At its March 27, 2018 Commission meeting, the VMRC adopted new recreational and commercial cobia regulations in response to requirements in the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission interstate fishery management plan for cobia. The 2018 recreational cobia regulations are as follows: 40-inch, total length, minimum size limit; 1-fish daily possession limit or 3-fish-daily vessel limit, whichever is more restrictive; only one fish per vessel per day may be greater than 50 inches in total length; an open season of June 1 through September 30; and gaffing is now allowed to land a cobia while fishing recreationally. All cobia permit and reporting requirements remain the same as for 2017. The 2018 commercial cobia regulations are as follows, FOR ALL GEARS: 37-inch, total length, minimum size limit; a daily possession limit of 2 cobia per commercial fishermen registration licensee or a 6-fish daily vessel limit, whichever is more restrictive; and no seasonal closure.
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