May 2, 2015 — In saltwater fishing news this week, MarineFisheries has adopted a new measure to prevent unlawful “stockpiling” of striped bass on closed commercial fishing days for the striped bass fishery. Stockpiling refers to harvesting fish on a closed commercial fishing day to be sold on a following open commercial day, which is illegal.
Beginning on June 20 through the end of the commercial season, commercial striped bass fishermen fishing recreationally on a closed commercial fishing day must remove the entire right pectoral fin from any striped bass 34 inches or greater that they retain. To aid in enforcement, this rule also applies to any person fishing aboard a vessel that is either named on a commercial striped bass permit endorsement or carrying the holder of a commercial striped bass permit endorsement.
Concurrently, dealers are prohibited from purchasing and selling any striped bass that has had its right pectoral fin removed as such a fish designates a recreationally-caught fish and therefore is illegal to buy and/or sell.
Commercial striped bass regulations establish a start date of June 23 for the seasonal fishery and open fishing days of Monday and Thursday. For 2015, this means the commercial fishery begins on June 25. Accordingly, the requirement to remove the right pectoral fin is active this year from June 20-24, followed by every Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday until the season closes (quota dependent).