Damn, they slipped in another Charter/Party vs Rec Boat regulation!!!

[Roccus7]

This one came in under the radar but now Charter & Party boats in the Gulf of Maine have a more lenient cod season than recreational fishermen getting an extra 2 weeks of fishing this fall, which is a 100% increase.

I absolutely abhor this differentiation and it's the first time it's happened the the Gulf of Maine, IIRC. If they get special rules because they are commercial operations, why aren't they considered commercial fishermen????

Recreational fishermen: 1, 24 21" cod per day from September 15 - 30, 2020, and April 1 - 14, 2021.

Charter/Party fishermen: 1, 24 21" cod per day from September 8 - October 7, 2020, and April 1 - 14, 2021.

Please note size limit is 21", NOT 24". I goofed...

 

[BennyV]

This one came in under the radar but now Charter & Party boats in the Gulf of Maine have a more lenient cod season than recreational fishermen getting an extra 2 weeks of fishing this fall, which is a 100% increase.

I absolutely abhor this differentiation and it's the first time it's happened the the Gulf of Maine, IIRC. If they get special rules because they are commercial operations, why aren't they considered commercial fishermen????

Recreational fishermen: 1, 24" cod per day from September 15 - 30, 2020, and April 1 - 14, 2021.

Charter/Party fishermen: 1, 24" cod per day from September 8 - October 7, 2020, and April 1 - 14, 2021.

Not for nothing but who the hell is chartering a boat for 1 stinking codfish.

 

[Roccus7]

Not for nothing but who the hell is chartering a boat for 1 stinking codfish.

And that is the reason that there are ZERO groundfish charter boats left in Maine that I know of. There's only 1 party boat operating out of Maine too that focuses on groundfish. There are a couple of groundfish party boats out of NH. If the haddock population crashes, all of the party boats are toast too. Pollock used to be a main stay, but the last few years have seen ominous drops in pols too!!

 

[BennyV]

And that is the reason that there are ZERO groundfish charter boats left in Maine that I know of. There's only 1 party boat operating out of Maine too that focuses on groundfish. There are a couple of groundfish party boats out of NH. If the haddock population crashes, all of the party boats are toast too. Pollock used to be a main stay, but the last few years have seen ominous drops in pols too!!

Well that sucks. I’d be game for a lobster charter.