As a reminder, as of August 17, 2020, NOAA Fisheries is requiring private recreational tilefish vessels fishing north of the North Carolina/Virginia border to have a federal recreational tilefish vessel permit and file catch reports.
These changes effective this week were approved in Amendment 6 to the Tilefish Fishery Management Plan. This action is being taken to better characterize and monitor the recreational fisheries for both blueline tilefish and golden tilefish.
With this rule, private recreational vessel owners are required to obtain a Federal vessel permit to fish for and/or retain golden or blueline tilefish in the mid-Atlantic, as recommended by the Council and approved as part of Amendment 6.
Apply for your federal private recreational tilefish vessel permit through Fish Online. You must apply for this permit using our online system, we are not providing paper applications for this permit. This new permit is required even if a vessel already holds a for-hire tilefish permit.
Private recreational tilefish anglers must also fill out and submit an electronic vessel trip report within 24 hours of returning to port for trips where tilefish were targeted and/or retained. Reports can be submitted through any NOAA Fisheries approved electronic reporting system.
Get your tilefish permit at www.greateratlantic.fisheries.noaa.gov/apps/login/login.
