Anglers Rejoice: Black Sea Bass Season Stretches Long
Published Date: 3/20/2026
Rule
Summary
Good news for South Atlantic recreational fishers! The black sea bass fishing season will run from April 20, 2026, through March 31, 2027, giving anglers plenty of time to catch their limit. This plan helps protect black sea bass while letting fishers enjoy a longer, predictable season without unexpected closures.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
2026–2027 Recreational ACL and Projection
The recreational annual catch limit (ACL) for black sea bass for the 2026-2027 fishing year is 310,602 lb gutted weight (366,510 lb round weight). NMFS compared landings from 2022-2023 through 2024-2025 to this ACL and projects that 2026-2027 recreational landings will be less than the ACL, so NMFS does not expect to close recreational harvest during the fishing year.
Possible Future Restriction from Regulatory Amendment 37
The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council approved potential measures in Regulatory Amendment 37 that, if implemented by NMFS, could establish a recreational annual catch target lower than the current ACL and revise accountability measures to close recreational harvest if landings reach that annual catch target. It is currently unknown whether implementation timing could affect the 2026-2027 fishing year.
Season Dates Set for 2026–2027
The recreational black sea bass season in South Atlantic Federal waters is set from April 20, 2026, through March 31, 2027. The recreational fishing year runs April 1 through March 31, and this announcement gives anglers a clear start and end date for the 2026-2027 season.
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