Current Waters: Black Seabass Season

The charter fishing season has kicked off!

As we get back into our recreational fishing season, it’s a good time to refresh your knowledge of the fishing regulations. This year there have been some changes to the recreational fishing regulations that will be good to know before you go.

This year, Massachusetts has introduced new recreational saltwater fishing regulations, including changes to how striped bass are measured, new size and possession limits for Atlantic bonito and false albacore, and restrictions on shore-based shark fishing. The full list of regulations for each species can be found on the Massachusetts fisheries site. But we’ll look at a few of the regulations that may impact Nantucket anglers a little more than others.

For the striped bass measurement piece, it is more of a clarification on how the fish are measured than an actual change. It’s always been a pinched tail to meet the minimum length. Now, they are specifying how to measure to ensure that this fish is under the maximum length. Basically, it’s pinch the tail for all the measurements and keep the mouth of the fish closed. The slot limit of over 28” and under 31” is still the same.

There have been some pretty significant changes to shore-based fishing for sharks. Restrictions have been put in place on shore-based chumming, casting, and shore-based shark fishing. For those that do it, you will definitely want to read the regulations for the details.

Why these regulations and why this year? Shark fishing from the beach is something that has become more and more popular in recent years and not just on Nantucket. In some areas, people are targeting great white sharks from shore. While the Department of Marine Fisheries (DMF) regulations already prohibit attracting and targeting great white sharks, it has become evident in recent years that these regulations are difficult to enforce and in need of clarification. Fishing for sharks from shore has, in some cases, been in direct conflict with public safety on recreational beaches. Haven’t we all seen Jaws?

DMF is trying to better restrict the targeting of white sharks where they are most commonly found, so they delineated an area where anglers are prohibited from fishing from shore with a baited hook designed for white sharks (see the regulations for specifics). The map doesn’t include Nantucket for this, but other regulations apply. DMF is also restricting chumming from sunset to sunrise and no motorized devices for launching bait or chum (for example drones, bait cannons, RC boats). I have yet to see a toy RC boat deliver chum from the shore, but I wouldn’t be surprised if someone has tried it.

Another restriction that affects us is that recreational fishing for cod is now completely prohibited in our area – a change for this year. This is unfortunate.

Later in the season, you’ll want to be prepared with the new regs for Atlantic Bonito and False Albacore. A minimum size limit of 16 inches and a possession limit of five fish per person are in effect for both species combined. It concerns me that these two species are lumped together. Putting them in the same category when they are two distinct species can have an effect on the individual species – different breeding cycles, behavior, and size of maturity. The state purports that this is being done to limit fishing while they gather more data, but we’ll have to see how this turns out after this year.

You can look at these regulations as a loss or a gain but this could have been a lot worse. Some of the proposals that were on the table were much more impactful to the fishery than what we ended up with. Lots of public comments, letter writing, and meetings happen in the off-season by all those invested in the industry. We captains do more than just fishing.

Fishing report:

We had a great start with the opening of black seabass last week. It’s a refreshing change from how we started the season last year when the black seabass weren’t around much in the spring.

It’s been windy ever since last weekend so we’re really looking forward to getting back at it as soon as things die down. I suspect that when this weather breaks, the boat anglers will find that striper fishing is improving as well. This time of year, I feel like you can catch them with most techniques.

Stripers are finally being caught from the beach which is exciting. I’m sure it will get even better when this weather breaks. For the latest on stripers, keep an eye on the Nantucket Sea Run Opener leaderboard. The Spring Sea Run Opener is Nantucket’s catch-and-release striped bass tournament. This charity tournament is all about getting back outside after a long winter and enjoying the best of what Nantucket has to offer. There are lots of great prizes for the first, the largest, and even the smallest fish. The first was already caught, but there is still room to knock out some of the leaders. Check out all the info on the tournament website and there is still time to join in.

Until next tide…