Amended regulations announced for tautog, river herring

DOVER (Feb. 6, 2012) – Final amended regulations for tautog and river herring have been published and will become effective on Saturday, Feb. 11, the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife announced today.

 The changes are as follows:

 The minimum size limit for tautog is 16 inches all year.

 ·         Tautog Open Seasons and Limits:

Jan. 1 – March 31:      5 fish limit

April 1 – May 11:         3 fish limit

July 17 – Aug. 31:       5 fish limit

Sept. 29 – Dec. 31:     5 fish limit

·         Tautog Season Closed: May 12 – July 16 and Sept. 1 – 28

·         River herring (blueback and alewife herring) is closed to harvest in Delaware, and it is unlawful to possess river herring without a valid receipt or bill of sale from a state or jurisdiction where harvest is lawful.  

These regulation changes were made in order to bring Delaware into compliance with Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission requirements. Due to recent lower tautog population numbers, the ASMFC required member states to reduce their tautog harvest quotas. With river herring, ASMFC responded to serious population declines by closing the fishery, unless a member state could prove that a given river herring run could withstand harvest. Delaware’s river herring runs are weak, so closure of the fishery was required. Delaware’s state regulations on tautog and river herring were amended following public hearings and consideration of public input.

The amended regulations on tautog and river herring can be viewed by clicking these links.

For more information on fishing in Delaware, please visit www.dnrec.delaware.gov/fw/Fisheries/ .

Vol. 42, No. 28