Re: Save the bunker
 

I agree 100 %, I wanted to see where Sternline was going with this. I would like to ask Stern this, with all of the stuff going on in NJ last December, post Sandy, Do you really think Christie thought for 1 second about the status of bunker here in NJ or anywhere else ?? Thats laughable. Those delegates voted without his input, and our problem lies with them, not Christie, who has been very responsive to the needs of the Shore.

Re: Save the bunker
 

[QUOTE=Capt. Frank]I don't know about 40 or 50 years ago, but I would say the bunk population is definitely better than it was in the 1990's when I was running charters out of Belmar and Raritan bay. That I have no doubt about that.

/QUOTE]

Hey, Capt. Frank, what you are forgetting is that until 2002 the reduction industry (that is, Omega Protein) was scooping up most of the bunker schools in New Jersey waters. Then we passed a law--thanks to all the folks who understood what was happening--that kicked the reduction industry out of our waters. So, yes, then we started seeing bunkers like nobody had seen in a long time. But these are just the remnants left by the reduction industry. The bunker population along this whole coast has crashed because Omega Protein is annihilating the babies in the Chesapeake and annihilating the schools of adult spawners in federal waters, that is beyond the 3-mile jurisdiction of New Jersey. Every coastal state except Virginia has now banned the reduction industry, but we are fast approaching the point where the species will not be viable as an important fish. That's why our delegation should not have been voting with Virginia at that crucial ASMFC meeting.

Re: Save the bunker
 

Too bad you weren't at that meeting in Baltimore, because you would have learned that the New Jersey delegation got their voting instructions from the governor. Do you really think that Tom Fote, who worked for years trying to get the ASMFC to save menhaden from the reduction industry, would otherwise have voted with Virginia and Omega Protein? If you don't believe me, ask him. The governor of Virginia directly asked Christie for this vote, and that is a verifiable fact.

Re: Save the bunker
 

We captains show up all the meetings we possibly can.We make a living in a short window!Capt. Rich does he share plus!He cares as do all of us.Get ur dun united!!!!I have been to some many meetings it makes my head spin talking to so called''marine biologists''.Common sense is not common.

Re: Save the bunker
 

My reply was not intended as a criticism of Capt. Rich for not attending the Baltimore ASMFC meeting. But it was intended to set the record straight about what we learned, first hand and directly, about the governor's betrayal there. The anglers of New Jersey have been fighting this fight since the 1870s. In 1882 (that's not a misprint) the governor vetoed the bill to ban the menhaden reduction industry from New Jersey waters. It was basically the same bill that we did pass in 2001, the bill that allowed bunkers that made it into our waters to be safe while they stayed here. That's why we've had so much great striper and bluefish fishing in most recent years. But now, with the bunker population crashing coastwise, we may be witnessing some ominous results. If the bunker were here now, those stripers would be gobbling up our jigs.

Re: Save the bunker
 

My reply was not intended as a criticism of Capt. Rich for not attending the Baltimore ASMFC meeting. But it was intended to set the record straight about what we learned, first hand and directly, about the governor's betrayal there. The anglers of New Jersey have been fighting this fight since the 1870s. In 1882 (that's not a misprint) the governor vetoed the bill to ban the menhaden reduction industry from New Jersey waters. It was basically the same bill that we did pass in 2001, the bill that allowed bunkers that made it into our waters to be safe while they stayed here. That's why we've had so much great striper and bluefish fishing in most recent years. But now, with the bunker population crashing coastwise, we may be witnessing some ominous results. If the bunker were here now, those stripers would be gobbling up our jigs.

Re: Save the bunker
 

So you seem to know the results of the NJ delegation and this vote? And, "that is a verifiable fact" if you know this, would you be kind enough to provide these facts? A little out of touch than I used to be. Am one of the original 13 members who formed the Jersey Coast Anglers Association when fellow bass fishermen met to save our access to netting herring under the Deal Lake flume. Next and most paramount JCAA was the protection of Menhaden. Hard to believe what I just read!

Re: Save the bunker
 

Yes, alas, it's true. The NJ delegation voted unanimously against the proposals for a significant limit on the reduction industry's catch of menhaden and voted unanimously with Virginia (that is Omega Protein) on every important vote. The boys from Virginia played their cards very cleverly and won a "compromise" that amounts to a token reduction in the catch. The proof that this is not limiting Omega's rape of the ocean is the fact that they moved two more of their factory ships (which they call boats) from the Gulf to the Atlantic.

Re: Save the bunker
 

Sternline, my question is , how is voting for the "Nice Lady" or anyone else on the ballot going to help ? You haven't changed my mind.

Re: Save the bunker
 

Hey, Ol Pedro, I didn't start this thread to change the outcome of the election. In fact, I don't think this message board should be a forum for or against political candidates. I started this in response to the post from "NJ Reef Rescue" that was a lengthy political advertisement for Christie, asking us to attend an event honoring him as a big friend of recreational anglers. No matter which candidate one supports for governor, we should all be putting pressure on whoever is governor, now and in the future, to protect the marine environment and our interests as anglers. There are two key issues for us: SAVE THE BUNKERS and POTS OFF THE REEFS. The present governor has an abysmal record on both these issues. He actually sold us down the river at the crucial ASMFC on menhaden last December and has supported commercial interests over recreational on the reef issue. So whether or not anglers vote for him, they certainly should not be honoring him as a friend of us fishermen. In fact, if you do support him and attend his rally, why not ask him to change his positions and help us save the bunkers and get the pots off the reefs?