The Commission voted to enact the following regulations for the tautog fishery (effective Jan. 1, 2008):

Recreational
4 fish possession limit;
Closed season May 1- June 24

Commercial
Closed season April 16- October 2, and December 1- 15.

Several Board members took into consideration written public comments, as well as what was said during the public comment period at the Commission meeting, and asked staff to provide an option with a 4 fish possession limit and a seasonal closure that began in May.

Earlier in the process the ad hoc committee did have 2 options that included a Wave 3 (May-June) closure- however at 5 fish the closed season needed to include either days in Wave 2 and 6 or all of Wave 4 and days in Wave 6.

Joseph Cimino
VMRC Plans & Stats
2600 Washington Av.
Newport News, VA 23607
(phone)757.247.8068
(fax)757.247.2264