Raritan Bay poaching striped bass: must read !

[AndyS]

The New Jersey Marine Fisheries Council (Council) met on Thursday, January 6th. An enforcement update from Captain Jason Snellbaker with the NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife’s (NJDFW) Bureau of Law Enforcement got the meeting underway with plenty of fireworks, as he showed off a disturbing photo of an illegal striped bass harvest along the Raritan bayshore.

“We issued over 200 summonses in one month on Raritan Bay,” Capt. Snellbaker said, adding that his enforcement officers said they had never seen such egregious violations “some having 20 more (stripers) at a time.”

In response, Council Chairman Dick Herb suggested that perhaps a saltwater fishing license would help. “You know, we’re one of the few states without it, and I know heading down to Florida you just don’t pull stuff down here,” Herb said during the virtual meeting (when Capt. Herb said “down here” it’s reasonably safe to assume he was chairing the virtual hearing from somewhere in Florida).

“Can we take away their current permit,” asked Council member Dr. Eleanor Bochenek referring to the saltwater registry requirement. “I mean they have to get that card and it sounds like most of them didn’t even have that,” Bochenek added.

“If you want me to go down that rabbit hole with you I’ll go down that rabbit hole with you,” Capt. Snellbaker responded.

“No I’m asking you a question Jason,” Bochenek cut him off. “I don’t know what rabbit hole you’re jumping down but I’m not interested in a rabbit hole,” she added before her screen went blank.

Dr. Bochenek left the virtual Council meeting at that point, and the ensuing striped bass discussion turned into a debate over saltwater licensing, recreational accountability and how to deal with what appears to be organized criminal activity along the Raritan bayshore between Perth Amboy and Union Beach with potentially thousands of pounds of illegal, unreported and unregulated commercial poaching of striped bass for markets unknown by enforcement.

One possible solution, outside of a saltwater fishing license? A closure of the Raritan Bay striped bass fishery was also suggested. Since these “nuclear” options require a lot of additional space and reporting, plan to see that summary coming in the March edition of The Fisherman Magazine.

Dr. Bochenek is designated as a “public” appointee to the Council; she’s one of two “public” members of the Council as set by state statute. According to that legally binding statute, the Marine Fisheries Council should consist of eleven members, nine of whom shall be appointed by the Governor of New Jersey with the advice and consent of the New Jersey Senate. “The nine Governor-appointed members include four members representing interests of sports fishermen, two active commercial fin-fishermen, one active fish processor, and two members representing the general public,” the official administrative guidelines state.

However, the Council is short two representatives, one being the second “public” member and the other vacant seat – that of “sport fishermen” – has been empty since Sergio Radossi stepped down back in 2020.

Following 2-1/2 hours of often disjointed discussion – including several verbal attacks on recreational fishermen by “fish processor” Jeff Kaelin – I was able ask Council and NJDFW staff during the public comment period when we might expect to see these empty seats filled?

“To my knowledge we haven’t gotten anyone who has volunteered to do it,” said Jeff Brust, Chief at the Bureau of Marine Fisheries in New Jersey.

When asked if there were names being reviewed presently inside bureaucratic channels Brust said, “not that I’m aware of.”

“It’s not something that Council or staff does,” Brust said, explaining that those interested would have to submit an official application through the governor’s office. “The governor appoints them, with senate approval,” he explained.

When asked about Greg Hueth – who had appeared on camera with other council members at the March 4, 2021 New Jersey Marine Fisheries Council meeting webinar -Brust said that was in error. “That was a mix up with getting the meeting notification out,” Brust said, explaining that Hueth showed up in the webinar on-camera with other council members by mistake. “He showed up under someone else’s name,” Brust said, adding “I promoted him to share his video without knowing.”

“I’ve had some offline conversations with folks who mentioned that they’re interested, but I’m certainly not the one that the governor’s office calls to say ‘hey we have a volunteer’,” Brust said adding that he would follow up on the matter in Trenton.

Sources in Trenton told me on Friday morning – following the online circus event the night before – that they recall seeing Hueth’s nomination package to represent “sports fishermen” somewhere along the bureaucratic channels, and they pledged to check with the Governor’s “appointments” person on the status of that package.

