A summer flounder. Graphic illustration: Duane Raver for DNREC

Delaware recreational fishing regulations for summer flounder, scup and black sea bass were changed effective May 1, 2022 to ensure the state’s compliance with regional fisheries management plans (FMP) for these species, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control announced today.

The recreational fishing regulations were instituted to sustainably manage each species consistent with FMP recreational harvest limits and to provide recreational fishing opportunities. The changes are:

• Minimum summer flounder size limit was reduced from 16.5 inches to 16 inches, with a continued four-fish daily limit and all-year season.
• Scup size limit was increased from 8 to 9 inches, with a continued 50-fish daily limit and all-year season.
• Black sea bass size limit was increased from 12.5 to 13 inches while the season was shortened by 20 days (runs May 15 through Dec. 11), with a continued 15-fish daily limit.

For more information on the regulations, contact the DNREC Fisheries Section at 302-739-9914 or see the 2022 Delaware Fishing Guide.

About DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities, and educates Delawareans about the environment. The DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife conserves and manages Delaware’s fish and wildlife and their habitats, and provides fishing, hunting, wildlife viewing and boating access on nearly 68,000 acres of public land. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.

Media Contacts: Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov; Nikki Lavoie, nikki.lavoie@delaware.gov

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DOVER – DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife will host joint Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC)/Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC) public fisheries scoping hearings on Wednesday, Feb. 19 in DNREC’s Auditorium, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901. A Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Commercial/Recreational Allocation Amendment hearing will begin at 6 p.m., followed by a Bluefish Allocation and Rebuilding Amendment hearing at 7 p.m.

The Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Commercial/Recreational Allocation Amendment will consider potential modifications to commercial and recreational catch allocations for summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass in consideration of updated recreational and commercial fishing catch estimates.

The Bluefish Allocation and Rebuilding Amendment will update the goals and objectives of the Bluefish Fishery Management Plan (FMP); perform a comprehensive review of bluefish fishery sector allocations, commercial allocations to the states, and allocation transfer processes; and initiate a bluefish rebuilding plan.

Scoping is the first and best opportunity to provide public input regarding the issues being considered. Stakeholders are encouraged to provide input on these proposed amendments either by attending the scoping hearings and/or providing written comments. Public comments will be accepted until 11:59 pm EDT on Tuesday, March 17, 2020, and should be mailed to Dr. Christopher Moore, Executive Director, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 800 North State Street, Suite 201, Dover, DE 19901; faxed to 302-674-5399; or emailed to jbeaty@mafmc.org for the Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Seabass Amendment or to mseeley@mafmc.org for the Bluefish Amendment.

The Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Commercial/Recreational Allocation Amendment scoping document can be found online at http://www.mafmc.org/newsfeed/2020/mafmc-asmfc-sfsbsb-allocation-scoping-hearings. The Bluefish Allocation and Rebuilding Amendment scoping document can be found online at http://www.mafmc.org/newsfeed/2020/supplemental-bluefish-scoping-hearings.

For additional information regarding these public scoping hearings, please contact the DNREC Division of Fish & Wildlife Fisheries Section at 302-739-9914.

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

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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

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