Fisheries

The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources' Marine Resources Division has partnered with the University of South Alabama to conduct the AL Creel survey, which collects saltwater fishing data through phone calls and dockside surveys. The survey aims to receive NOAA accreditation for fisheries management, following Louisiana's methodology, and reduce reliance on the federal MRIP program.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is hosting a virtual public meeting on February 17 at 4 p.m. to discuss management options for 2027-2028 coastal recreational bottomfish fisheries. The Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) is considering harvest levels and management measures such as seasons and bag limits for the upcoming biennium.

The Arizona Game and Fish Commission approved out-of-cycle fishing regulation changes for Lake Mead and Lake Mohave, including unlimited daily striped bass bag limits and 25 catfish limits. The changes align Arizona's regulations with Nevada Department of Wildlife rules and ensure consistency for anglers and law enforcement on shared waters.

The Gulf Council is accepting applications for its Red Drum Advisory Panel and Coastal Migratory Pelagic Advisory Panel. Advisory Panel members serve three-year terms and receive travel expense compensation. Applications must be submitted by March 3, 2026, at noon for consideration during the April Council meeting.

North Carolina's sheepshead fishery has grown rapidly, with recreational anglers landing nearly 1.43 million pounds in 2024. The Division of Marine Fisheries implemented new regulations effective March 1, 2026, reducing the recreational daily bag limit to five fish and increasing the minimum size to 14 inches to protect younger fish and ensure population sustainability.

Starting February 9, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is reducing the daily and possession limit for yellow perch on Mille Lacs Lake from 10 to 5 fish through November 30, 2026. The adjustment, made through co-management with Ojibwe Tribes, aims to maintain a healthy perch population and stay within the state's harvestable surplus of 36,500 pounds.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) will host its annual Salmon Information Meeting on February 25, 2026, in Sacramento, featuring ocean salmon fishery outlooks and spawner returns. The hybrid event kicks off a two-month public process involving west coast states, federal agencies, tribal co-managers, and commercial and recreational fishing representatives to develop 2026 salmon seasons.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) will open recreational snook harvest in the Northeast, Indian River Lagoon, and Southeast management regions from Feb. 1 through May 31, with a one-fish bag limit and 28-32 inch slot limit. This reflects FWC's holistic management approach evaluating regional environmental conditions and stakeholder experiences.

The Gulf Council met in New Orleans from January 26-28, 2026, taking final action on Reef Fish Amendment 62 to increase red grouper catch limits and eliminate recreational shallow-water grouper closures. The Council also advanced work on for-hire electronic reporting, recreational deep-water grouper reporting, and red snapper management flexibility while requesting an extension on NOAA's proposed Atlantic shark regulation changes.

A juvenile King-of-the-salmon, also known as ribbonfish, was recently spotted by a diver in Monterey Bay, California. Named by the Makah Tribe, this deep-sea species normally dwells at depths up to 3,000 feet. NOAA Fisheries biologist Dr. Laurie Weitkamp fulfilled her bucket list by seeing one in 2021 during a Pacific Ocean expedition.

Michigan Technological University and the Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Division are surveying burbot anglers in the Lake Superior basin to understand awareness, values, and preferences for recreational fishing. The research aims to help fisheries managers balance sustainable harvest with angler satisfaction.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife stocked over 36 million fish across eleven species at 233 locations statewide in 2025. Fish were distributed at five life stages to support Ohio's 827,000 licensed anglers, with stocking expanding fishing opportunities in waters where natural reproduction is limited.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries will host a public informational meeting on February 24, 2026, at Lake Claiborne State Park to discuss stocking programs, bass and catfish management, and future fisheries improvements. Contact Jeff Sibley for additional information.

ODFW will host the 2026 Ocean Salmon Industry Group Meeting on February 27, 2026, to review 2025 seasons, preview 2026 salmon forecasts, and develop Oregon's preferred recreational and commercial ocean salmon season concepts through the Pacific Fishery Management Council process. The meeting will be held in-person at OSU's Gladys Valley Marine Studies Building in Newport and virtually via Microsoft Teams.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife selected 16 projects to receive over $10 million in grants through the Fisheries Restoration Grant Program for salmon and steelhead habitat restoration. Notable recipients include South Yuba River Citizens League, Trout Unlimited, California Conservation Corps, and Eel River Watershed Improvement Group, with projects removing fish passage barriers and restoring thousands of acres of habitat.

North Carolina's speckled trout face elevated cold stun risk as winter weather approaches, with water temperatures expected to drop below the 45°F stress threshold. The Division of Marine Fisheries urges anglers to report stunned or dead trout to Marine Patrol or biologist Lucas Pensinger to support management efforts.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources will host a public meeting on January 28 to discuss the Fisheries Management Bureau's statewide genetic management plan. The meeting will be held in person at UW-Stevens Point DeBot Dining Center and virtually via Microsoft Teams from 6 to 8 p.m.

Dr. Sean Powers of the University of South Alabama will lead a $5 million study across all five Gulf states examining cobia and tripletail, two data-poor saltwater species. The research, funded through Senator Katie Britt and the National Marine Fisheries Service, aims to tag approximately 500 of each species to understand migration patterns, fishing mortality, and population sustainability.

A North Carolina red drum study uses satellite tags to track fish movement through two data streams: real-time opportunistic transmissions and complete archived datasets. Tagged fish like Billy, Finley, and Dwight provide researchers with detailed travel diaries and position estimates to reconstruct their coastal journeys.

Virginia's Department of Wildlife Resources is soliciting public comments on fishing, boating, and nongame regulations from January 15 through February 14. Comments will be reviewed and presented at the Wildlife and Boat Committee meeting on March 18, with draft regulations presented on May 20.