On 8/31 they closed the rec take of scup.


RECREATIONAL SCUP FISHERY TO CLOSE ON

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 31, 2005 –

Based on annual specifications determined by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, the recreational scup fishery will close on Wednesday, August 31st. Beginning Thursday, September 1st it shall be unlawful for any recreational fishermen to possess scup until the 2006 recreational fishery opens on May 1, 2006.


The ASMFC Management Board adopted this region-wide seasonal closure after the latest stock assessment indicated the target fishing mortality had been exceeded in the recreational scup fishery. Other member states, including RI, CT, and NY have implemented similar seasonal closures. As a member state, MA must comply with mandates of the interstate plan or risk being found out-of-compliance and closure of the fishery.


Today I get this email:
subject:MA Commercial scup trip limit increased from 400 to 800 lbs.
September 9, 2005

MarineFisheries Advisory

COMMERCIAL SCUP POSSESSION LIMIT INCREASED TO 800-LBS. ON

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2005

MarineFisheries will increase the commercial scup possession limit to 800-lbs. on Monday September 12 through the end of the summer/fall quota period that ends on October 31. Also the rule governing no-fishing days (Saturday and Sunday) will be lifted. This action will increase scup landings to improve the chances of the May-October commercial quota of 1,062,132 lbs. being reached.

To date, less than 50 percent summer/fall quota has been harvested. The management goal to protect spawning fish from directed fisheries during May – July has contributed to the low landings. The directed fishery, primarily prosecuted by fish pots and hook and line, opened on August 1 and has averaged about 50,000 lbs. per week. At the current rate, about 30% of the summer/fall quota would go unused unless these adjustments were made.

On November1, the federally managed Winter II period opens and the trip limit will be 1,500 lbs. unless raised by MarineFisheries to be consistent with federal rules. By November, the fishery is predominately in offshore (federal) waters when scup migrate to deeper waters in response to dropping temperatures.

For further information please visit our website at www.mass.gov/marinefisheries



What is wrong with this picture?

let em try and catch me.....


what a joke..

are you getting the same krill blooms over there ? fishing has exploded here in the last weekish

also squeteague in the harbor... :buds:

BW,
we had a krill explosion a few weeks back, the beach was paved with these things. I have not seen them in a few weeks. bas were grazing on them with like a basking shark only 10' from the shore. Most were smaller fish.

Weakfish?...nice, I only know of 1 caught here this season.

Any albies yet?

Albies ? we have had them at the west end for about a month now. I ave only been there for one outing but many are still being taken. Bonito to 7-8 lbs !

just in from them evening bite. Had two on BM needles. Those plugs(especially one of them and knows which) rocks !

I'm in early tonight because I have a Tuckernuck two day invite starting Sunday

:jump: :jump: :jump:

but I will fish the dusk bite tomorrow... :usd:

As if closing the scup season will stop my little white rod-wielding buddies from poaching...gimme a break. The 6 legal sizers I would take home to eat would probably have very little impact, along with everyone elses legal fish. Are they trying to make EPOs' jobs easier by just closing the scup season so as not to confuse anyone?

Fisheries managment is a joke.Comms sit on the boards an smirk at the meetings when they open things up for public opinion.they close the rec.an increase the comm take.I remember when they put a 50 fish limit on em it was just to monitor the stock.now we have a 4 month season.The ASMFC is one of the most currupt agenencies in politics.an they have been getting away with this crap for yrs.its amazing.It in a nutshell is whats wrong with this country. when special intrest groups an the financial contributions to pols.call the shots.It really turns my stomach. This is a fish for the people if the rec take is good an the commercial take down why not let the people take some more.....Ur talkin bout scup here....

I'm in early tonight because I have a Tuckernuck two day invite starting Sunday
:usd:

You dog!!!! I have fished around that place a lot this summer, but never touched its shores. That has got to be fly-rod and light tackle shore fishing heaven. Please let me know what it is like.

roger that ....

what a beauty today is....

out at 5pm until whenever. outgoing through 9pmish.....

:gf:

More Greed in the face of greed. Meanwhile rec's can't take a single scup.
I plan to write a letter to find out what the hell is going on here.


October 13, 2005

MarineFisheries Advisory



COMMERCIAL SCUP DAILY POSSESSION LIMIT INCREASED TO 3,500-LBS.



Effective 0001 hours on Friday, October 14, 2005 MarineFisheries has increased the daily commercial scup possession limit to 3,500-lbs. The possession limit will remain in effect through the beginning of the Winter II period and remain in place until the federal quota is reached, or until December 31. Fishing is allowed 7 days per week.



This action will increase scup landings to improve the chances of the May-October commercial quota of 1,062,132 lbs. being reached. To date, about 70% of the summer/fall quota has been harvested. The management goal to protect spawning fish from directed fisheries during May – July has contributed to the low landings.



On January 1, 2006 the Winter I period fishery will begin with a 10,000-lb. daily possession limit. All possession limits shall be based on a 24-hour day, shall be vessel limits, and shall apply regardless of the number of commercial fishermen with scup permits on board said vessel.



For further information please visit our website at www.mass.gov/marinefisheries



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The only chice MA had was wether the season should begin in May and end in aug or if it should begin in July and end in Oct. All of the rest wa dictated by the ASMFC and NMFS.

Sorry Mike, I don't just see the logic behind the rules no matter who makes them.

I don't care what ASMFC and NMFS said, it makes no sense to shut down the rec season while increasing the comm take twice after shutting down the rec fishing to essentially grab all they can.

Frankly I don't think they have a handle on the fishery either. This is an ideal case of one hand not knowing what the other is really doing. They certainly don't have any idea how many scup are being taken from the rec side...I can tell you it is not that many fish.

The State needs to manage this better. In my view there are too many people who are very disconnected with the actual fishery who are setting the rules while at the same time trying to obtain too much from a limited resource.

Why do we need 3 governmental agencies to manage this. I bet none of them have actually fished for a sucp anyway.

FWIW, I don't think I have ever caught a scup in May anyway. The season should be all year long with limits on catch.

The big unknown is how many scup were actaully caught by recs and what they "think" were caught.

If I get any response from my letter I will post. (I know of someone who wrote and phoned and the state twice and got no return feedback)