On June 6, while on patrol in Hampton Bays, ECOs Vandenbos and Zullo received a complaint from an angler who reported seeing a large group of people at the east side of Shinnecock Inlet catching oversized striped bass and hiding the fish in their vehicles. Officers Vandenbos and Zullo contacted ECO Michalet for assistance before responding to the location to investigate. On site, the ECOs observed anglers with headlamps fishing on the end of the jetty before returning to their vehicles. The Officers checked the anglers’ catches and found three striped bass over the legal slot size limit of 28-35 inches. The ECOs issued several tickets for possession of oversized striped bass and failure to carry a New York State Recreational Marine Fishing Registry, returnable to Southampton Town Justice Court. Slot size limits are in place for striped bass to protect the spawning population stock of this coastwide cooperatively managed species.
DEC announced the adoption of new regulations in the State’s marine waters for recreational Atlantic striped bass fishing on June 20, 2023. The new recreational slot limit is set at 28-31 inches as required by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission to reduce recreational harvest. The new slot limit is intended to protect a large proportion of adult striped bass to allow these fish contribute to future spawning and stock rebuilding. The recreational slot limit in the Hudson River north of the George Washington Bridge remains 18-28 inches.
