DEC Marine & Fishing News

Join the Striped Bass Cooperative Angler Program

Striped bass is New York's official saltwater fish and is highly sought-after by recreational anglers in New York's marine waters and the Hudson River. DEC is seeking participants to join the Striped Bass Cooperative Angler (SBCA) Program to help biologists understand and maintain a healthy striped bass population.

Fishing in the Hudson River

The recreational striped bass fishing season in the Hudson River north of the George Washington Bridge is open April 1 through November 30 and the recreational slot limit is 18 to 28 inches (not less than 18 inches nor greater than 28 inches). Anglers who fish for striped bass in the tidal Hudson River should email hudsonangler@dec.ny.gov or visit DEC's website to learn more about the Hudson River Cooperative Anglers Program. 

Fishing in New York's Marine District 

In marine waters (south of the George Washington Bridge), the recreational slot limit is 28 - 35 inches (not less than 28 inches nor greater than 35 inches) and the season is open April 15 through December 15. Anglers who fish for striped bass in New York's marine waters should contact sbcaprogram@dec.ny.gov or visit DEC's Striped Bass Cooperative Anglers webpage for more information.

Striped Bass Recreational Fishing Gear

Effective March 8, 2023, DEC prohibits the use of gaffs when fishing recreationally for striped bass. Additionally, DEC requires anglers use circle hooks when fishing for striped bass with bait. Visit DEC's website for more best practices for saltwater fishing. 

Before fishing, DEC encourages anglers to check the Recreational Saltwater Fishing Regulations for the most up-to-date information before going fishing. In New York's Marine and Coastal District, or when fishing in the Hudson River and its tributaries for "migratory fish of the sea," including striped bass, be sure to enroll in the annual no-fee Recreational Marine Fishing Registry. 

Get hooked on The Fishing Line

Whether you’re an avid angler, only just getting into fishing, or wanting to stay in the loop with DEC Fisheries, the Fishing Line newsletter has something for you!

Get the latest updates on fisheries management and how it ties into fishing, meet the staff making it happen, learn about survey opportunities, and more. Sign up and get hooked today!

ACCSP and NOAA Fisheries Release Plan to Improve Atlantic Recreational Fisheries Data

The Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program (ACCSP) and NOAA Fisheries have released a plan to improve recreational fisheries data collection on the Atlantic Coast. The Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP) Regional Implementation Plan for the Atlantic Coast (PDF) identifies data needs and funding priorities for the next 5 years. The plan aims to provide better data for stock assessment and management, and to support fishing opportunities for generations to come. The ACCSP, which collects, manages, and disseminates Atlantic commercial and recreational fisheries data, coordinates the plan with the help of its partners. The plan includes improvements to the precision and presentation of estimates, comprehensive for-hire data collection, improved recreational fishery discard and release data, expanded biological sampling, and improved in-season monitoring. These improvements will help provide better data for stock assessment and management, which is essential for maintaining sustainable fishing practices and supporting fishing opportunities for generations to come.

NOAA Fisheries will use the plan to guide its allocation of resources and to address the data needs of regional fishery stock assessors and managers. For more information on the plan, visit NOAA's website. 

Recovery Plan for Hudson River American Shad Released

DEC has announced the release of the Recovery Plan for Hudson River American Shad (PDF). American shad is an economically and ecologically important migratory fish species that once supported a robust fishery in the Hudson River. Decades of intense fishing pressure coupled with years of low reproduction and non-fishing-related mortality events have further impacted the stock’s resilience and exacerbated declines.

Significant actions have been taken to improve the Hudson River shad stock since the 2010 closure of the New York fisheries for shad, including reduced mortality at industrial water intakes and ocean-bycatch caps. However, conservative management and considerable patience are needed to return the Hudson River shad stock to levels with enough resilience for commercial and recreational harvest.

The plan delineates the recovery goals and benchmarks based on decades of annual monitoring data and the most recent American shad stock assessment. With the aim of long-term stock resilience, DEC will continue to gather data, identify challenges, and take management actions that are in line with recovery priorities and are supported by sufficient data. As this plan also outlines, the short-term objective is to reopen the catch-and-release fishery while supporting the long-term recovery objective of returning the stock to 1940s’ levels. For more information about American shad, visit DEC's website.