2011 Regulations
 

I'm wondering if they have determined what the black sea bass limits will be for 2011, still worried about going from 20 fish per day to 5 or 1 based on previous threads. Neither make sense to me, but I'd rather eat black sea bass than anything I catch, so while I've not previous bothered with a commercial license; might consider one just so I can actually bring some of those tasty critters home for the diner table.

If I were to get a commercial license and don't actually do any selling, can I assume my paperwork is zero or very limited? I'd also assume I would then ignore any rec seasons or limits and my fishing and taking is governed strickly by the commercial limits and seasons?

Can I assume since I see no endorsement available for fluke, that no new commercial Mass license's are available? If so and I buy a commerciall license, but can't grab a fluke endorsement, then I'm rec fishing for fluke?

Thanks.

bOB
In ri .. they increased the rec size & I know that they are cutting the rec & commercial take .........but increasing Scup & Fluke .

I must me missing something / I saw & caught more sea bass last year than anytime in my life & I,ve heard the echoed by alot of fisherman .
I,m clueless to where they get their numbers for anything species ......... But a reduction is crazy :wall:

Pretty sure you will have to fill out trip catch reportsfor every time you fish, and log the days you didn't.

Why do you need 20 or whatever the commercial limit is of seabass?

If you harvested the fish commercially .......weather you sold them or not, you still must complete trip level reporting to the DMF.....

Not sure I understand, if I could put anywhere from 10-20 black sea bass in my cooler per trip I'd be a happy camper. If they drop the rec levels to what I've heard, who can feed anyone on 1 black sea bass and even if its 5 fish, if they are on the small side; that too is slim pickings.

Anyone know when they will actually set the 2011 limits?

Not until this spring and 20 sea bass is not that much fillet wise for sure......

25 fish bag at 13 inches, season from 7/1 to 10/1.and 11/1 to 12/31 is the minimum requirement all along the coast. States do have the option to impose more restrictive regs. Bur I'll wager none do.

MA has not yet set the rec limits...the commission is considering a couple different options...I'll post some updated info when it is released in the near future