Sea Bass and Scup Regs

[Angler Paul]

JCAA PRESS RELEASE – 2023 SEA BASS AND SCUP REGULATIONS

Below is a breakdown of the final four sea bass and scup regulations for New Jersey in 2023. All of these options resulted in the 10% cut (or more) mandated by NOAA. These are the proposals that were submitted by our state to the ASMFC. It is highly unlikely that any other options will be considered. This is the beginning of an eco-system management approach which is why the sea bass and scup regulations are tied together. Our fisheries managers are now taking into account that these two species are often caught at the same time and locations whether the season for one or the other is open or closed. The ASMFC Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass Board will be meeting at 10:30 AM on 3/2 to consider final approval of these proposals as well as those submitted by the other states/regions. On that same day the NJBMFC will meet at 5 PM to decide which option will become law. Prior to that decision, the public may give their opinions on the various options by attending in person at the Atlantic County Library, Galloway Branch located at 306 E Jimmie Leeds Rd., Galloway or by signing up for the webinar at https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/976664722292017751. In the event you have trouble with the link just google NJ Marine Fisheries Council Meetings.
All Sea Bass options include a 12 ½” size limit for all seasons. All options for scup include a 10” size limit and a 30 fish bag limit.
Option 1 Sea Bass 12 ½” for all seasons 5/17- 6/19 (10 fish), 7/1-8/31 (1 fish), 10/1-10/31 (10 fish) 11/1-12/31 (15 fish) Scup 10” for the entire season 8/1-12/31 (30 fish) This option would allow us to stay open for all of July and August but we would be able to keep only 1 sea bass per day.
Option 2 Sea Bass 12 ½” for all seasons 5/17- 6/19 (10 fish), 7/1-8/31 (1 fish), 10/1-10/31 (10 fish) 11/1-12/31 (15 fish) Scup 10” for the entire season 1/1 -10/15 (30 fish) This option would allow us to stay open for all of July and August but we would be able to keep only 1 sea bass per day. The difference in this option would be that the Scup season would begin on 1/1 and end on 10/15 instead of 8/1-12/31
Option 3 Sea Bass 12 ½” for all seasons 5/17- 6/19 (10 fish), 7/1-8/7 (2 fish), 10/1-10/31 (10 fish) 11/1-12/31 (15 fish) Scup 10” for the entire season 8/1-12/31 (30 fish) This option would allow us to keep 2 sea bass from 7/1 -8/7 (a 38 day summer season with 2 fish as opposed to a 62 day summer season with just 1 fish) One advantage of this option over option 4 is that it would allow us to be open for July 4th.
Option 4 Sea Bass 12 ½” for all seasons 5/17- 6/19 (10 fish), 7/20 – 8/31 (2 fish), 10/1-10/31 (10 fish) 11/1-12/31 (15 fish) Scup 10” for the entire season 8/1-12/31 (30 fish) This option would allow us to keep 2 sea bass from 7/20 -8/31 (a 43 day summer season with 2 fish as opposed to a 62 day summer season with just 1 fish) the advantage of this option is that the summer season would be open 5 more days than in Option 3. It would also be open at a time when large sea bass are caught by those targeting fluke on the wrecks and rough spots as they migrate offshore.

[AndyS]

All of these options resulted in the 10% cut (or more) mandated by NOAA.

[IrishHokie]

I don't understand the increase to 15 fish in Nov and Dec in each of the options. Wouldn't it be better to stay at 10 fish and increase the open days or bag limit earlier in the year? Maybe so few are fishing in Nov and Dec that 10, 15, or 20 fish still amount to only a small portion of the yearly catch?
Really this is for discussion in future years as additional options are no longer up for discussion this year, only which of the options we are allowed to chose.

[tautog]

Ridiculous cutting scup and sea bass when the ocean is paved with them. Never seem to cut whiting, no bag limit, no size limit, no season closure...lol.

[Angler Paul]

I don't understand the increase to 15 fish in Nov and Dec in each of the options. Wouldn't it be better to stay at 10 fish and increase the open days or bag limit earlier in the year? Maybe so few are fishing in Nov and Dec that 10, 15, or 20 fish still amount to only a small portion of the yearly catch?
Really this is for discussion in future years as additional options are no longer up for discussion this year, only which of the options we are allowed to chose.

The regs for November and December are primarily set for the For-Hire fleet particularly the larger party boats. Usually by mid-November, sea bass are on offshore wrecks out 50- 70 miles or so. That makes it an expensive trip with the price of gas. The Captains are trying to earn a living so they have to pass the cost of fuel onto their fares. Most people don't want to pay what it cost for an offshore trip like that unless they can keep 15 sea bass. Further, most private boats have been either pulled for the year or they are concentrating on stripers and tog inshore. Therefore, comparatively speaking, not that many sea bass are taken during that time of the year. By cutting the limit to ten or reducing the amount of days for that portion of the season would really not help us too much for the rest of the season.

[baseballman]

The regs for November and December are primarily set for the For-Hire fleet particularly the larger party boats. Usually by mid-November, sea bass are on offshore wrecks out 50- 70 miles or so. That makes it an expensive trip with the price of gas. The Captains are trying to earn a living so they have to pass the cost of fuel onto their fares. Most people don't want to pay what it cost for an offshore trip like that unless they can keep 15 sea bass. Further, most private boats have been either pulled for the year or they are concentrating on stripers and tog inshore. Therefore, comparatively speaking, not that many sea bass are taken during that time of the year. By cutting the limit to ten or reducing the amount of days for that portion of the season would really not help us too much for the rest of the season.

Agreed here.

I disagree with the reductions at large but Option 4 seems the best given the choices. May/June season is most vital to the health and profitability of the party boat/for hire vessels and so is Dec - I had wondered about the size limit that time of year, given the fish offshore usually push 16"s but to your point, it wouldnt necessarily be a meaningful reduction anyway.

I generally think the Oct. season is a mixed bag and somewhere they could cut down in the future. Boats do target them at that time but the keeper to short ratio is pretty infuriating...to me thats really the only time you could make an argument about the health of the fishery being affected by a closed season/regulations.

The options for Porgy are terrible...and I cant imagine anyone who knows anything about the fishery will support a closure on 10/15.