Originally Posted by Broad Bill
Submitted with some slight alterations. Thanks again for the effort.
Dear Members of the Black Sea Bass "BSB" Fisheries Management Council,
I'm writing as a concerned member of the recreational fishing community to respectfully request your consideration of more liberal measures for BSB management in the 2026 / 2027 fishing season. As recent stock assessments have shown, BSB populations have exceeded their biomass targets by over 100%, a clear indication of a healthy and sustainable stock.
In addition, from 2000 through current, the BSB biomass has surged by an unprecedented 1000% while exploitation (commercial and recreational removals) over that same approximate time frame has declined by more than 60%. I understand the black sea bass is considered protogynous hermaphrodites, meaning they are born female and can later change sex to become male. This sex change typically occurs when a female reaches a certain size, usually around 9-13 inches in length, and it happens during the fall and winter after the spawning season. The transition is visually driven, rather than chemically essentially meaning the stock finds a way to transform gender composition to insure the sustainability of the stock. Recruitment analysis and the surge in SSB over the period mentioned above would certainly lead one to that conclusion.
It's my understanding there's concern by the Council of future recruitment levels with BSB which are indeterminable but as mentioned the prior year history supports have been sufficient to drive a ten-fold increase in the biomass. In the fluke fishery, which has been decimated over the last two decades, larger breeders (primarily female) represent the majority of commercial and recreational harvest as it's mandated by the recreational regulations and driven by higher ex-vessel values for larger fish by the commercial sector. The annual spawn remains unprotected from commercial netting by the Council. Why would there be concern about BSB recruitment levels which have produced unprecedented increases in the biomass from 2000 to current yet a completely different set of scientific standards seem to apply to fluke recruitment which have not only hampered but been the Achilles heel of a declining fishery over that same period?
Given the exceptional surge in stock status of BSB, I urge the Council to consider expanding access to this abundant resource by revisiting current harvest restrictions. These measures, while originally necessary for stock rebuilding, now appear beyond overly conservative in light of the most recent scientific data. Increased access—whether through a longer season, higher possession limits, or more inclusive quotas—would benefit a wide range of stakeholders, including charter operators, recreational anglers, and coastal communities whose economies depend on a vibrant, accessible fishery. Sacrifices by both sectors have been made, it's time for the recreational and commercial sector to reap the benefit of those sacrifices unless there's very specific reasons not to which doesn't appear to be the case.
Science-based management is the foundation of successful conservation, and the recent data confirm that BSB are thriving under the current framework. It is only fair and logical to allow regulations to evolve in response to this success. These regulations have worked for the fish, so now it’s time for them to work for the fishermen too. Maintaining overly restrictive measures in the face of abundant stock undermines public trust and risks alienating the very communities who have supported conservation efforts in good faith.
I appreciate the Council’s continued dedication to sustainable fisheries management and trust that you will weigh this request seriously as you begin planning for the 2026 / 2027 season.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Thomas B Smith
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