Saltwater Fishing & Boating Newsletter

In This Issue:

• Striped Bass Cooperative Angler Program
• Fall into Spooky Season with NOAA
• Environmental Conservation Officers (ECOs) on Patrol
• Cold Stun Sea Turtle Lectures and In-Field Training
• Open Comment Periods & Recently Adopted Regulations
• Upcoming Meetings

Join New York's Striped Bass Cooperative Angler Program

Striped bass (Morone saxatilis) are New York's official saltwater fish and highly sought-after by recreational anglers in New York's marine waters and the Hudson River. DEC is seeking participants to join the Striped Bass Cooperative Angler (SBCA) Program to help biologists understand and maintain a healthy striped bass population. Anglers help provide data on fish caught and can submit scale samples that are used for ageing their catch. Learn more from our new storymap and sign up for the Striped Bass Cooperative Angler Program. 

In New York's marine waters (south of the George Washington Bridge), the recreational slot limit is 28-31 inches, and the season is open April 15 through December 15. The recreational striped bass fishing season in the Hudson River (north of the George Washington Bridge) is open April 1 through Nov. 30 and the recreational slot limit is 18-28 inches. Anglers who fish for striped bass in the tidal Hudson River can learn more about the Hudson River Cooperative Anglers Program on DEC's website. 

Circle hooks are required when fishing for striped bass with bait. When fishing using a circle hook and a fish bites, avoid pulling up on the rod immediately. Instead, point the rod tip at the fish and reel quickly. When the line becomes tight, keep reeling for a few more seconds before raising the rod tip. When the rod is bent, turn the reel handle slow and steady to bring in the fish. Check DEC's Best Practices for Saltwater Fishing for more information on responsible fishing and safe fish handling tips. 

Before fishing, visit the Recreational Saltwater Fishing Regulations webpage for the most up-to-date limits. In New York's Marine and Coastal District, or when fishing for "migratory fish of the sea," including striped bass, be sure to enroll in the Recreational Marine Fishing Registry.

Fall into Spooky Season with NOAA

Carve out some time for some Halloween fun with downloadable pumpkin carving stencils. Download Pumpkin Carving Stencils for Ocean Lovers | NOAA Fisheries are inspired by marine life and ocean research. Download spooktacular smartphone wallpapers from Spine-Chilling Sea Turtles to Ominous Octopus!

Disclaimer: Pumpkin carving requires the use of knives or other sharp objects. Always carefully supervise children participating in pumpkin carving.

Environmental Conservation Officers (ECOs) on Patrol

Fish Compliance Checks and Turtle Rescue – Albany & Queens Counties
On Aug. 26, while on late-night patrol in Albany County, ECO Bevis observed two anglers using a net to catch blue claw crabs in a restricted area of the Hudson River at the Green Island Dam. As Officer Bevis approached the subjects, one left the area abruptly. The ECO eventually climbed down construction scaffolding to apprehend the second subject. Once both anglers were back at a nearby parking lot, ECO Bevis determined that of the 17 crabs caught, 11 were under the legal size. Further investigation revealed the registration on the vehicle the subjects arrived in was suspended. Officer Bevis issued tickets for possessing undersized blue claw crabs, fishing without a license, trespass, and operating a motor vehicle with a suspended registration. The tickets are returnable to the Town of Green Island Court and the undersized crabs returned to the Hudson River.

Illegally caught blue claw crabs seized in Albany County.

On Sept. 2, while patrolling Jamaica Bay in Queens County, ECO Milliron followed up on complaints of anglers using seine and cast nets to take regulated fish species. While checking a group of seine netters, Officer Milliron found three individuals in possession of 365 snappers (juvenile bluefish), 354 fish over the daily legal limit. The Officer issued tickets to the group, returnable to Queens Court.

Snappers caught using seine net and seized by ECO Milliron in Queens County.