In recent weeks, several readers have contacted me about coming in from ocean waters with legally harvest striped bass onboard, wondering what happens should they get boarded somewhere in between the inlet and their dock. As I noted, on page 14 of the 2021 Marine Fisheries Digest, it says “no person shall take, attempt to take, or have in possession any striped bass” from back bay waters in January and February.

So how does one get from ocean to bay with a striper in the box?

“To answer your question, if you’re out front and you’re coming back in, you shouldn’t stop to fish in the back bay,” said Capt. Snellbaker, adding “As long as you’re transiting from the ocean directly to your dock you’re fine.”

And of course, I also asked my regular Council question about separating “speckled trout” from the state definition of weakfish. Despite weakfish and speckled trout being two different and unique species, the NJDFW treats both fish the same way under weakfish regulations. For reference sake, Delaware has no bag limit and a 12-inch size limit on speckled (spotted) sea trout, while New Jersey treats that species the same as weakfish with one fish at 13 inches

“That is in the next package we’re working on,” Brust said.

You have to wonder if there’s an office in Trenton where one goes to look for missing packages.

[Capt. Debbie]

Makes sense.

No one ever drives drunk or while suspended since we have drivers licenses. Right?

[Capt Sal]

I would ''RAT'' someone out for keeping 20 stripers would you?? Have the Tel # of Fish and Game in your phone and take there registration numbers.Everyone has a cell phone so take pictures! Make an example out of these idiots!

[tautog]

A license would definitely stop criminal activity...*LOL*. People with thousands in fines would be scared of losing their fishing license. I think this is how they fight the mafia...

[1captainron]

So the criminals win again, shut down Raritan bay to all the guys who make a living and the rec guys who do follow the rules so the scum bags can prosper. Maybe they will be allowed to Steal 8-10 fish a day and get a pass like the guys that are robbing the stores.

How about taking some of that FREE money off the table and hire a couple dozen officers. Without consequences their is No Law as we seem beyond that now.

Sounds about right.....

[Gerry Zagorski]

Originally Posted by 1captainron

So the criminals win again, shut down Raritan bay to all the guys who make a living and the rec guys who do follow the rules so the scum bags can prosper. Maybe they will be allowed to Steal 8-10 fish a day and get a pass like the guys that are robbing the stores.

How about taking some of that FREE money off the table and hire a couple dozen officers. Without consequences their is No Law as we seem beyond that now.

Sounds about right.....

Exactly - A license will not change a thing, we already have a license, the state registry. The issue here is our willingness to enforce our laws and if we do, the penalities have to be steep enough to outweigh the amount of money you can make breaking the law.

[Jigman13]

I recently submitted an email to NJ Marine Fisheries with screenshots of FB groups in New Brunswick showing guys standing behind dozens of illegally caught stripers that I can confirm were also being sold illegally via FB to the communities within New Brunswick. All of the fish were caught below the tidal line on the river, right in New Brunswick.

A few days later I was CALLED by one of officers who patrols Carteret to Asbury Park with ONE other officer. He offered tremendous gratitude. I wound up speaking with him for about 45 minutes. He said the same thing the OP originally posted. They issued over 200 summons this fall for illegal striper harvest, most of which were along the shores of the Raritan Bay from Carteret to Cliffwood Beach with significance in Perth Amboy. However, they were completely unaware that guys were fishing up the river itself as far as New Brunswick.

The conversation was a revelation for both he and I. On my end, they're completely and disgustingly understaffed. On his end, he was unaware of fishing that far up the river in the tidal zone and they're in dire need of our help reporting on such abuse of regulations.

The State needs to step up and direct funding into hiring more officers. A saltwater license wont do it. Closing the bay wont stop them. The State's position and suggestions are asinine. There are funds available. If they say otherwise they're full of shit. We're one of the highest property taxed states in the country. NJ manages one of the best sweetwater fisheries in the northeast but their management of saltwater leaves way too much to be desired.

The officer I spoke to gave me his work and personal mobile numbers and told me to please NOT stop reporting on things like this. And I won't. I'm not a rat, but I love fishing and respect my passion. When I see it abused it turns my gut.

Additionally, it just so happened to be the same officer I spoke to 2 seasons ago when i was back bay fluking from shore. There was a group of guys, maybe 5, bagging up every short fluke they caught and throwing their beer bottles all over the beach. I reported what I saw, received a call back in 10 minutes confirming details and within 20 min the officer was on the beach confiscating their gear and illegal fish, and escorted them off the beach after he made them clean up their garbage. Im sure tickets were issued. He looked down the beach and acknowledged me discretely. It felt good. Shortly after I limited out...

