APRIL 1997
PLANS & STATISTICS
1-800-937-9247
ALL INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS NEWSLETTER IS SUMMARY
INFORMATION. PLEASE REFER TO THE REGULATION CITED FOR LEGAL DOCUMENTATION.
THIS NEWSLETTER PROVIDES ONLY A SUMMARY OF MANAGEMENT MEASURES ADOPTED BY THE COMMISSION AND HAS NO LEGAL FORCE OR EFFECT. TO READ THE REQUIREMENTS IN THEIR ENTIRETY, YOU ARE URGED TO OBTAIN A COMPLETE COPY OF THE REGULATIONS BY CALLING 757-247-8067 OR 757-247-2272; VMRC HOME PAGE: http://www.mrc.virginia.gov
$100 REWARD FOR LIVE STURGEON IN THE JAMES, YORK AND RAPPAHANNOCK RIVERS!!! |
During 1997, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Virginia Marine
Resources Commission, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Virginia Institute
of Marine Science, and the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation,
are offering a $100 reward for live sturgeon captured in
the James, York and Rappahannock Rivers only. No sturgeon from
the Bay or ocean are included in this program. If you catch a
sturgeon, please hold it alive. Phone us, and we will arrange
to come to the site to pick up the fish.
Captured sturgeon will be tagged and released to learn more about
their movement patterns. Tissue samples will be taken to determine
if the fish may have been hatched in the Bay, or from someplace
else outside of the Bay. We will only pay for live sturgeon
captured in the three rivers. You will receive payment in approximately
4 weeks. Thank you for your cooperation. Please call one of the
following phone numbers: (804)829-2421 (Monday-Friday, 8:00a.m.-4:00
p.m.);(804)690-2983 (Cellular); Pager 1-800-774-9578; Pager 757-881-8708;
Pager 804-755-3895. If you need additional information on the
program you may contact David Boyd, VMRC, at (757)247-2244.
The ASMFC increased Virginia's commercial quota by 317,748lbs.
This increase in quota allows some commercial watermen currently
on the waiting list for striped bass tags to receive permits and
watermen currently with tags will receive an increase in the number
of tags for 1997. In mid April there will be an additional allocation
of the new tags. The waiting list will be renumbered and all qualified
'97 lottery applicants will be added to the end of the present
waiting list. All persons on the waiting list will be notified
of their new number for 1997 at a later date.
Tautog (Tautoga onitis) also known as "Blackfish";
"Black Porgy"; "Chub"; "Saltwater Chub"
- Color dull black to greenish black or brownish above, with more
or less distinct, irregular, blackish bars or blotches most distinct
in young; fins plain, mostly like the ground color of body. It
is most readily recognized by its strongly convex anterior profile,
thick lips, large incisorlike teeth, and very deep caudal peduncle.
The food of the tautog is varied, consisting largely of various
small mollusks and crustaceans of suitable size. It is most numerous
among rocks, old wrecks, pilings, etc., where it feeds on barnacles,
crabs and other animals common in such places.
The tautog takes the hook readily and is of some importance
as a "recreational fish." Tautog is one of the few species
that can be found in the bay year round. Tautog have been caught
in Chesapeake Bay waters as far inland as the Maryland Chesapeake
Bay bridge, but are normally a coastal species associated with
the predominately saline waters of bays and estuaries. Tautog
spawn in spring to early summer. In the lower Chesapeake Bay and
coastal Virginia waters they spawn from April to June.
More stock assessment and research is needed on tautog, such
as, accurate data on recreational and commercial landings, recruitment,
sex and size composition, migration/movement patterns as well
as other areas of tautog biology. Currently VIMS in Gloucester
Point, VA is asking for your help in this project. The Atlantic
States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) passed a tautog management
plan which calls for a 13 inch minimum size in April, 1997. A
proposed bag limit will be implemented in April 1998, based on
data from Mass to NY.
Without new information (data) on the tautog fishery in Virginia,
regulations will be based on data from northern states. If you
would like to help please call Mr. Geoff White at (804)642-7325;
Local Pager: Gloucester (804)642-7921; Norfolk (804)629-8136,
to obtain data sheets, and record information on the tautog you
catch. VIMS scientists will pick up frozen carcasses and data
sheet analysis.
Since the mandatory reporting program has come into effect,
tautog landings have increased significantly for Virginia Commercial
landings (See Table/Chart Below). The Commission is currently
calling for public hearings on tautog to establish a 13"
minimum size limit for Virginia tidal waters.
