Is Raritan Bay Next
 

Over many years now, Raritan Bay has been producing lots of striped bass. Many of those stripers were and are females. Some consideration is being given to the fact that these fish might be spawning fish that move up the Raritan River or Shrewsbury and Navesink. Other speculation is that they are staging for a late move up the Hudson to lay their eggs.

If the Raritan Bay area is studied and if it is found to be a spawning area for a large number of bass, will there be regulations like those in effect in the Chesapeake Bay area of Maryland.? Check out the Maryland maps in the link below and see what could happen here. It's worth thinking about. Just like the numbers of bass that were caught during the fall run and now, during the Spring, there seems to be quite a recovery of the stock. it has yet to be proven that the striper stock is fully recovered. or that the Raritan Basin is adding to the recovery. The current numbers can take a dive at any time, however. The current size and bag limits seem to be adequate but if it is found that NJ is a contributor to big numbers of " young of the year" tough regulations may follow.

https://dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries/P...bf778cfc6769dc

Re: Is Raritan Bay Next
 

It has always been my understanding that the Raritan River & Shrewsbury/Navesink River complex have always had a small (in relation to the Chesapeake Bay, Delaware & Hudson Rivers) spawning population.

I do think that with the increasing improvement of water quality in those systems have drawn some of those bass that used to use the bay as a staging area prior to entering the Hudson into using them as spawning grounds.

Re: Is Raritan Bay Next
 

Chesapeake has some serious issues which is why they have the regulations they do.

Re: Is Raritan Bay Next
 

Tougher regulations here won’t mean a damn thing if they aren’t enforced. You could put a moratorium on stripers right now and it won’t stop the rampant poaching that’s been going on for weeks.

Re: Is Raritan Bay Next
 

There were no stripers here for decades... They weren't missed really.. There was a lot of other species to fish for in Spring... All those species are gone, caught and eaten over time... So now all there is to fish for is Stripers this time of year. Guys don't care if they are spawned out, or loaded down with eggs or milt... They want fish, Stripers are the only thing available in salt water, so they get intense pressure during the spawn... Hopefully, the stocks stay strong because if Stripers ever vanish they way they did for 30 or so years in the not too distant past, there will be nothing left to fish for in March and April except a few scarce blackfish and ling, unless guys want to catch Skates, Horn Dogs, and Pout... bob

Re: Is Raritan Bay Next
 

Listen the regs are what they are.... it's up to the angler to decide whether they will keep a fish or not... the individual who catches these striped bass on the Shrewsbury or navisink rivers are allowed 1 fish between 28 and 38 inches which is legal most the people I fish with in these rivers just throw them back regardless of the fish being legal or not they ate sport fisherman and do this shit every night damn near

Re: Is Raritan Bay Next
 

Understood,, However, if a guy spends $150 to go on an "open/charter" boat, he will typically kill and eat a fish. same with private boats that spend thousands a year to fish. Multiply that by a thousand guys a week, and the number of fish killed every spring and fall can get pretty high... Even with a 1 fish limit, these fish are under some intense pressure...

Re: Is Raritan Bay Next
 

Not true, my son and I very rarely if ever keep a striper that we catch on our boat. Nor do I keep any when I go on an ‘open boat” trip.

On average, I catch in excess of 200 stripers a year and at most I keep 5 & only when my receptionist requests one.

Re: Is Raritan Bay Next
 

The overall fish population thanks you, but in reality you are the part of the minority....similar to recycling...

Re: Is Raritan Bay Next
 

Am I missing something? I don't remember this early spring striper run 20+ years ago in Raritan Bay but I do remember people fishing for bass on Flynn's Knoll after these fish where done spawning in the upper Hudson River.