New York State is accessible 24 hours a day by calling (631) 444-0480. The recorded message also advises harvesters when such areas have reopened. Information, including maps showing the affected areas, is available on DEC's website. 

Boaters should be aware that Oyster Bay Harbor, the Sand Hole, and Port Jefferson Harbor are designated as No Discharge Zones in their entirety. A no-discharge zone is a designated body of water where the discharge of treated or untreated boat sewage is prohibited. 

Changes to Commercial Fishing Limits

Scup

• Effective Thursday, September 1, 2022, the daily trip limit for scup will remain at 800 pounds.
• This replaces the reduction that was supposed to go into effect September 1 as per the 2022 Summer Scup Distribution Plan. Through September 30, 2022, or further notice, the daily trip limit for scup is 800 pounds.

Horseshoe Crab

• Effective Thursday, September 1, 2022, the daily trip limit for horseshow crab is increased to 250 crabs. This daily trip limit will remain in effect until further notice.

For holders of a Summer Flounder Permit only

• Effective Thursday, September 1, 2022, the daily trip limit for summer flounder is increased to 500 pounds. This daily trip limit will remain in effect until further notice.

This action is undertaken pursuant to the quota distribution schedule 40.1(u)(1)(2) of 6 NYCRR.

Check DEC's website for the current commercial harvest limits in effect.

DEC to Host Third Annual Women's Fishing Expo

DEC and Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation will hold the third annual Women's Fishing Expo at Connetquot River State Park Preserve on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022, from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

The Women's Fishing Expo will provide hands-on instruction and experiential learning in a fun and supportive environment. Everyone is welcome to attend, although the event is focused on introducing women to fishing. This event will be run primarily by female anglers and fisheries professionals. There will also be women-owned businesses and fishing clubs present for networking opportunities. 

Participants will be able to learn about fishing opportunities on Long Island and statewide, fishing basics and intermediate fishing skills, basic knots, fly-tying demonstrations, fly-casting instruction, fisheries management information, a trout hatchery tour, marine fishing information, and free fly-fishing on the renowned Connetquot River. Fly-casting and fly-fishing are limited to those aged 14 and older.

This is a rain or shine event. Seats are limited, and pre-registration is required. For more information, or to register, call the DEC's I FISH NY Program at (631) 444-0283, or email fwfish1@dec.ny.gov with the subject title 'Women's Fishing Expo.' A vehicle use fee of $8 will be in effect. Parking is free for Empire Passport holders. The 2021 Empire Passport can be purchased for $80 at state park offices, or online at the New York State Parks website.

Shortfin Mako Shark Possession Prohibited in New York State

Effective July 26, 2022, all recreational and commercial possession of shortfin mako is prohibited in state waters (0 - 3 miles offshore). This rule maintains consistency with interstate and federal management plans as part of a larger rebuilding program for the North Atlantic shortfin mako. The comment period for the proposed regulation is open through October 10, 2022. Written comments can be sent to Christopher Scott, NYSDEC Division of Marine Resources, 123 Kings Park Blvd., Kings Park, NY 11754 or to christopher.scott@dec.ny.gov. 

NOAA Fisheries established a shortfin mako retention limit of zero in the commercial and recreational Atlantic HMS fisheries, prohibiting all take of shortfin mako from federal waters (3 - 200 miles offshore) on July 5, 2022. Regulation changes are consistent with the management measure adopted in 2021 by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) recommendation based on the 2017 stock assessment. For more information, visit NOAA's website.

For the current recreational shark fishing limits in New York State, check Recreational Saltwater Fishing Regulations webpage.

Environmental Conservation Police on Patrol

Large Group Takes Illegal Fish - Suffolk County

On Aug. 17, ECOs Dickson and Pabes responded to the Captree Fishing Pier at Captree State Park after receiving reports of anglers using nets to catch undersized crabs and other species. As the Officers entered the parking lot, they observed a group of people placing a net and buckets into the back of a SUV. The ECOs approached and interviewed the anglers who admitted to fishing off the beach with a net. In the catch of nearly 700 fish and crabs, the Officers measured 21 blue claw crabs under the legal limit of 4.5 inches and counted more than 650 menhaden, which was over the catch limit for that species. The Officers issued tickets to the group for those violations and additional citations for undersized summer flounder (fluke) and fishing without a valid marine registry. The ECOs also informed the group that a nighttime fishing access permit is required by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation to fish in the park after hours.

