Congressman Andy Harris announced on April 30 new recreational fishing management measures set by NOAA Fisheries for summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass for the upcoming 2026 and 2027 seasons.
The announcement matters to many in Maryland’s fishing community, as it provides regulatory clarity and economic certainty for those who rely on recreational fishing. The finalized rule was issued by NOAA on April 29 with an effective date of April 30. Additionally, a new Recreational Measures Setting process was implemented on April 28 to guide how future limits are determined.
For the next two years, scup harvest levels will remain unchanged. Summer flounder will continue under conservation equivalency rules, allowing Maryland to set its own size, season, and possession limits. Black sea bass will also be managed through conservation equivalency but with a twenty percent increase in allowable harvest across participating states. State fisheries managers in Maryland will determine specific limits and seasons locally.
NOAA is currently accepting public comment on both the new process (through May 28) and the specific measures (through May 15). Congressman Harris said: “I’m grateful to Assistant Administrator Piñeiro Soler and his entire team at NOAA Fisheries for, following my office’s engagement, working to quickly remedy the delay in releasing updated recreational measures for the 2026 season. These new measures will provide much-needed economic certainty to the recreational fishing industry in Ocean City and across the Mid-Atlantic region. Make no mistake, I will always fiercely advocate for Maryland’s treasured fishing community.”
Sonny Gwin, President of the Worcester County Watermen’s Association said: “We would like to thank Congressman Andy Harris for his quick response to this issue. This will be a great relief economically for the recreational sector and a chance to go fishing when stocks are abundantly high.”
Harris has represented Maryland’s first district since replacing Frank Kratovil in Congress in 2011 according to Wikipedia. He previously served from 1999 until joining Congress as noted by Biographical Directory of Congress. Born in New York City in 1957 at age sixty-six he currently lives in Cambridge according to Vote Smart. He graduated from Johns Hopkins University with a Bachelor of Science degree according to Johns Hopkins University.
