The recreational black sea bass season in the South Atlantic will have lasted just 96 days when the fishery is closed on Sept. 4th due to the annual catch limit being met. Fishermen are actually a victim of a successful rebuilding program, where there are more and larger sea bass each year, causing the fixed annual catch limit to be caught sooner each year. The annual catch limit needs to be increased ASAP or a lot of coastal businesses are going to be severely impacted by these early closures during tourism season!
SOUTHEAST FISHERY BULLETIN
(South Atlantic)
FB12-060
Sustainable Fisheries
727-824-5305
August 24, 2012
NOAA Fisheries Service Announces Closure Date for the
Harvest of South Atlantic Recreational Black Sea Bass
NOAA Fisheries Service has determined that the 2012-2013 recreational annual catch limit of 409,000 pounds for black sea bass has been reached. As a result, the recreational sector for black sea bass in federal waters of the South Atlantic from 3515.19’ N. latitude, (the latitude of Cape Hatteras Light, North Carolina) to Key West, Florida, will close, effective 12:01 a.m. (local time) September 4, 2012, through 12:01 a.m. June 1, 2013.
For vessels with a valid federal charter vessel/headboat permit for South Atlantic Snapper-grouper, the closure applies to state and federal waters. The operator of a vessel that has a federal for-hire permit for snapper-grouper must land any black sea bass harvested from either state or federal waters prior to 12:01 a.m., local time, September 4, 2012.
Black sea bass are experiencing overfishing (rate of removal is too high). For the 2012-2013 fishing year the commercial annual catch limit is 309,000 pounds and the recreational annual catch limit is 409,000 pounds. Harvest levels must be kept below these levels to prevent fish from being removed too quickly, and to rebuild the black sea bass population.
Captain Keith
Myrtle Beach SC
Feedin Frenzy Charters
http://www.NorthMyrtleBeachFishingCharte