Article by Columns
On August 4, 2017, NOAA released a bulletin stating the following change in cobia regulations:
NOAA Fisheries announces a final rule to change the following management measures for Atlantic Cobia (Georgia through New York):
* increase the recreational minimum size limit
* reduce the recreational bag limit
* establish a recreational vessel limit
* establish a commercial trip limit
* modify the recreational accountability measure
The management measures will be effective September 5, 2017.
For the Atlantic cobia recreational sector, the minimum size limit will increase from 33 inches fork length to 36 inches fork length.
The recreational bag limit will be modified to one fish per person per day, or six fish per vessel per day, whichever is more restrictive.
Cobia fishing in Federal waters was closed on January 1, 2017 and even though the bulletin states that “management measures will be effective September 5, 2017”, the season will not reopen until January 1, 2018.
NOAA announces new online system for tournaments
NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service is offering an online option to register Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) tournaments and report HMS tournament catches on the new Atlantic Tournament Registry and Reporting (ATR) System.
Online registration provides an additional, easy option for tournament registration and reporting. For more information go to http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/compliance/tournaments/index.html.