Contact: Roy Miller, Fisheries, phone: (302) 739-9914
or Joanna Wilson, Public Affairs, phone: (302) 739-9902

Delaware Division of Fish & Wildlife

New Regulation Lowers Weakfish Recreational Daily Limit

As the 2007 weakfish season draws to a close, the Division of Fish and Wildlife has announced a new regulation that lowers the weakfish daily recreational harvest limit from eight to six fish per day, effective Oct. 11.

This conservation measure, signed by DNREC Secretary John A. Hughes in September, brings Delaware into compliance with the most recent addendum to the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Interstate Fishery Management Plan for weakfish. All major weakfish harvesting states along the Atlantic seaboard are required to adopt the Commission’s measure or face federal sanctions.

“It is our responsibility to protect and conserve this species to ensure that weakfish will continue to be found in Delaware waters in the future,” said Fisheries Administrator Roy Miller.

Weakfish – Delaware’s state fish - arrive in Delaware waters in April or May, with most spawning occurring April through June. In the fall, they migrate south to winter in North Carolina waters. Weakfish grow up to 3 feet long and are a popular catch both recreationally and commercially.

The decision to decrease the harvest was made in response to a significant decline in weakfish stock abundance and increasing mortality since 1999. Scientific data suggests that natural mortality, not fishing mortality, is the major cause for this decline. However, reducing the recreational creel limit will leave more fish in the population for spawning, with hopes of future stock recovery.

The change likely will have minimal impact on recreational anglers. “In recent years, we’ve been seeing a reduced abundance of this species. Because of this, few anglers fishing for weakfish have been reaching the old daily limit,” Miller said.

The regulation also reduces the daily harvest from eight to six per day for anglers with commercial hook and line licenses.

For more information, please contact the Fisheries office at 302-739-9914.
 

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