Please pass this on to fellow anglers, charter boats, customers and friends. This is an urgent situation and we only have a week to act if we want to fish next year with REASONABLE BAG LIMITS.
Amendment 16 to the Groundfish Fishery Management Plan is coming due. This will effect seasons and bag limits for anyone who fishes for cod and haddock weather a recreational fisherman, charter boat or a recreational fisherman. A defined time period will be used to calculate the allocation: either fishing years 1996-2006 or 2001-2006. If no action is taken, there will be no allocation of groundfish among the commercial and recreational fisheries.
On May 27th the Recreational Advisory Panel met and decided to send to the council a recommendation that if a reduction in Gulf of Maine Cod and Haddock is needed to reduce the bag limit down to six fish per angler and increase the haddock size to 21” which will keep the same season and no bag limit on haddock. Can you imagine only being able to retain six 24” codfish per person?