2019 Northern Red Hake Possession Limit Reduction

The northern red hake commercial possession limit has been reduced from 3,000 lb to the incidental limit of 400 lb per trip. Effective 16:15 hours on September 9, 2019, federally permitted vessels may not land or possess on board more than 400 lb of northern red hake per trip for the remainder of the 2019 fishing year (i.e., through April 30, 2020). Vessels that are currently on a trip when this reduction becomes effective may retain northern red hake up to the prior possession limit of 3,000 lb for the completion of that trip. Dealers issued federal permits for small-mesh multispecies may not purchase more than 400 lb of northern red hake per trip from federally permitted vessels for any trip that started after September 9, 2019, through the remainder of the fishing year (April 30, 2020). Federally permitted dealers must also continue to report all fish purchases from any vessel.