Important Fluke and Sea Bass Management Meeting Thursday 6PM

[Gerry Zagorski]

I plan on attending and would encourge any of you who are concerned and want to give feedback on our NJ Fluke and Sea Bass regulations to attend as well.

Hope to see you there.


We’re seeking input on regional management options for the 2016 summer flounder and black sea recreational fisheries. Public hearings this week in CT, RI, NY and NJ:

Connecticut Fish & Wildlife Dept. of Energy & Environmental Protection
January 5, 2016 at 7PM
Marine Headquarters Boating Education Center, Building 3
333 Ferry Road, Old Lyme, Connecticut
Contact: David Simpson at 860.434.6043

Rhode Island Division of Fish & Wildlife
January 6, 2016 at 6PM
University of Rhode Island, Corliss Auditorium
South Ferry Road, Narragansett, Rhode Island
Contact: Jason McNamee at 401.423.1943

New York State Dept. of Environmental Conservation
January 7, 2016 at 6PM
Bureau of Marine Resources
205 North Belle Mead Road, Suite 1, East Setauket, New York
Contact: Steve Heins at 631.444.0435

New Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife
January 7, 2016 at 6:30PM
Stafford Township Municipal Building
260 East Bay Avenue, Manahawkin, New Jersey
Contact: Tom Baum at 609.748.2020

http://www.asmfc.org/uploads/file//56797eefpr41SFlounderDraftAddXXVII_PublicComment_r ev.pdf?platform=hootsuite

[Down Deep Sportfishing]

We will be there. The south Jersey guys are looking to get the same size limit as Delaware. This attempt will divide us and make for an even shorter season on top of the NOAA planned reduction. Happy jigging fellas.

Those unable to attend the meeting may submit written comments to Kirby Rootes-Murdy, Fishery Management Plan Coordinator, 1050 N. Highland St., Suite 200 A-N, Arlington, Virginia 22201; 703.842.0741 (fax), or at krootes-murdy@asmfc.org (Subject line: Draft Addendum XXVII).
Public comments are due by January 21, 2016.

[Gerry Zagorski]

On the NJ Delaware Bay issue....Right now they are part of the NY/NJ region but their fishery is totally different then the fishery up north. Hell, they even root for the Eagles down that way :D

Maybe a dumb question but wouldn't it make more sense for the NJ Delaware bay region to be part of the Maryland/Delaware/Virginia region and the central and northern region continue to be part of the NY/NJ region?

[Billfish715]

Check the saltwater fishing regulations for N.J., N.Y., and Rhode Island and then compare them. There is quite a disparity in the regulations for each state. N.Y. and Rhode Island have a 14" limit on seabass. The N.Y. re

[Billfish715]

What I was trying to say was that rezoning NY and NJ might not be a bad idea. Both states have similar regulations with the exception of seabass. I would go for the N.Y. size limits on seabass even though they are bigger than the N.J. 12.5 limit. The upside of that is that the NY season runs through the summer and fall and winter. It would give us something else to fish for. If we could ever get the R.I. fluke regulations, I'd be even happier.

[JBird]

It would be nice to have sea bass open in NJ when fluke closes in the Fall. For years now we've had nothing but porgies to catch after fluke closed but the bass weren't running yet.

[Billfish715]

The 2016 saltwater fishing regulations are already set and published for Rhode Island. They appear to be the same as last year's regulations. We are still debating over our regulations and it's already 2016. What's up with N.J.?

[Gerry Zagorski]

The assumption is that we are looking at the same season we had last year with 5 fish @18 inches... This is all subject to change based on public comment meeting but that seems to what I'm hearing from Recreational Groups like the NJRFA, SSFFF and JCAA.

There will probably be some reduced size limits for surf fishing in certain areas like last year in IBSP, where they had 2 fish @16 inches which may be expanded to other areas.

There is also talk about reducing the size limit in the Delaware bay area as well.

[Castaway]

If they split the fluke regs in New Jersey for fluke they should do it with the black fish then too. They have way better togging in south jersey then we do up north. What's fair is fair right?