The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has announced that the recreational black sea bass fishery will close on November 1, 2012. The fishery will remain closed to recreational fishermen in federal waters (3-200 miles from shore) through the end of 2012.
The early closure was prompted last week by the release of recreational catch data that indicated the recreational harvest limit for black sea bass had been exceeded.
In addition to a shortened season, the recreational fishery will face reduced catch limits in 2013 or 2014 to account for the overage.
The closure, which applies to both private anglers and party/charter vessels, prohibits fishing for or possessing black sea bass in Federal waters for the remainder of 2012.
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission is expected to discuss the harvest of black sea bass in state waters at its annual meeting.
Read the full announcement from NOAA Fisheries here:
http://www.nero.noaa.gov/nr/doc/12/12bsbclosurerecphl.pdf
source: NOAA Fisheries