Effective Date: February 1, 2018

NOAA Fisheries announces an open Federal recreational black sea bass season during the month of February 2018 (February 1-28).  The current recreational management measures of a 12.5-inch minimum size and 15-fish possession limit apply during this season.

Federal measures for the rest of the 2018 recreational black sea bass fishery will be developed through a separate action to be implemented later this spring.  We will notify you of those measures in a separate bulletin.

Note: Only Virginia and North Carolina have committed to participate in this February season.  Other states will not be open in February. Remember that Federally permitted charter/party vessels are required to abide by the more restrictive set of regulations when Federal and state measures differ.  If you have questions regarding your state’s recreational management measures, please contact the marine fisheries management agency for the state in question or the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (www.asmfc.org; 703-842-0740).

For more information on the black sea bass fishery, please visit our website.

For small entity compliance guides, this bulletin complies with section 212 of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement and Fairness Act of 1996.  This notice is authorized by the Regional Administrator of the National Marine Fisheries Service, Greater Atlantic Region.