Does anyone know what this years regulations look like

[Belmarguy]

Just curious if we have been given the list of possible choices they always give us for the fluke season and sea bass season? Wondering what our regulations for all species are gonna look like

[PaBeerGuy]

me too, curious about tile fish.

[Gerry Zagorski]

Looks like Seabass will be the same as last year although some are trying to get it liberalized since the stocks are totally rebuilt.

Fluke on the other hand, thanks to the MRIP Roulette wheel coming up in our favor for a change, should change for the better. Longer season, lower bag and or size reductions or any combination of the above are possible. The regional and state councils will come up with different options, seek public opinions and make the choice for us here in NJ to adopt.

As far as I’m concerned, I’d like to see a long a season as possible even if that means having to trade for increased size or decreased bag limits.

[dfish28]

Decreased bag limits??!!!!
I’m telling on you!!!

[AndyS]

Grab your ankles.

[CadiShackFishing]

I'll go for a longer season with status quo on size/bag limit. :D

[hammer4reel]

Looks like Seabass will be the same as last year although some are trying to get it liberalized since the stocks are totally rebuilt.

Fluke on the other hand, thanks to the MRIP Roulette wheel coming up in our favor for a change, should change for the better. Longer season, lower bag and or size reductions or any combination of the above are possible. The regional and state councils will come up with different options, seek public opinions and make the choice for us here in NJ to adopt.

As far as I’m concerned, I’d like to see a long a season as possible even if that means having to trade for increased size or decreased bag limits.

Not sure where your hearing that about the sea bass,
The commercial guys got fluke poundage back but sea bass for them is getting cut way back , which will more than likely reflect in our limits also .

NMFS is just playing a shell game with our fish at this point

[Halibuttech]

in Nova Scotia, Canada they were talking about making us get a license for recreational fishing in 2018 but so far they may have dropped the idea. I hope so as this year looks good for flounder fishing. I can hardly wait for the season to start in May. happy fishingdsc00454.jpg

[Angler Paul]

Fluke season will likely be 5/25 - 9/22 with 3 fish at 18" There probably be a couple other options too with 3 fish at 18" that would allow the season to open earlier but then close sooner.
We will be very fortunate to stay at status quo for sea bass and there is a good chance we be forced to have more stringent regulations. The coastwide quota was cut back for this year and in 2017 we already harvested more than that quota through wave 5 (September/October). We won't know haw many seabass were harvested in wave 6 until the MRIP numbers come out around 2/15. Still we might have a better idea of what our regulations might look like after the ASMFC chooses which management options they will use at their meeting on 2/8.
We also may have to cut back on blackfish slightly and could lose a few days in April but that is still undecided.
Paul Haertel
JCAA Board Member/Past President

[ESFISH]

Virginia opened up Sea Bass Feb.1-28,15 fish @12.5".