Weakfish Management Information

[The Broken One]

The following is a news release from the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

ASMFC Weakfish Board to Meet September 28, 2009 to Approve Weakfish Draft Addendum for Public Comment

Washington, DC - The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's Weakfish Management Board will meet September 28, 2009 at 9:30 AM (EST) via conference call to review and consider approval of Draft Addendum IV to Amendment 4 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Weakfish for public review and comment. The Draft Addendum, developed in response to all time low stock abundance, will propose a range of options to reduce fishing mortality, including complete harvest moratoria and limited bycatch only fisheries.

It is anticipated that the majority of states will be conducting public hearings on Draft Addendum IV in October; a press release will be issued on those hearings once the information is available. The Board will meet again in November to consider public comment and take final action on the Draft Addendum. Under Commission procedures, the Board may opt to implement the Addendum under emergency action, with approved measures taking effect immediately upon Board action.

The public is invited to join the call and public comment will be taken as time permits. Please go to the Commission website under Meetings (http://www.asmfc.org/meetings.htm) for instructions to join the call. For more information, please contact Nichola Meserve, Fishery Management Plan Coordinator, at (202)289-6400 or <nmeserve@asmfc.org>.
 

[bassnblues]

I kinda think we need a moratorioum for a few years.

[Pfishingruven]

The sad part is there already is kind of a moratorium.  No one is catching them, so...and the ones who are catching them are not catching enough to damage the fishery by fishing alone.

 

[bugmannj]

Very true, I can remember schools of them years ago just outside Manasquan inlet. In fact, a fishing buddy at that time had the nickname of "Freddy the flying net" because he'd catch them in midair when they spit the hook.

[bassnblues]

You always hears of some big spawners being caught in the spring.

Ironic that they regulate a plentiful fish like fluke out the yin-yang but a species that's actually in trouble has a wide open season, generous bag limit and an almost meaningless size limit.