Shortly after this incident, ECOs Dickson and Pabes encountered a second group a short distance away actively crabbing off a dock. After inspecting the group's catch, the Officers found that 20 out of the 30 crabs caught were under the legal size limit. The second group received a ticket for possession of undersized crabs.

Buckets Full of Crabs - Suffolk County

During the early morning hours of Aug. 13, while conducting crabbing checks along the south shore of Long Island, ECO Kaufherr observed a man at Blue Point Docks scooping crabs out of the water with a net. As the angler headed to his vehicle with the crabs, ECO Kaufherr approached him and asked to check his net. The man had a bucket next to his car with the net over it. Officer Kaufherr opened the lid and found the bucket filled to the top with blue crabs. The ECO found the bucket contained a total of 131 blue crabs, 103 of which were under the 4.5-inch size limit. The Officer also found oyster toadfish under the 10-inch legal size and issued one ticket for possessing undersized blue claw crabs and one for possessing an undersized oyster toadfish. ECOs returned all fish to the water.

Striped Bass Bust - Nassau County

On Aug. 12, ECO Kochanowski conducted a recreational fishing check of a cast netter in the town of North Hempstead. The angler reported he was throwing his cast net for bait fish to catch striped bass. Officer Kochanowski inspected the catch and realized the subject did not know the size requirements and possession regulations for striped bass. The ECO found 10 striped bass less than six inches and nine undersized blue crabs. Officer Kochanowski issued tickets for possession of undersized striped bass, possession of over-limit striped bass, and possession of undersized blue claw crab returnable to the Nassau County First District Court.

Shirley Chisholm State Park Illegal Clamming - Kings County

On Aug. 7, while patrolling Spring Creek Park across from Shirley Chisholm State Park for shellfish violations, ECOs Michalet and Milliron observed two people with several buckets and bins full of various clam species and blue claw crab. The subjects possessed 48 razor clams, 693 top neck clams, and six undersized blue claw crabs. As the Officers escorted the anglers to the trailhead, they spotted another group of three individuals nearby with 85 top neck clams, 346 razor clams, seven streamers, and five undersized blue claw crabs. Each subject received tickets for taking shellfish from uncertified waters and possession of undersized blue claw crabs.

Evening Seine Netting - Nassau County

On Aug. 3, ECO DeRose received a complaint about a large group using a large seine net near the Jones Beach State Park fishing pier and not culling their catch. Officer DeRose responded to the fishing pier and observed a rolled-up net, small bait fish in bags, and multiple five-gallon buckets. After examining the net, the Officer determined it was shorter than the legal maximum width but two feet above the maximum allowable height. The ECO spent two hours sifting through thousands of spearing and other baitfish, one handful at a time and found the group in possession of 120 snappers (99 over the limit of three per angler), five fluke under 19 inches, two out-of-season blackfish, and two undersized blue claw crabs. ECO DeRose issued several tickets returnable to Nassau First District Court, including possessing over-the-limit snapper, undersized fluke, out-of-season blackfish, and taking food fish by net without a food fish license.

Upcoming Meetings

Marine Resources Advisory Council Meeting
Date: Tuesday, September 13, 2021, 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
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. 

ASMFC Atlantic Menhaden Draft Addendum I Public Hearing
Date: Thursday, September 15, 2021, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Location: DEC Division of Marine Resources, 123 Kings Park Blvd, Kings Park

The Atlantic Menhaden Draft Addendum is available online. (PDF) All those interested in the management of Atlantic menhaden are encouraged to provide input either by participating in public hearings, which may be conducted via webinar, or providing written comment. Public comment will be accepted until 11:59 PM (EST) on September 30 and should be sent to James Boyle, FMP Coordinator, at 1050 N. Highland St., Suite 200 A-N, Arlington, Virginia 22201 or at comments@asmfc.org (Subject line: Atlantic Menhaden Draft Addendum I).