Without your help limits will NOT be based on the tautog fishery
in Virginia! Help us manage your fishery based on Virginia data.
Happy tautog fishing!!!
| AMT | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 |
| LBS | 5420 | 11358 | 27760 | 23749 |
| VALUE | $3535 | $9119 | $22131 | $17817 |
AMBERJACK - Regulation 4VAC20-510-10 et seq
Min Size Limit.........32 inches total length.
Possession Limit.......2 amberjack per person.
AMERICAN EEL - Regulation 4VAC20-500-10 et seq
Min Size Limit...........6 inches total length. See regulation
for details on eel pot restrictions.
AMERICAN SHAD - Reg. 4VAC20-530-10 et seq
MORATORIUM...Unlawful for any person to catch or possess American shad from the Chesapeake Bay or its tidal tributaries.
OPEN FISHERY...Only in Virginia's portion of the Territorial Sea
(east of the Colregs Remarcation Line).
BLACK DRUM - (Drum, Drumfish) -Reg. 4VAC20-320-10
Min Size Limit..........16 inches total length
Possession Limit........All hook & line fishermen are limited to 1 black drum per person
Harvest Quota............120,000 pounds per year from Virginia's tidal waters.
Permit Required.........All fishermen need to obtain a Black Drum
Harvest/Selling Permit in order to catch, sell or possess black
drum. All fisheries for black drum are under limited entry.
BLACK SEA BASS - Reg, 4VAC20-950-10 et seq
Min Size Limit...........9 inches total length. See regulation for
details on fish pot restrictions
BLUEFISH - Reg. 4VAC20-450-10 et seq
Possession Limit....All hook & line fishermen are limited to 10 bluefish per person.
Landings Quota....913,788 pounds for 1997 from any waters.
COBIA (Bonita) - Reg. 4VAC20-510-10 et seq
Min Size Limit...37 inches total length.
Possession Limit....2 cobia per person.
GREY TROUT (Weakfish) - Reg. 4VAC20-380-10 et seq
Hook & Line Fishery..12 inch minimum size limit and a 4 fish possession limit per person.
Gill Net Fishery..12 inch minimum size limit; no possession of grey trout May 14-Oct. 7 and Dec. 18 through Mar. 31. During the CLOSED SEASON, you can possess up to 150 pounds of grey trout of 12 inches or greater.
Pound Net Fishery...No possession of grey trout May 1-22, and Sept. 13 through Mar. 31; See 4VAC20-380-50 for exceptions. During the CLOSED SEASON, you can possess up to 150 pounds of grey trout of 12 inches or greater.
Haul Seine Fishery...No possession of grey trout April 1-15, June 11 through Aug. 20, and Sep. 25 through Mar. 31. During the CLOSED SEASON, you can possess up to 150 pounds of grey trout of 12 inches or greater.
Trawl Fishery...Unlawful to land grey trout in VA less than 12 inches and to have a trawl net cod-end with mesh less than 3 inches. Closed season on landing grey trout by trawler is Sep. 26 through Mar. 31. During the CLOSED SEASON, you can possess a bycatch of up to 150lbs of grey trout of 12 inches or greater.
Other Gear Types......9 inch minimum size limit.
KING MACKEREL - Reg. 4VAC20-540-10 et seq
Min. Size Limit...14 inches total length, except that a licensed
pound net may take or possess king mackerel less than 14 inches
total length.
RED DRUM (Puppy Drum) - Reg. 4VAC20-280-10 et seq
Slot Size Limit..18 inch min and 27 inch max size limits (total length).
Possession Limit...Any person is limited to 5 red drum, only 1
of which may exceed 27 inches total length.
SCUP (Porgy) - Reg. 4VAC20-910-10 et seq
Min Size Limit....9 inches total length.
Harvest Quota.....4158 pounds for May 1 through October 31. See
regulation for details of additional landing and possession limits,
as well as fish pot restrictions.
SHARKS(All excluding dogfish) - Reg. 4VAC20-490-10 et seq
Possession Limit..All hook & line and spear fishermen are limited to 1 shark per person.
Catch Limit...A vessel may not land or have on board any more
than 7500 pounds of shark carcasses per day. Longlining and finning
sharks are prohibited; however, fins may be removed at sea provided
the carcass of the shark is retained and counted as part of any
possession or landing limit.
SPANISH MACKEREL - Reg. 4VAC20-540-10 et seq
Min Size Limit..14 inches total length.
Catch Limit..No person may land more than 3500 pounds of Spanish
mackerel per vessel per trip.
SPECKLED TROUT - Reg. 4VAC20-280-10 et seq
Min Size Limit..14 inches total length.
