Key Message:
- The 2022-2023 recreational fishing season for black sea bass in federal waters of the South Atlantic, south of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina (35°15.19′ N. latitude), will open April 1, 2022, at 12:01 a.m., local time, and will close April 1, 2023, at 12:01 a.m., local time.
- The recreational fishing season for black sea bass in the South Atlantic region begins on April 1st and ends when the recreational catch limit is predicted to be met.
- Estimates indicate recreational landings for the 2022-2023 fishing year will be below the 2022-2023 recreational catch limit. Therefore, NOAA Fisheries estimates that black sea bass will be open for the entire 2022-2023 recreational fishing year.
Why This Announcement Is Happening:
- NOAA Fisheries projects that the 2022-2023 recreational catch limit of 366,510 pounds whole weight will not be met as recreational landings in the past three fishing years with available data were substantially below this value.
- This announcement is in compliance with the current regulations which require NOAA Fisheries to announce the length of the recreational season.
Sign Up For Text Message Alerts - Find Out About Immediate Openings And Closures
NOAA's Text Message Alert Program allows you to receive important fishery related alerts via text message (SMS). Standard message & data rates may apply. You may opt-out at any time.
Text alerts you may receive include:
- Immediate fishery openings and closures
- Any significant changes to fishing regulations that happen quickly
Sign up for one or more of the following groups:
- Gulf of Mexico Recreational Fisheries Related Alerts
- Text GULFRECFISH to 888777
- Gulf of Mexico Commercial Fisheries Related Alerts
- Text GULFCOMMFISH to 888777
- South Atlantic Recreational Fisheries Related Alerts
- Text SATLRECFISH to 888777
- South Atlantic Commercial Fisheries Related Alerts
- Text SATLCOMMFISH to 888777
- Caribbean Fisheries Related Alerts
- Text CARIBFISH to 888777
Join us every other Friday on NOAA Fish Instagram for Rec Fish Friday!
Other contacts:
Media: Kim Amendola, 727-551-5707
Allison Garrett, 727-551-5750
