What You Need to Know About the Proposed Changes to Recreational Tilefish Permitting and Reporting
The Mid Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC) is considering significant changes to the private recreational tilefish permitting and reporting requirements. If you fish for golden or blueline tilefish from Virginia north, these proposed adjustments could directly impact how you log your trips and report your catch. A public input webinar is scheduled for Monday, March 2, 2026, at 6:00 PM to gather feedback from anglers on these potential changes .The Current Situation and Why Change is Needed
Since 2020, private recreational anglers targeting golden or blueline tilefish north of the North Carolina and Virginia border have been required to obtain a free, vessel based private recreational tilefish permit. Additionally, they must submit an electronic vessel trip report (eVTR) within 24 hours of returning to port after any trip where tilefish were caught or targeted .These requirements were originally implemented to improve the recreational catch information used in stock assessments and management. However, the reality has fallen short of expectations. A 2024 program evaluation revealed that while over 6,000 permits were issued between 2020 and 2025, only 389 eVTRs reporting tilefish catch were submitted during that same period . This massive disconnect highlights a system that is overly complex, confusing, and burdensome for the average private angler. The current reporting fields were largely carried over from commercial reporting systems, making them difficult for recreational fishermen to navigate accurately.
Proposed Alternatives on the Table
To address these issues, the MAFMC has developed a draft framework document outlining several alternatives aimed at simplifying the process, improving compliance, and ensuring the collection of reliable catch data . The Council is expected to take final action at its April 7 to 9, 2026 meeting.Here is a breakdown of the key alternatives being considered:
Alternative 1: No Action
This would maintain the status quo, keeping the current permitting and reporting requirements exactly as they are. Given the low compliance rates, this is unlikely to resolve the ongoing data collection issues.
Alternative 2: Terminate the Program Entirely
This option would remove both the permit and reporting requirements. While it would eliminate the burden on anglers, it would also remove the primary mechanism for identifying private recreational vessels in the tilefish fishery, forcing managers to rely solely on broader, less precise survey methods.
Alternative 3: Remove Reporting Requirement Only
Under this alternative, the permit requirement would remain, but the mandatory eVTR reporting would be eliminated. The permit list could then serve as a sampling frame for future survey based approaches, maintaining a way to identify anglers interested in the fishery without the constant reporting burden.
Alternative 4: Modify Reporting Requirements
This alternative includes several sub options that can be combined to streamline the process:
•Remove the Requirement to Report Effort Only Trips: Anglers would no longer need to submit an eVTR for trips that target tilefish but result in zero catch. Reporting would only be required when tilefish are actually caught or landed.
•Simplify the Required Reporting Fields: This would eliminate confusing or non useful data fields, such as chart area, depth, gear fished, and soak time. The focus would shift to essential information like vessel identification, trip duration, number of anglers, and the count of tilefish landed or discarded.
•Add Length as a Reporting Field: This option would require anglers to measure and report the length of all tilefish landed or released. However, staff notes this conflicts with the primary goal of simplifying the reporting process.
•Require eVTR to be Filled Out Before Return to Port: Anglers would need to fill out the eVTR while still on the water, except for fields not yet known, like time landed. This aligns with commercial and for hire requirements and aids in enforcement.
•Require eVTR Submission Before Offloading Fish: This would require the eVTR to be completed and submitted before taking fish off the boat, reducing the risk of delayed or incomplete reports.
How This Affects You
For recreational anglers, the proposed changes under Alternative 4 represent a significant shift towards a more practical and less burdensome reporting system. By eliminating the need to report effort only trips and removing overly technical data fields, the MAFMC aims to make compliance easier and more straightforward.If the Council adopts the simplified reporting fields, you will no longer have to worry about logging specific depths, chart areas, or detailed gear configurations. Instead, the focus will be on the core data needed for stock assessments: who you are, how long you fished, and how many tilefish you caught.
However, the potential requirements to fill out the eVTR before returning to port or submitting it before offloading fish mean that you will need to integrate reporting into your on the water routine, rather than waiting until you are back home.
Make Your Voice Heard
The MAFMC is actively seeking input from private recreational anglers who target tilefish, as well as anyone familiar with recreational reporting programs. The public input webinar on March 2, 2026, is your opportunity to weigh in on these alternatives and help shape the future of tilefish management.If you cannot attend the webinar, you can still make your voice heard by submitting written comments. Comments must be emailed to Hannah Hart at [email protected]. To be included in the briefing materials for the Tilefish Committee meeting, comments must be received by March 3, 2026. For inclusion in the April Council Meeting briefing materials, the deadline is March 25, 2026 .
Staying informed and participating in the management process is crucial for the future of our fisheries. For more information and resources on saltwater fishing, be sure to visit nyangler.com.
References
[1] Public Input Webinar: Recreational Tilefish Permitting and Reporting[2] Mid-Atlantic Council Seeks Public Input on Private Recreational Tilefish Permit and Reporting Framework
[3] Recreational Tilefish Permitting and Reporting Framework Draft Alternatives