Possession Limit...All hook & line fisherman are limited to 10 speckled trout per person
Pound Net and Haul Seine Fisheries..up to 5% tolerance (speckled trout under 14 inches) by weight.
Harvest Quota..51,104 pounds for Sept. through Aug., for each
12 month period.
STRIPED BASS (Rockfish) - Reg. 4VAC20-252-10 et seq
It is unlawful for any person to engage in the commercial fishery
for striped bass without first having obtained the necessary fisherman's
registration license, appropriate gear license and the special
permit to fish for striped bass. The minimum size limit and season
restrictions must be observed and all commercially harvested striped
bass must be identified with a tamper evident sealed tag that
has been approved and issued by the appropriate authority in the
jurisdiction of capture. The min size is 18 inches. maximum size
limit shall be 28 inches from March 15 - June 15.
STURGEON - Code Section 28.2-303
It is unlawful to take, catch or possess any sturgeon.
SUMMER FLOUNDER - Reg. 4VAC20-620-10 et seq
Min Size Limit...14 inches total length. Possession Limit...All
hook & line fishermen are limited to 10 summer flounder per
person. Harvest Quota..300,000 lbs per yr from VA tidal waters.
FISHERIES MANAGEMENT PLAN (FMP) Available for public comment between 3/17 - 4/17. Contact Nancy Butowski at the Fisheries Div. Maryland Dept of Natural Resource Tawes State Office Bldg; Annapolis, MD 21401 |
The crab pot season begins April 1, 1997. No pots are to be placed or set before then. Just a reminder for our crab potters; the "hours fished" on your daily forms is the number of hours your crab pots were setting in the water.
{Example: You set them Tues., April 1; you don't go back to pull
them until Wed., April 2. The hours your pots were in the water
is 24 hours (1 day). Please do not put down the hours it
takes you to pull your pots on April 2. 4:00am-2:00pm(10 hrs)}.
This is the most common error with "hours fished" on
our mandatory reporting form. If you have any questions about
hours please call the office at 757-247-2272 or 757-247-2014.
I would like to draw your attention to the "Virginia
Soft Crab Producers Newsletter." There was a note from
the president to his fellow soft crab producers. It stated,"It
is extremely important for the soft crab people to report their
catch to VMRC. This is a requirement that must be fulfilled each
year. Its very simple if you catch a peeler...report it as a peeler;
if it is a soft crab or you shed him aboard the boat, report it
as a soft crab...." This sums up what we have been trying
to get the soft crab and peeler crab harvester to understand.
Please, as the new season approaches, be aware of these reminders!!
Crab dredge season is at a close. All dredgers, to maintain their
eligibility for the following season, must have worked at least
one day during the 1997-97 Dec-Mar season. If you have not reported
make sure you do. We look at the mandatory reporting database
to check the eligibility status for the upcoming season. If you
worked with another dredger make sure they put your commercial
registration number on their reports. You can call the office
and ask for Stephanie Iverson. We will be glad to verify if we
have received your reports.
We would like you to know that we are encouraged
by the reporting of the waterman over the more than four years
that the Mandatory Reporting program has been in place. Every
year waterman are getting better at reporting accurately and in
a timely manner. Unfortunately we are still getting too many delinquent
reports. We are charged with managing your fisheries. We are called
upon to report the data we have received to justify regulations
on different species. Late reports may cause your data to appear
erroneous. We need your cooperation. All reports are due by
the 5th of the following month. That means by January 5, 1997
all of 1996 reports should have been in our
office. In March we were still receiving 1996 data. Please be
aware that you are out of compliance with the Mandatory Reporting
regulation (4VAC20-610-10 et. seq) when you do not have your reports
in our office by the 5th of the following month. Commission action
for noncompliance has ranged from six month probation periods
to revocation of commercial and all related gear licenses for
a period of one year, followed by probation. Please assist us
by reporting accurately and in a timely manner.
CLAMS
Hand/Rake.......................................... $15.00
Patent Tong Single.............................. $35.00
Clam Dredge - Hand............................ $15.00
Clam Dredge - Power........................... $35.00
Patent Tong Double..............................
