It’s that time of year when the water warms and the fish bite slows down; unless of course if your a bluefish. Blues in the 5 – 8 pound category have been feeding on the surface early in the morning in Quick’s Hole just about every day. They have also been beating the stripers to the bait when we anchor up. I’m still waiting for the bass to come alive on the slow water at the second half of the tide but, until then we will continue to take our fish early.
Fluke fishing ends August 15th and the bite has gotten tired. Last attempt at the flatties found only a few keepers and lots of under sized fish. There is talk of increasing the quota or lowering the size limit for next year – stay tuned.
For those who like to take a few scup on the slack tide please note season closure below.
August 7, 2008
MarineFisheries Advisory
COMMERCIAL SCUP FISHERY TO CLOSE
AFTER THURSDAY, AUGUST 14, 2008
The Division of Marine Fisheries (MarineFisheries) has projected that 100% of the Commonwealth’s scup quota for the summer/fall fishery will be taken by Thursday, August 14, 2008. Consequently, fishermen are prohibited from landing or possessing scup for commercial purposes effective 0001 hours on Friday, August 15. Note, federally permitted commercial fishermen have been prohibited from landing or possessing scup since NOAA Fisheries closed the summer period federal fishery on June 16, 2008.
The federally-managed Winter II period opens on November 1st with a possession limit of 2,000-lbs. per trip as approved by NOAA Fisheries and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. By November, the fishery is predominately in offshore (federal) waters when scup migrate to deeper waters in response to dropping temperatures inshore.
Recreational fishermen are reminded that the scup recreational fishery will be closed beginning September 18 for anglers aboard for-hire vessels and beginning September 27 for anglers aboard private vessels or fishing from shore. Dealers are reminded that it is unlawful to purchase scup from Massachusetts commercial fishermen when the fishery is closed.