[Gumada]

Love the way their first reaction is always to have us pay more ! In case he wasn’t aware Florida has no income tax. I’d be glad to purchase a fishing license if I wasn’t already funding DFW. Poachers have to feel the pain when they are caught and it needs to be publicized extensively.

Originally Posted by Jigman13

I recently submitted an email to NJ Marine Fisheries with screenshots of FB groups in New Brunswick showing guys standing behind dozens of illegally caught stripers that I can confirm were also being sold illegally via FB to the communities within New Brunswick. All of the fish were caught below the tidal line on the river, right in New Brunswick.

A few days later I was CALLED by one of officers who patrols Carteret to Asbury Park with ONE other officer. He offered tremendous gratitude. I wound up speaking with him for about 45 minutes. He said the same thing the OP originally posted. They issued over 200 summons this fall for illegal striper harvest, most of which were along the shores of the Raritan Bay from Carteret to Cliffwood Beach with significance in Perth Amboy. However, they were completely unaware that guys were fishing up the river itself as far as New Brunswick.

The conversation was a revelation for both he and I. On my end, they're completely and disgustingly understaffed. On his end, he was unaware of fishing that far up the river in the tidal zone and they're in dire need of our help reporting on such abuse of regulations.

The State needs to step up and direct funding into hiring more officers. A saltwater license wont do it. Closing the bay wont stop them. The State's position and suggestions are asinine. There are funds available. If they say otherwise they're full of shit. We're one of the highest property taxed states in the country. NJ manages one of the best sweetwater fisheries in the northeast but their management of saltwater leaves way too much to be desired.

The officer I spoke to gave me his work and personal mobile numbers and told me to please NOT stop reporting on things like this. And I won't. I'm not a rat, but I love fishing and respect my passion. When I see it abused it turns my gut.

Additionally, it just so happened to be the same officer I spoke to 2 seasons ago when i was back bay fluking from shore. There was a group of guys, maybe 5, bagging up every short fluke they caught and throwing their beer bottles all over the beach. I reported what I saw, received a call back in 10 minutes confirming details and within 20 min the officer was on the beach confiscating their gear and illegal fish, and escorted them off the beach after he made them clean up their garbage. Im sure tickets were issued. He looked down the beach and acknowledged me discretely. It felt good. Shortly after I limited out...

Jeremy great story and greater work making a difference. Understaffing doesn't come close to describing what marine enforcement has to deal with. The size territories they individually cover are insane. Called twice about violations, in both cases the officer was good enough and grateful enough to follow up with a return call and in both cases summonses were issued.

The issue is funding and coverage. Until the fines support the effort, there's not enough feet on the street. Couple that with the money these *******s make and it won't stop until the penalty outweighs the benefit. Don't know why the system hasn't changed. Confiscate equipment, for that matter confiscate cars and assess penalties guys will choke on and others will think twice about. Include mandatory jail time even though our correction facilities are already maxed out. I don't at all blame the enforcement arm for being grossly understaffed, I blame the politicians and judicial system for allowing that to be the case. This could be self funding if someone put their mind to it. The damage we see I imagine isn't even the tip of the iceberg of what's actually taking place. Closing an area is taking a public resource away from the public and playing right into these idiots hands. If that's the solution, they should close Central Park for the same reason and shut down Newark and Irvington.

The other option is if caught poaching out of season fish or excessively taking more than the legal possession as in this case, we should consider mandatory extraction of the violators index finger on the spot so they won't be able to cast anymore. Do that once or twice and I guarantee the word would spread and the rate of incidents would decline over night.

[hammer4reel]

Originally Posted by Gerry Zagorski

Exactly - A license will not change a thing, we already have a license, the state registry. The issue here is our willingness to enforce our laws and if we do, the penalities have to be steep enough to outweigh the amount of money you can make breaking the law.

Fines def need to be increased .

But we DONT have a license , the registry is free , and more than likely those taking all these fish don’t even have it .

A salt water license would allow the charge to carry through every state under the new systems .‘poachers wouldn’t be able to buy a hunting or fishing license anywhere.
Much more severe penalty .

And IF we had a salt water license we would get our share of the Federal excise tax NJ salt angler put millions into and get nothing back …
The registry doesn’t count for that.
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