NOAA Closes Recreational Fishery for Black Sea Bass

The Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife received notice today, Sept. 30, that effective Monday, Oct. 5, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has issued an emergency closure of recreational fishing for black sea bass in all federal waters north of Cape Hatteras, N.C., for 180 days. 
 
The emergency closure came in response to [...]

Suggestions Sought on Indiana Fish, Wildlife Rules

INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Natural Resources Commission is seeking public suggestions as part of an ongoing comprehensive review and enhancement of fish and wildlife rules for the Department of Natural Resources.
Substantive rule change suggestions can be made through a Web-based interactive form by going to IN.gov/nrc/ and clicking on the “Submit a Suggestion” link. The [...]

Fishing for Hatchery Steelhead on the upper Columbia River Begins Nov. 6

OLYMPIA – A hatchery steelhead fishery opens Nov. 6 on the upper Columbia River from Rocky Beach Dam upstream to 400 feet below Wells Dam, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) announced today.
Anglers will have a daily limit of two adipose-fin-clipped hatchery steelhead, which must measure at least 20 inches in length. Steelhead [...]

ASMFC Approves Maryland’s Request to Extend the 2008 and 2009 Recreational Striped Bass Seasons

Non-quota Management Approved for the First Time
Annapolis, Md. — Today, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Striped Bass Management Board (ASMFC) approved Maryland’s request to extend the 2008 and 2009 recreational striped bass seasons. The decision also approved an alternative non-quota based management strategy for the fishery’s spring season. The ASMFC approved this strategy [...]

Kenai River Sockeye Salmon Limit Reduced

The sockeye salmon bag and possession limit will be reduced to one fish upstream of the Kenai River sonar counter located at river mile 19, effective 12:01 a.m., Wednesday, August 6. The Kenai River sonar counter is located approximately two river miles below the Sterling Highway Bridge crossing of the Kenai River in Soldotna. Sport [...]

Minnesota DNR To Hold Public Meeting On Proposed Fishing Regulations For Two Cass County Lakes

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will hold a public meeting to solicit comments on a proposal to implement special fishing regulations on Inguadona and Rice lakes in northern Cass County. The DNR proposes to implement the following regulations on both lakes:

a possession limit of five sunfish
a possession limit of five crappie

The open house [...]

Chinook Seasons Get Under Way Aug. 1 With New Options for Columbia River Anglers

OLYMPIA – Columbia River anglers will be able to catch chinook salmon throughout August during this year’s “Buoy 10” fishery, but will be required to release any chinook they intercept upriver to Bonneville Dam until Sept. 1.
Also, for the first time, mark-selective fishing rules will be in effect for chinook jacks on eight Columbia River [...]

Amendment to the 2008 Copper River Personal Use Dip Net Salmon Fishery Schedule

The Chitina Subdistrict will be open from 12:01 a.m. Wednesday July 30 until 11:59 p.m. Sunday August 3. There will be no supplemental harvest during this fishing period. This announcement does not change the eighth opening of the Chitina Subdistrict, which will remain at 12:01 a.m. July 21 through 11:59 p.m. July 27 during which [...]

New FWC Rules Require Tags on Passive Fishing Gear

Passive fishing gear – things like trotlines, crab traps, bush hooks and other devices that catch fish in fresh water while the fisherman isn’t present – have to be tagged with the owner’s name and address under a new rule.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) adopted new rules in response to public requests [...]

Chinook fishery reopens on 3 Columbia tributaries; hatchery steelhead limit rises to 6 per day on 2 rivers

VANCOUVER, Wash. – Starting today, anglers may once again keep hatchery-reared chinook salmon they catch while fishing on the Cowlitz, Kalama, and Lewis rivers in southwest Washington.
Also today, the catch limit for steelhead will increase to six hatchery steelhead per day on the Cowlitz and North Fork Lewis rivers.
Pat Frazier, regional fish manager for the [...]