Several new laws that impact Virginia saltwater anglers will go into effect on Monday, July 1. One bill establishes a new, optional lifetime saltwater recreational fishing license for anglers over the age of 65, who will continue to remain exempt … Continued
At its June meeting, the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council voted on a suite of alternatives that would change the way the Council manages recreational fisheries. The measures were part of the Omnibus Recreational Accountability Measure Amendment initiated by the Council … Continued
The National Marine Fisheries Service is taking two actions regarding the recreational Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) Angling category fishery: (1) closure of the southern area trophy BFT fishery (73″ or greater) effective 11:30 p.m. local time, Thursday, April 4, through … Continued
The Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC) recently announced new recreational flounder regulations for the 2013 fishing season. The Commission lowered the recreational angling minimum size limit from 16.5 to 16 inches. The recreational creel limit for summer flounder is (4) … Continued
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass Management Board approved Addendum XXIII to the Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan (FMP). The Addendum allows for the use of regional measures to manage the 2013 … Continued
The ASMFC Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass Management Board recently initiated the development of Draft Addendum XXIV to the Summer Flounder FMP. The Draft Addendum will propose a mechanism to allow states access to recreational harvest limits (RHL) … Continued
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 … Continued
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (Commission) and the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) have established commercial quotas and recreational harvest limits for summer flounder for the 2013 fishing season and beyond. The Commission’s actions are final and apply to … Continued
In July, the Virginia Marine Resources Commission announced that the agency was easing recreational striped bass (rockfish) regulations for the 2012 fall fishing season. The simplified regulation removes the no-take slot limit of 28-34 inches that has been in place … Continued
Jack G. Travelstead was recently named as commissioner of the Virginia Marine Resources Commission. Mr. Travelstead has served with the Virginia Marine Resources Commission since 1981. He has been chief of the Fisheries Management Division since 1984, and deputy commissioner … Continued