Fewer Flounders for Fishermen: New Catch Limits Set
Published Date: 4/30/2026
Rule
Summary
Starting April 30, 2026, new fishing rules for summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass will help keep fish populations healthy by limiting how many recreational anglers can catch. These changes affect anyone fishing for these species in the Northeastern U.S. and aim to prevent overfishing while keeping the fun going for 2026 and 2027. Anglers should watch for updated limits and be ready to follow new rules to protect our ocean friends.
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Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
Summer Flounder: States May Set Measures
NMFS approved conservation equivalency for summer flounder for 2026 and 2027, waiving Federal coastwide measures so that federally permitted party/charter vessels and recreational vessels in Federal waters must follow the state measures where they land. The non-preferred coastwide measures (if used) would be an 18.5-inch (46.99 cm) minimum size, a three-fish possession limit, and a May 8–September 30 season; precautionary default measures are a 20.0-inch (50.8 cm) minimum, two-fish limit, and July 1–August 31 season.
Black Sea Bass: 20% Liberalization Approved
For 2026–2027, NMFS and the Commission approved a 20-percent liberalization for black sea bass recreational harvest targets; the new recreational harvest target is 7.03 million lb (3,189 mt), up from a projected 5.86 million lb (2,658 mt). The non-preferred coastwide measures reflected by the recommendation are a 14-inch (35.56 cm) minimum size, a five-fish possession limit, and a May 15–September 30 season; precautionary default measures are a 16-inch minimum, two-fish limit, and June 1–August 31 season.
Rule Effective April 30, 2026
The rule implementing 2026 and 2027 recreational measures for summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass takes effect April 30, 2026. NMFS will accept public comments on the interim final rule through May 15, 2026, while the measures are in force.
Scup Measures Remain Unchanged
Federal scup recreational measures remain status quo for 2026-2027: a 10-inch (25.4 cm) minimum size, a 40-fish per person possession limit, and an open season January 1 through December 31. The projected median coastwide harvest is 15.77 million lb with an 80% confidence interval of 14.08–17.67 million lb, and the average 2026–2027 RHL is 12.38 million lb.
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