Best way to effect change is to get involved

Last week, I shared the good news that the Mid-Atlantic Council had increased the recreational quota of black sea bass by 20%. Exactly how this will play out has yet to be decided. I suspect at some point there will be public hearings and a chance for recreational fishermen to comment on a list of possible regulations that fit inside the 20% increase. This will be your chance to get involved.

Most likely, the public hearings will be held in Dover at the Department Of Natural Resources and Environmental Control. In the past, the number of recreational fishermen at these hearings has been disappointing, to say the least. I usually know all of them because we came in the same car.

Let me give you an example of how a group of fishermen who wish to be heard behave at public hearings.

When the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission held its annual meeting in Dewey Beach and menhaden regulations were on the agenda, Omega Protein, the only commercial processor of menhaden, rented a very nice bus to transport 40 or more of its fishermen to Dewey Beach to testify that any reduction in quota would mean they would be out of work. It worked. The commission only reduced the quota by 20%, which was the level that Omega landed in 2025.

The next day, the commission took up striped bass. About 40 or 50 Maryland watermen, commercial and charter boat captains, showed up and all were wearing white hats. They really stood out in the audience. They testified that striped bass were very important to their livelihood and any reduction would be an economic disaster. The board voted for status quo. 

I have seen some of our charter and head boat captains at Delaware hearings, but not nearly enough.

If you can’t make it in person to Dover, you can always write your comments via email. Once the hearing is set and the options are known, the proper email address will be posted. I will pass that along.

Right now, the seasons for summer flounder, scup and striped bass are status quo. That should mean we will have the same regulations for 2026 and 2027 as we had in 2025. Bluefish have increased for recreational fishermen by two fish with a bag limit of five. The for-hire fleet can now keep seven blues. No change in the blueline tilefish regulations.

Fishing report

Yes, Virginia, there are fish in the ocean.

On the very few days boats have been able to access the ocean, they have caught striped bass to 50 inches close to Indian River Inlet. The Restless Lady II reported catching stripers by trolling, and boats from Hook ‘em and Cook ‘em said they had similar fish trolling and jigging.

Due to an early deadline because of the Christmas holiday, I don’t have any reports past Sunday when small craft advisories were still flying. However, if you can find the time and the weather is suitable, these fish should be available, if not off Indian River Inlet, then off the condos and out to Fenwick Shoal. 

There are also fish in the Chesapeake Bay. My son Ric and his friend Matt Shepard fished out of Cape Charles, Va., and while they marked a lot of fish and bait, they only caught one large striper. They were trolling eels behind planner boards.

According to my last report from Old Inlet, even the tog bite had slowed.

Sector separation 

I was unable to sit in on the sector separation part of the Mid-Atlantic Council’s discussion. From what I was able to gather from those who were there, it appears that if for-hire boats wish to separate from recreational fishing regulations, they will pay a hefty price. That is far better than putting the burden on recreational fishermen.

From the information I received, if a for-hire boat wants to separate from the rest of the recreational fishing group, they will have to get an individual letter of authorization from the Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office. Then they will need permission from the state from which they leave.

Say they wish to have a 20-fish possession for black sea bass, in exchange they would have to accept a two-week shorter season.

That is just the recommendation right now, but I love the direction the council is heading. There is no way we recreational fishermen should subsidize the business of head and charter boats, as we have done with bluefish and blueline tilefish.

Unfortunately, none of this is carved in stone. The for-hire boys have some pretty serious lawyers and big-shot captains from New York and New Jersey. Let’s hope the council can withstand the pressure.