The southern red hake commercial possession limit has been reduced from 5,000 lb to the incidental limit of 400 lb per trip. Effective December 26, 2018, federally permitted vessels may not land or possess on board more than 400 lb of southern red hake per trip for the remainder of the 2018 fishing year (i.e., through April 30, 2019). Vessels that are currently on a trip when this reduction becomes effective may retain southern red hake up to the prior possession limit of 5,000 lb for the completion of that trip.
Dealers issued federal permits for small-mesh multispecies may not purchase more than 400 lb of southern red hake per trip from federally permitted vessels for any trip that started after December 26, 2018 through the remainder of the fishing year (April 30, 2019). Federally permitted dealers must also continue to report all fish purchases from any vessel.
