Article by Larry Jock
DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife announces expansion of recreational black sea bass season
DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife announced regulatory changes that expand Delaware’s recreational black sea bass fishing season. The change eliminates the previously closed fall season of Sept. 22nd through Oct. 21st, providing Delaware recreational anglers continued access to black sea bass for 30 additional fishing days. The new black sea bass season runs uninterrupted from May 15th through Dec. 31st. The 12.5-inch recreational minimum size limit and 15-fish daily possession limit remain unchanged.
The new regulation is consistent with federal measures and complies with Addendum XXX to the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s (ASMFC) Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass. The ASMFC’s Black Sea Bass Management Board approved measures that require the southern region states (Delaware to North Carolina) to implement recreational fishery management measures for black sea bass consistent with those measures required for federal waters.
For more information on black sea bass regulations, please call the Fisheries Section at 302-739-9914 or you can go to their website at www.dnrec.delaware.gov/fw/Fisheries. Delaware’s online fishing guide is available at http://www.eregulations.com/delaware/fishing/ and is updated as regulations change.
