Alert: Recreational Fishing Regulations for Gulf of Maine Cod and Haddock
In the Gulf of Maine, recreational anglers are subject to specific regulations for catching cod and haddock, which are designed to support stock rebuilding and sustainable harvests. These regulations, in effect from May 1, 2020, to April 30, 2021, were coordinated by the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries and followed federal rules for the Gulf of Maine (GOM) groundfish fisheries.
For Gulf of Maine cod, the possession limit is one fish per angler per day during the open season, which is from September 15 to 30. Unfortunately, the specific regulations for the 2020-2021 season are not detailed in the current search results. However, it is known that the minimum legal size limit for cod is 21 inches.
During the closed cod season, from October 1 to April 30, possession of cod is prohibited. Interestingly, recreational anglers can still fish for Gulf of Maine haddock during this closed cod season. The open season for haddock is from May 1 to February 29 (or April 15-30), and anglers can retain up to 15 haddock per day.
The size limit for haddock is not explicitly stated for the 2020-2021 season in the available search results, but it's worth noting that size limits are typically imposed to ensure juveniles are not harvested.
For more precise information on bag/possession limits, size minimums, or seasonal timeframes for the 2020-2021 period, one would typically consult the NOAA Fisheries Northeast Multispecies Fishery Regulations or the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries archives for those regulatory years.
For questions regarding these regulations, Emily Keiley at (978) 281-9116 can provide further information. Additionally, the FishRules app, available on mobile devices, can be used to check recreational fishing regulations.
It's essential for recreational anglers to stay informed about and follow these regulations to ensure the sustainability of the Gulf of Maine's fish stocks and the continued enjoyment of recreational fishing.
Sports-betting on the success of the Gulf of Maine's recreational anglers in adhering to their specific regulations, such as the cod possession limit, could be an interesting betting market during the open seasons. In the realm of sports-betting, understanding these anglers' compliance with size minimums for both cod and haddock is crucial.
