Bluefin Tuna Commercial General Category Fishery Reminders

NOAA Fisheries reminds Atlantic Tunas General category permit holders and Highly Migratory Species Charter/Headboat permit holders fishing commercially for bluefin tuna that the General category fishery will re-open June 1, 2026.

General Category Retention Limits

Unless modified, the following default retention limits apply:

June 1-June 30: 3 large medium or giant bluefin tuna (measuring 73 inches or greater curved fork length) per vessel per day/trip

July 1-December 31: 1 large medium or giant bluefin tuna (measuring 73 inches or greater curved fork length) per vessel per day/trip

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Required Reservations for Five Most Popular Drive-on Surf Fishing Beaches Begin May 23

Five of the most popular drive-on beaches for surf fishing in Delaware require reservations on weekends and holidays beginning May 23, but reservations at seven other locations are not required since a change was adopted in 2025.

Anglers Gearing Up For Garden State Surf Fishing Classic

Anglers of all ages and skill levels are invited to participate in the Garden State Surf Fishing Classic, the state’s premier fishing tournament being held this Sunday, May 17, at Island Beach State Park in Ocean County.

The annual tournament brings awareness to New Jersey’s rich cultural heritage of recreational saltwater fishing and the importance of protecting the state’s marine resources. The popular family event allows participants to hone their surf fishing skills while competing for the ultimate catch. Registration begins at 5 a.m. for those who are not pre-registered. Fishing will take place from 6:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Acting Commissioner Potosnak will participate in the tournament awards ceremony at 2 p.m.

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DNREC Announces June 6 and 7 Will be Free Fishing Days in Delaware Waters

DNREC encourages Delawareans and visitors alike to celebrate National Fishing and Boating Week (June 6-14) with two days of free fishing in the state Saturday, June 6 and Sunday, June 7. On these two days anglers may fish, crab and clam in any Delaware waters without possessing a 2026 fishing license.

DNREC to Hold First Community Meeting on Chronic Wasting Disease

DNREC will hold the first community meeting about the recent detection of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in Delaware’s white-tailed deer at 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 13 at the Baldcypress Nature Center at Trap Pond State Park in Laurel. For anyone unable to attend the in-person meeting, a virtual option is available.

2026 Atlantic Shark Commercial Fisheries Adjusted Quotas

NOAA Fisheries announces the adjusted quotas for the 2026 Atlantic shark commercial fisheries.

What will it do?

The Atlantic shark commercial fishing year automatically opened on January 1, 2026 under base quotas.

NOAA Fisheries has adjusted the 2026 commercial quotas based on underharvests from the 2025 fishing year, consistent with existing regulations.

Who is affected?

Atlantic commercial shark fishermen
Dealers who buy or sell sharks or shark products

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Black Sea Bass Recreational Fishing Regulations

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control is revising recreational fishing state regulations for black sea bass to reflect a greater abundance of the species for anglers to catch. However, DNREC cautions that federal regulations may or may not change to match the state regulations by the time the season opens.

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Fishing Derby scheduled for April 25, rain or shine

Registration at 8 am

Maryland Fishing Report

The Chester, Sassafras, Bush, Gunpower, and Magothy rivers are good places to look for spawning runs of white perch.Blue catfish and channel catfish are active in the Choptank River.Hickory shad continue to be found in the Potomac River below Little Falls and the Mason Branch of Mattawoman Creek. Trout fishing remains one of the most popular freshwater fishing activities this month. Read more.

Trout Season Opens April 11 with Simplified Rules

Anglers will get to enjoy 19 extra days of fishing, more than 20 additional ponds into which to drop their lines, and simplified regulations to follow when the much-anticipated trout season opens at 8 a.m. Saturday, April 11 in waterways across New Jersey. This year’s spring season will be highlighted by the stocking of more than 180,000 rainbow trout and larger broodstock, as well as 20,000 brown trout provided by the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission.