Quote:
Originally Posted by JBird
So the meeting is changed to April and I guess we are all in limbo until then.
MY QUESTION: Do you have to catch the two non-bonus fish first before you are allowed to keep the 3rd fish? We didn't have this quandry before as all fish were the same length.
Will we have to kill a 43" + cow in order to keep that additional fish?
If this is the case than the bonus tag is basically a total waste time and a disgrace to the idea of conservation, the very reason for these regulation changes.
I hope this is NOT the case as it would encourage angler greed.
Hopefully the bonus tag will let NJ anglers to keep a pair of smaller fish instead of forcing us to take a cow before we are allowed the extra fish. The fish granted to us by the NJ moratorium on commercial striped bass fishing, something I think the out of state cry babies who want a 1 bass limit should remember.
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I agree that we are all in Limbo until the final decision is reached in April. Your question and your point is well taken. The plan which includes the bonus tag seems to promote greed especially in the spring when there are bigger fish to be caught. A bonus tag will more than likely be used in the spring than in the fall when fewer 43+ inch fish are around. Most fishermen will be limited to just one fish in the fall because the chance of catching a 43+" fish is remote. I guess that's how the reduction will be done. A lot more reduction was already done in the spring when fishermen were able to harvest more breeders.
So, if you catch the 43 inch fish and then catch a 44 incher, do you keep it so you can use your tag to catch an "eater" sized fish? Do you keep two fish between 28-43 inches in hopes of catching a plus 43" fish and not getting caught?
The bonus tag for a fish greater than 28" and under 43" is not promoting conservation of the breeders which are the future of the fishery. A slot fish somewhere under 28" makes much more sense as it would put less pressure on the breeders. Even a slot fish of 28 to 32 inches makes sense. Once the council realizes what could happen with a bonus program which promotes the taking of larger fish, they might go for a slot proposal. A lucky angler might be able to keep two 43" bass as well as one over 43" with the current proposal. To me, it's over kill.
