What/When:
- The 2023-2024 recreational fishing season for black sea bass in federal waters of the South Atlantic, south of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina (35°15.19′ N. latitude), will start on April 1, 2023, and end on March 31, 2024.
- Estimates indicate recreational landings for the 2023-2024 fishing year will be below the 2023-2024 recreational catch limit. Therefore, black sea bass will be open for the entire 2023-2024 recreational fishing year.
Why This Announcement is Happening:
- NOAA Fisheries projects that the 2023-2024 recreational catch limit of 366,510 pounds whole weight will not be met.
- This announcement is in compliance with the current regulations which require NOAA Fisheries to announce the length of the recreational season.
This bulletin provides only a summary of the existing regulations. Full regulations can be found in the Federal Register or at https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-50/chapter-VI/part-622/subpart-I.
