Based on the 1979 to 1997 data, the 1999 commercial share was projected to equal or exceed the limit during the upcoming year. Therefore, the FMP required that a commercial quota be implemented for 1999. The Amendment continues the current 10 fish recreational possession limit. Research and Data Needs - validated age data, surf zone seine survey for indice of juvenile abundance, fishery independent data, commercial by catch and recreational mortality estimates, and reproductive ecology. Bluefish school by size and make seasonal migrations north in the spring and south in winter.
Large fish tend to congregate in the northern part of the range.