NOAA Fisheries is seeking comments on proposed 2026 and projected 2027 summer flounder, scup, black sea bass, and bluefish specifications and 2026-2027 bluefish recreational fishery management measures. The proposed catch limits are based on the results of recently conducted stock assessments and the recommendations of the Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee for all four species.
Table 1: Proposed 2026 and Projected 2027 Summer Flounder, Scup, Black Sea Bass, and Bluefish Specifications (million lb).
Specifications | Summer Flounder | Black Sea Bass | Scup | Bluefish | ||
2026-2027 | 2026-2027 | 2026 | 2027 | 2026 | 2027 | |
Overfishing Limit (OFL) | (2026) 31.89 (2027) 32.42 | 21.79 | 42.98 | 37.79 | 48.43 | 49.22 |
Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) | 30.01 | 21.34 | 42.09 | 37.01 | 44.61 | 45.41 |
Commercial Annual Catch Limit (ACL) | 16.50 | 9.60 | 27.36 | 24.06 | 6.25 | 6.36 |
Commercial Annual Catch Target (ACT) | 14.52 | 9.60 | 27.36 | 24.06 | 4.68 | 4.77 |
Commercial Quota | 12.78 | 7.83 | 17.70 | 15.57 | 4.66 | 4.75 |
Recreational ACL | 13.50 | 11.74 | 14.73 | 12.95 | 38.36 | 39.05 |
Recreational ACT | 11.88 | 11.74 | 14.73 | 12.95 | 26.85 | 27.34 |
Recreational Harvest Limit (RHL) | 8.79 | 8.14 | 13.17 | 11.58 | 22.02 | 22.50 |
The final summer flounder and bluefish commercial state quotas will be published in the final rule, including any necessary adjustments for overages.
This action also proposes a 2-fish bag limit increase to the bluefish recreational fisheries, resulting in a 7-fish bag limit for the for-hire sector and a 5-fish bag limit for private anglers.
Any potential changes to recreational management measures for summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass will be done through a separate rulemaking.
No changes to the federal commercial management measures are proposed for any of the four species.