Turtle Rescue – Suffolk County
On Sept. 4, the New York Marine Rescue Center on Long Island contacted Lieutenant Reilly reporting a loggerhead sea turtle in the State Boat Channel near the Golgotha Beach Marina was hit by a vessel and could not swim on its own. Lt. Reilly, already on the water conducting routine patrols with ECOs Kochanowski and McCarthy, responded to the area while Babylon Bay Constables guarded the turtle with their boat. Utilizing a net, Officers pulled the 175-pound turtle into the boat. Once on board, the Officers noticed the turtle suffered from multiple fractures. ECOs met employees from the New York Marine Center at Cedar Beach Marina and with assistance from the Bay Constables, transferred the reptile to a tote and carried it to a vehicle for transportation to the rescue center to receive treatment for serious injuries.

Injured 175-lb loggerhead sea turtle pulled from waters in Suffolk County after a vessel strike.

Join New York Marine Rescue Center for a Free Cold Stun Sea Turtle Lecture and In-Field Training!

Join the New York Marine Rescue Center (NYMRC) Cold Stun Patrol Team to help find these sea turtles before it’s too late. Attend a Level I Cold Stun Lecture (all ages are welcome) to learn more about cold stunning, its effects on sea turtles, and how you can walk beaches in search of sea turtles. After attending the lecture, you can assist further in the sea turtle patrol efforts by joining an additional Level II in-field training (18+ or accompanied by an adult) to learn how to patrol hotspot beaches effectively and efficiently. Level II Patrollers will also join a contact list of volunteers who can sign up for beach patrols and be called upon to patrol specific beaches as needed. Sign up for a lecture to learn more about how you can help cold stunned sea turtles in New York State.

Photo credit: New York Marine Rescue Center

Open Comment Periods & Recently Adopted Regulations

Lobsters and Crabs (Jonah Crab) - 6 NYCRR Part 44

This proposed rulemaking will define the Jonah Crab directed trap fishery and establish bycatch limits. These amendments are intended to protect Jonah Crab and are consistent with requirements of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) Jonah Crab fishery management plan (FMP).

Comment period is open through November 6, 2023.

Written comments can be submitted to:

Justin Pellegrino
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
123 Kings Park Blvd  Kings Park, NY 11754 
E-mail: fw.marine@dec.ny.gov

Shad & Cobia – 6 NYCRR Parts 10 & 40

This recently adopted rulemaking is required to maintain New York's consistency with fishery management plans for recreational American shad and cobia fishing.

American shad (in all inland waters, except the Hudson River and tributaries north of the George Washington Bridge)

• Possession limit: 2 fish
• Minimum length: Any size
• Open season: All year

Cobia (in New York’s Marine & Coastal District)

• Possession limit: From shore - 1 fish per angler. From a vessel: 1 fish per vessel
• Minimum length: 37” TL
• Open season: All year

Visit DEC's website for complete text of rulemakings.

Upcoming Meetings

Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) 81^st Annual Meeting
Date: Monday, October 16 through Thursday, October 19, 2023
Location: Beaufort Hotel, 2440 Lenoxville Rd Beaufort, North Carolina (Google Maps)

This will be a hybrid meeting to allow for remote participation by Commissioners and interested stakeholders in all meetings except for those of the Law Enforcement Committee, Habitat Committee and Atlantic Coastal Fish Habitat Partnership Steering Committee.

Meeting proceedings will be broadcast daily beginning Monday October 16 at 9 a.m. and continuing daily until conclusion of the meeting (expected to be 2:30 p.m.) on Thursday October 19. All participants are required to register for the meeting.

For complete meeting information, visit ASMFC's webpage. 

Marine Resources Advisory Council (MRAC)
Date: Tuesday, November 14 2:00 p.m.
Location: DEC Division of Marine Resources, 123 Kings Park Blvd, Kings Park

Once available, a complete agenda for the meeting can be found on MRAC's webpage.