NJMFC Meeting 5/17 - Fluke Regulations

[Angler Paul]

The next New Jersey Marine Fisheries Council meeting will be at 4 PM on Wednesday, 5/17 at the Avalon Community Center locate at 3001 Avalon Rd., Avalon, NJ 08202. The Council will either support or reject Commissioner Martin’s recommended 2017 fluke regulations at that time as that is the only action available to them to put a regulation in place at this meeting. The option that will be recommended by Commissioner Martin after lengthy negotiations with the National Marine Fisheries service is a 3 fish bag limit at 18 inch with a 104 day season that will begin on 5/25 and extend through 9/5. This option includes a 17 inch size limit for Delaware Bay and a 16 inch size limit for the shore based anglers at Island Beach State Park with the same seasons. These negotiations were entered into after the ASMFC voted for a 19 inch size limit with a 3 fish bag limit and a 128 day season that could have begun on 5/20 and ended on 9/24. The option included an 18 inch size limit for Delaware Bay and a 17 inch size limit for the shore based anglers at Island Beach State Park with the same seasons. The negotiations were initiated by the recreational fishing groups who went to Commissioner Martin and asked him to maintain the current 2016 regulations even though this would result in New Jersey going out of compliance. If we are declared out of compliance, not only do we shut down the recreational fishery but the commercial fishery would also be shut down.

Earlier this year, JCAA discussed and supported going out of compliance by maintaining the 2016 regulations. JCAA was represented in the conference calls with Commissioner Martin that kept us informed about the negotiations and we were encouraged to offer our input. The final negotiated compromise was not released until Tuesday, May 9. On May 10 this compromise was presented to ASMFC. The New Jersey Marine Fisheries Council will vote on Wednesday. Given the quick timelines, JCAA does not have time for a formal meeting that would allow club representatives to poll their clubs. JCAA’s commitment to a democratic process will not allow us to change a position without that General Membership vote. Our initial position to stay status quo with the 2016 regulations and support going out of compliance is the only formal position of JCAA. JCAA is encouraging each club to poll their members, develop their own position and attend the meeting on Wednesday night to express it. Individuals are also encouraged to attend this meeting and voice their opinions.
Paul Haertel JCAA Board Member/ Past President

[Rocky]

Am am debating if I should attend this meeting or bang my head against a wall.
The frustration never ends with this fishery management system that we have.

[Sharkyispy]

Here is my .02. The people who are currently running these two organizations need to be removed from their positions for the abuse they are inflicting on the livelihoods of many people in this industry. Deaf ears? they have them and do not want to hear any opinions, let's be realistic here.....This must have \ needs higher powers to get involved, not fugazzi local meetings that have done NOTHING, NOTHING to stop this! They( higher powers) need to save the industry from what I am and will continue to call decimation....Scientific data is out dated, there are no new or updated results to show what the current status of the fishery is. And now add in the sea bass? A ********joke!!! I want to know the last time a committee member went out to see the populations of either species? Prove to me they have first hand knowledge and then Maybe, MAYBE I'll buy into it....til then? The organizations who stated they would fight til the end for this and now held hostages with the threat of compliance???? And smaller season with smaller bag limit and even larger fish??? What the hell is that? DO as we say or else!!!! I realize this is a rant but I'll say I have personally posted to Donald Trump twice today ( for what it's worth ) to get involved and act on this....NOW...The current regs are not acceptable!

[jakesdad]

It's so nice that the meeting is at a convenient time and a central location in the state. They make it so many of us that work cannot attend.

I have been attending many of the meetings, and at the last one in Galloway I left with some hope that our commissioners had some stones. Every time we are threatened we cave in. How about Bob Martin say we go status quo, and if Uncle Sam deems us out, just don't enforce the Federal guidelines in state waters.

What will they do send the National Guard or State police after us?

It' time our elected officials stand up for us. You hear this Mr. Christie!

[Ttmako]

Mike
Thank you for speaking out. We all need to do more of that kind of thing.
I personally have been dealing with both booker and Macarturs office.
They both promised to help. Whole booker sort of disappeared, MacArthur flat out lied to me. I will never forget this carpet bagging piece of shit. I will now make it my life long mission to ensure he is not reelected.
I urge everyone on this board to remember how these 2 politicians failed to deliver on our behalf. We asked for help, told them what to do, educated them, and they did NOTHING!
They are going to feel like shit when they blew an election because they wouldn't meet with Wilbur Ross. This should have been a slam dunk for these guys.

[Sharkyispy]

Originally Posted by jakesdad

It's so nice that the meeting is at a convenient time and a central location in the state. They make it so many of us that work cannot attend.

I have been attending many of the meetings, and at the last one in Galloway I left with some hope that our commissioners had some stones. Every time we are threatened we cave in. How about Bob Martin say we go status quo, and if Uncle Sam deems us out, just don't enforce the Federal guidelines in state waters.

What will they do send the National Guard or State police after us?

It' time our elected officials stand up for us. You hear this Mr. Christie!

The reason for my rant...you left with HOPE....there is no HOPE in a plan and these people could give a SH$! less what we think. Clearly, CLEARLY it DOES NOT matter to them what the outcome is.....Pathetic.....

[jakesdad]

Where are the party and charter captains on this. You only hear what individual
Fishing organizations have come up with.

The majority of saltwater fishing in this state is between Barnegat and Sandy Hook. These captains cannot possibly make a meeting in Avalon at 4pm, as well as most private boaters from these ports. What is it going to take to wake these people up.

They showed us their numbers at the Galloway meeting, we showed them how if read properly we could reduce the size limit and increase the creel per day. You don't have to be a rocket scientist to see it.

[captain george angler]

I will dock at 2:00 PM and make the drive to give them my 2 cents. Avalon says it all and so will fillet and release. George Angler

[hartattack]

I'm going, who's with me ?

[Inishmore3]

Trump isn't helping? I thought folks said he would......