Shellfishing

ALL LANDS UNDER TOWN WATERS DISTURBED BY TAKING OF SHELLFISH MUST BE RESTORED TO THE CONDITION THEY WERE IN PRIOR TO TAKING SHELLFISH.

Click to link to the NYSDEC website

NYSDEC 631-444-0480 (DEC)

FOR UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION CALL

765-3912

AREAS AROUND MARINAS ARE CLOSED TO SHELLFISHING

This permit must be carried on your person while shellfishing.

PERMIT FEES

Resident Non-Commercial - $5.00

Resident Commercial - $50.00

Jr. Resident Commercial (12 and 13 years old) - $25.00

(Must have parent's signature and birth certificate)

Non-Resident Resident - $50.00 (Expires September 15)

Free Non-Commercial- Age 62 years - permanent resident or property owner

All persons 10 years of age and over must have a Shellfish Permit.

HALLOCKS BAY

For those individuals who shellfish in Hallocks Bay and cross State-owned property, you will receive a ticket from the Conservation Officer unless you have a Seasonal Access Permit. To obtain a Seasonal Access Permit you must send a copy of your Town Shellfish Permit or NYS Driver's License to: NYS DEC, Marine Habitat Protection Department, Building #40, SUNY, Stony Brook, NY 11790-2356. There is no charge for a Waterways Access Permit.

IT IS UNLAWFUL TO TRESPASS ON PRIVATE PROPERTY

TO GAIN ACCESS TO TOWN WATERS.

OPEN AREAS

COREY CREEK, CEDAR BEACH CREEK, , HAYWATERS COVE(EAST OF MASON DR.WEST END), BROADWATERS COVE, HALLOCKS BAY, DAM POND, DOWNS CREEK, , LITTLE CREEK, PIPES NECK CREEK

SHELLFISH AREA CLOSURE DATES

APRIL 1 – DEC. 14 - GULL POND OPENS DEC. 15th

APRIL 1 – OCT. 31 – RICHMOND CREEK OPENS NOV.1 st

MAY 15 – OCT. 31 – SAGE POND, BUDD’S POND, BROADWATERS COVE (NEAR MARINA), & ORIENT YACHT CLUB (NORTH SIDE) OPENS NOV. 1 st

MAY 1 – OCT. 31 – LITTLE BAY EASTERN END OPENS NOV.1st

April 30 – NOV. 30 – SEASONAL AREA MILL CREEK OPENS DEC.1st

April 15 – DEC. 31 – TOWN CREEK, JOCKEY CREEK and GOOSE CREEK, THEY OPEN JAN.1 st

May 1 – NOV. 30 – JAMES CREEK, HALLS CREEK, & DEEPHOLE CREEK,HAYWATERS COVE WEST TO EAST CREEK OPENS DEC.1 st

TOTAL CLOSURE

EAST CREEK BRUSHES CREEK, NARROW RIVER, GOLDSMITHS INLET & MATTITUCK CREEK, MUDD CREEK, WICKHAMS CREEK

SCALLOPS

Season set pursuant to New York State, as adopted by Board of Trustees
Sunrise to sunset only. Sundays: By hand or scalp net only.
Monday, November 2 through Sunday, November 15, 2009 inclusive, except Hallocks Bay is closed:
Non-Commercial - 1/2 bushel a day - Dip net or scalp net only
Monday, November 16, 2009 through Tuesday, March 31, 2010 inclusive except Hallocks Bay is closed:
Non-Commercial – one person-1/2 bushel a day; not more than 2 bushels per day by two or more persons occupying the same boat.
Commercial - 5 bushels by one person a day; not more than 10 bushels by two or more persons occupying the same boat.
Dip net; scalp net; dredge or scrape having an opening at the mouth of not more than 36" in width when towed by a boat operated by mechanical power or other means, provided that such dredge or scrape is brought aboard the boat by hand power without use of a mechanical devise.
SIZE - Having an annual growth line or measuring more than 2 1/4" from the hinge to the middle of the bill.

CLAMS

Non-Commercial – Not more than 100 hard clams and 100 soft clams in 1 day
Commercial - 2000 hard clams by one person; not more than 4000 by two or more persons occupying the same boat.
Size - Hard clams: 1 inch in thickness.
Soft or Steamer clams: 2 inches in the longest diameter.
Note: Churning by power may not be employed in the taking of clams on land below high-tideline in town waters.

OYSTERS

Non-Commercial – Not more than ½ bushel by one person or not more than 1 bushel by two or more people occupying the same boat per day.
Commercial - 2000 a day by one person; 4000 a day by two or more persons occupying the same boat.

Oysters may be taken from September 1 through April 30. May not be taken from sunset to sunrise.
Size - Must be 3 inches from the hinge to the bill.

CRABS

Harvested according to New York State Department of Conservation regulations ** (see below)**

MUSSELS

Non-Commercial - 1 bushel a day by one person or 2 bushels per day by two or more persons occupying the same boat.

Commercial - 10 bushels a day by one person; 20 bushels a day by two or more persons occupying the same boat.

EELS

Non-commercial - No more than five (5) eel pots. Pots must be identified with the shellfish permit number.
Commercial - No more than fifty (50) eel pots or traps per permittee. All pots must be identified with the shellfish permit number.

**NOTE** Junior Commercial License is half the regular commercial limit.

Please do not keep any female Crabs. To distinguish between male and female Crabs, examine their undersides. The female has a wide abdomen, resembling the Capitol Building. This is where they store their eggs. The males have a narrow, pencil-shaped flap on their abdomen, since they carry no eggs.