$70.00
CONCH DREDGE LICENSE............... $35.00
CRABS
Ordinary Trot Line................................. $ 8.00
Patent Trot Line...................................... $31.00
Crab Power Dredge..............................$58.00(Permit Req-VMRC)
Crab Hand Scrape - Single...................... $16.00
Crab Hand Scrape - Double.................... $32.00
Crab Dip Net............................................ $ 8.00
Crab Pot 100 or less..... $ 29.00(Amt Pots Ltr Req-VMRC)
Crab Pot 101-300........... $ 48.00(Amt Pots Ltr Req-VMRC)
Crab Pot 301-500........... $100.00(Amt Pots Ltr Req-VMRC)
Shed Tank 20 or Less.................................. $ 7.50
Shed Tank Over 20...................................... $15.00
Peeler Pot..................................................... $29.00
Horseshoe Crab Hand Harv.........................
$15.00
FOOD FISH
Gill Nets up 600'....................................... $10.00
Gill Nets 601' to 1200'............................... $15.00
Commercial Fish Cast/Throw Net............. $ 8.00
Fish Trot Line........................................... $12.00
Commercial Fish Dip Net.......................... $ 6.00
Haul Seine under 500 yards...................... $29.00
Haul Seine over 500 yards............................ $88.00
Commercial Hook & Line........................... $25.00
Fish Pot 100 or less...................................... $12.00
Fish Pot 101 to 300....................................... $20.00
Fish Pot over 300..........................................
$50.00
OYSTERS
Oysters by Hand/Hand Tong........................ $10.00
Oysters Patent Tong - Single.................... $35.00
Oysters Dredge (Public Grounds)............. $50.00
Oysters Patent Tong - Double................... $70.00
REPLACEMENTS
Replacement Tags........................................... $1.00
Replacement Licenses........................................
No Fee
SEAFOOD BUYERS
Boat or Truck...................................................... $25.00
Place of Business.................................................
$50.00
SEAFOOD LANDING........................................
$150.00
SOLD BY MARINE PATROL OFFICERS ONLY
Crab Trap/Pound................................................. $5.00
Fyke Net.............................................................. $8.00
Pound Net............................................................ $25.00
Stake Gill Net......................................................
$15.00
We have several informational sheets that summarize the regulations
on several species available to the watermen. You will find a
copy of "Commercial Fishing in Virginia's Tidal Waters"
enclosed in this newsletter. Also available are: "Commercial
Crabbing in Virginia Tidal Waters"; and "Summary of
Gill Net Laws & Regulations for Virginia Tidal Waters".
These informational sheets are updated as regulations change.
Please keep the current addition of these sheets for the most
accurate information. Call in to the office if you aren't sure
if you have the most current copy of these sheets.
You will be receiving a year's supply of '97 forms and folders
in one mailing. The number of folders you will receive is based
on your reporting history for 1996. You may request additional
forms at any time during the year if you should run out. Just
call 1-800-937-9247 24hr a day, seven days a week. Leave your
name, commercial registration number, and the number of supplies
you need on the answering machine.
April 22, 1997 ON OR AFTER 12 P.M.
2600 Washington Ave, Newport News
4th Fl - Commission Room
Written comments on the proposals will be accepted until 12:00
Noon, April 22, 1997 and should be addressed to Jack Travelstead,
VMRC Fisheries Management Division, P.O. Box 756, Newport News,
VA 23607.
1) Tautog minimum size limit/gear restrictions.
2) Shark minimum size 58", by-catch allowance, closure of state waters when federal waters quota has been reached.
3) Clam Management Areas
4) Conch Regulations
UPCOMING MEETINGS:
Clam Advisory Committee: May 14, 1997 ;7:00pm, VMRC
Conf. Room 4th FL
Finfish Advisory Committee: May 20, 1997;7:00pm, VMRC Conf. Room
4th FL
Com Fish Advisory Board: May 20, 1997:4:00pm
In order for State and Federal fisheries biologists to manage the striped bass fishery and maintain fishable levels of striped bass, people who care about the fishery are relied upon for tag infor- mation. However, for tagging information to be useful, fishermen who return the tags must provide accurate and complete information. In the past, cash rewards were given to anyone providing tag information, regardless of the completeness of the data sent. Due to recent reductions in the federal budget, cash rewards are now only given to those who send in complete and accurate tag information. Everyone will still receive a hat for their participation. Below is a list of the information the Fish & Wildlife Service needs to process a tag return and issue a cash reward:
- What was the tag number?
- Was the tag removed from the fish or not?
- If removed, what part of the tag was removed: streamer, button, or both?
- Was the fish: sold, kept for consumption, released, or accidentally killed in a net?
- How was the fish caught: anchor gill net, drift gill net, seine, pound net, trap, hook and line?
- What was the date that the fish was caught? (At a minimum, provide month and year)
- Where was the fish caught? (Include name of body of water and
nearest town/city that can be found on map)
