DOVER – DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife announced today regulatory changes that expand Delaware’s recreational black sea bass fishing season. The change eliminates the previously closed fall season of Sept. 22 through Oct. 21, providing Delaware recreational anglers continued access to black sea bass for 30 additional fishing days. The new black sea bass season runs uninterrupted from May 15 through Dec. 31. The 12.5-inch recreational minimum size limit and 15-fish daily possession limit remain unchanged.

The new regulation is consistent with federal measures and complies with Addendum XXX to the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s (ASMFC) Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass. The ASMFC’s Black Sea Bass Management Board approved measures that require the southern region states (Delaware to North Carolina) to implement recreational fishery management measures for black sea bass consistent with those measures required for federal waters.

For more information on black sea bass regulations, please call the Fisheries Section at 302-739-9914 or visit www.dnrec.delaware.gov/fw/Fisheries. Delaware’s online fishing guide is available at http://www.eregulations.com/delaware/fishing/ and is updated as regulations change.

• Follow the Division of Fish & Wildlife on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/DelawareFishWildlife.

Media contact: Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 48, No. 245

-30-

Print