Maryland Flounder info

[jackdaniels]

We have to take reductions for 2010
– Harvest estimates indicate that we must take
a 23.6% reduction for 2010
– The target number of fish for 2010 is 75,000
fish, an increase from 61,000 in 2009
– Because we will be increasing the size, we are
able to increase the number of days in the
existing season
The ASMFC Summer Flounder, Black Sea Bass,
and Scup Management Board did not approve
the option with a split area minimum size, at
the Technical Committee’s recommendation:
– “The Technical Committee does not approve
adoption of option 1; the sample sizes and data
available are insufficient to evaluate regulations
with area/mode splits.”
– The split minimum size by area has been in effect
since 2005. From 2007-2009 we failed to meet or
stay below our summer flounder target.

[jackdaniels]

Weakfish Management Changes
Recreational
1 fish per day creel limit

Commercial
Atlantic Ocean, its Coastal Bays and their Tidal Tributaries
All Gear Bycatch Only. A person may not catch, possess, or land more than 100 lbs of weakfish per day or trip (whichever is longer). The weight of the weakfish may not exceed the weight of the catch of the other species on board the vessel.

Chesapeake Bay - Hook & Line
Season – August 1 through September 30
A person may not catch, possess, or land more than 100 lbs of weakfish per day or trip (whichever is longer).
No bycatch allowed during closure period

Chesapeake Bay - All Other Gears
Bycatch Only. A person may not catch, possess, or land more than 50 lbs of weakfish per day or trip (whichever is longer). The weight of the weakfish may not exceed the weight of the catch of the other species on board the vessel.

EMAIL fisheriespubliccomment@dnr.state.md.us subject=Draft Regulation - Weakfish Management
all comments must be provided by March 15, 2010.



Summer Flounder
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) is requiring reductions for the 2010 recreational season. The ASMFC Summer Flounder Management Board met February 2 and approved options for meeting the reduction. Options will be presented at two scoping meetings in February. The first meeting will be held on February 10 at 6:00 pm in Fellowship Hall at the Calvary United Methodist Church, 301 Rowe Blvd., Annapolis, MD 21401 and the second will be held on February 11 at 6:00 pm in Guerrieri Hall Room 101 at Wor-Wic Community College, Salisbury, MD.



Options Open Season Creel/Size Limit. Statewide Total % Reduction
Option 1 April 17 to September 21 3 @ 18.5 24.5%
Option 2 April 24 to September 24 3 @ 18.5 24.5%
Option 3 June 8 to October 30 3 @ 18.5 24.5%
Option 4 May 22 to October 16 3 @ 18.5 24.5%
Option 5 April 17 to Nov 22 3 @ 19.0 24.2%
EMAIL Commentsfisheriespubliccomment@dnr.state.md.us subject=Draft Regulation - Summer flounder Management Changes
all comments must be provided by March 15, 2010.