Fisheries

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and Mid-Atlantic Fisheries Management Council liberalized coastwide recreational harvest rules for black sea bass and bluefish in 2026. Connecticut's new regulations include black sea bass with a 15.5-inch minimum length, May 16-November 25 season, and 4-fish bag limit, while bluefish regulations allow a 5-fish bag limit year-round.

The lower Deschutes River will open for spring Chinook salmon fishing May 5-20, 2026, marking the first season since 2018. Deschutes District Fish Biologist Jason Seals reports expectations of more than 2,000 hatchery spring Chinook returns, with anglers allowed one hatchery Chinook per day.

MassWildlife will hold a public hearing on May 4, 2026, to discuss proposed changes to freshwater fishing regulations, including new daily bag limits for American eels and trout, updates to Atlantic salmon regulations, and amendments to fish possession definitions. The Division of Fisheries and Wildlife seeks to align regulations with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission requirements and simplify trout regulations.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife completed walleye spawning operations at Pueblo and Cherry Creek Reservoirs, collecting and fertilizing approximately 127 million eggs delivered to Pueblo and Wray hatcheries. Aquatic biologist Carrie Tucker emphasized the critical importance of these efforts to maintaining strong walleye fisheries across Colorado, with volunteers playing a crucial role in the spawning process.

The Gulf Council will host an in-person meeting of its Ad Hoc Red Snapper and Grouper-Tilefish IFQ Advisory Panel on April 21 in Tampa, Florida. The panel will evaluate proposed amendments regarding commercial red grouper quota pools and IFQ permit requirements, with public comment accepted in-person and via webinar.

The Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) conducts its annual "Razorback Roundup" survey at Lake Mohave to assess razorback sucker populations. Fish are weighed, measured, and tagged with PIT microchips to monitor movement and population size as part of decades-long recovery efforts for this species.

The Maine Department of Marine Resources is conducting a confidential survey to characterize recreational shark fishing in Maine. The survey, closing May 1, 2026, will help DMR develop outreach and identify areas for future meetings and collaborative research with the recreational shark fishing community.

NOAA Fisheries seeks public comments on Amendment 62 to modify Gulf red grouper management measures, including revised status determination criteria, overfishing limits, and sector allocations based on Florida State Reef Fish Survey data. The comment period runs through June 1, 2026.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife announced 2026 Lake Erie walleye and yellow perch daily harvest limits, which remain unchanged from previous seasons. Anglers can expect world-class walleye fishing with abundant populations from recent large hatches, while yellow perch fishing will be best in the west zone during summer months.

Red drum in North Carolina's coastal sounds demonstrate site fidelity, returning to the same estuarine areas year after year. Fish navigate using Earth's magnetic field, olfactory imprinting, and learned environmental maps. Understanding these mechanisms helps fisheries managers protect habitats and sustain local populations.

Maryland's 2026 recreational striped bass season begins April 1, returning catch-and-release fishing in April for the first time since 2019. The new regulations include a summer closure during August and harvest periods from May-July and September-December. Spawning rivers remain closed March 1-May 31 to protect breeding striped bass.

NOAA Fisheries is hosting a West Coast recreational fisheries constituent roundtable on April 9, 2026, in Portland, Oregon. The event will feature NOAA Fisheries Assistant Administrator Eugenio Piñeiro Soler and regional leadership discussing priorities and concerns with recreational anglers.

The North Carolina Marine & Estuary Foundation and partners have stocked over 6 million striped bass into the Roanoke River and Albemarle Sound over three years to rebuild declining populations. Using genetic technology, biologists will evaluate this spring whether stocked fish are surviving and reproducing as the recreational harvest season remains closed for the third consecutive year.

California's 2026 recreational Pacific halibut season opens April 1 and runs through November 15 north of Point Arena and December 31 south of Point Arena. The sport fishery quota is 40,040 pounds, with regulations set by NMFS and CDFW.

Wisconsin angler Alan Hintz caught a 3-pound yellow perch on March 1 through the ice in Pelican Bay on Devils Lake, setting a new North Dakota state record. The 16.5-inch fish surpassed the previous record of 2 pounds, 15 ounces, set by Kyle Smith in 1982.

California's 2026 recreational Pacific halibut season opens April 1, running through November 15 north of Point Arena and December 31 south of Point Arena. The sport fishery quota is 40,040 pounds, approximately matching last year's allocation. CDFW provides regulations and updates via hotlines at (800) 662-9825 and (831) 649-2801.

The Missouri Department of Conservation and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers collaborated to enhance fish habitat at Stockton Lake by replenishing 14 existing brush piles and constructing 45 new ones, using approximately 75 barge loads of trees to increase fishing opportunities for anglers.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources stocked approximately 3,050 retired adult broodstock trout in the Huron River and Spring Mill Pond in southeast Michigan. Fish ranging from 13 to 20 inches include brown trout and rainbow trout, with special fishing regulations in effect through April 25.

The Idaho Department of Fish and Game and Utah Division of Wildlife Resources will present Bear Lake fishery updates and 2026 work plans at a public meeting on April 8 at 6 p.m. in Montpelier, Idaho. Biologists will discuss population trends and management efforts for the lake's fish species.

The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department and the Lake Champlain Fish and Wildlife Management Cooperative will host a State of the Lake Fisheries public meeting on March 28 in Burlington, Vermont. The meeting will cover lake trout, landlocked Atlantic salmon, sea lamprey, invasive species, and angler experiences with Forward Facing Sonar technology.