Big Mohawk - NJFishing.com Your Best Online Source for Fishing Information in New Jersey

Big Mohawk · #1 08-30-2017, 08:36 AM

Well it looks like our Fluke season was cut short this year by the people at NMFS. Now we are faced with the situation where we will not be able to fish for either Fluke or Sea Bass, which is the mainstay of the state of New Jersey at this time of year.
We went along with the 18 1/2in. fish instead of the other options and the longer season. In return, we were told that there would be strong effort to reopen our sea Bass season in September. This fishery has 100% recovery and neither NMFS or the state will allow us to fish for them.
It always seems that whatever happens during the season (weather it has been a good or bad season) we are told that we overfished the species and they plan to take even more fish away from us and shorten our fishing season. It is comical how this operates. The NMFS can care less about the millions of people that are affected by this as long as they are able to keep cutting back our fishing quota and maintain their numbers. It amazes me that these people get away with this flawed data bullshit and that no one in this country will stand up and help us fishermen that do this for a living, people that just do this for enjoyment , and guys that just want to put something good to eat on their table. This is Americas favorite pastime and we have zero rights, no representation and nothing but an oncoming train coming thru the tunnel, lights on, full speed ahead.

The funny thing about a fish is that it has a head and a tail. Fish have different migratory patterns, so they don't always come back to the same area every year! It just doesn't work that way, however the NMFS seem to collect their data from the same spots every year. It is nothing more than a giant waste of the taxpayers money! If this is the way it is going to be then get professional fishermen involved to acquire the data to do 100% of the survey along with NMFS, so there will be no flawed data and everyone will be satisfied with the results. We have all heard of the Boston tea party, well maybe it's time to step up to the plate and have the New Jersey Tea party. It is time for New Jersey to go out of compliance and step up to help the people of NJ, and take back its right to go fishing again! It is time for this government weather it is Federal or State to help us. We are pleading with you! All we want is to earn a living and have the right to fish! If there is anyone out there who is in a position to help us, please come forward. Share this with as many fishermen as possible, before it's to late!

Rocky · #2 08-30-2017, 10:03 AM

I have been fighting these fishing issues for a long time now and things are not getting any better. Even though the sea bass stocks are rebuilt they still want to stick it to us. So that makes it very obvious that they don't have the best interest of us fishermen in mind. I can go on and on, but it always falls on death ears and nothing ever seems to change.

Down Deep Sportfishing · #3 08-30-2017, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rocky

I have been fighting these fishing issues for a long time now and things are not getting any better. Even though the sea bass stocks are rebuilt they still want to stick it to us. So that makes it very obvious that they don't have the best interest of us fishermen in mind. I can go on and on, but it always falls on death ears and nothing ever seems to change.

Limits change every year. It won't stop until we're down to zero. Where are all the town criers that said the are no Fluke now? Totally agree patterns change every season, and you're not going to make em chew if they don't want to. But when you tow a net, it doesn't matter.

torchee · #4 08-30-2017, 11:01 AM

This sucks because the solution isn't all that extreme.

Why not just extend fluke until October and then open black fish and sea bass????? WTF????

NY is opening blackfish 10/5 and seabass limit is 8 ---- easy to make that a trip

Gerry Zagorski · #5 08-30-2017, 03:29 PM

The NMFS fisheries management and quota system needs to be totally gutted... Sea Bass is a perfect example. The laws needs to be changed and so does the science and methodology and the people managing it. So what do we do in the mean time??

Lots of ramifications for NJ Government to say to the feds we are going out of compliance for Fluke. The feds could shut NJ Fluke fishing down completely and also pull all federal licences held by NJ recs, for hire and commercial fishermen so we are not just talking Fluke here.... Toss in the court battles that are sure to follow and not sure our State Government has the stomach for that.

So if the state won't do it we could all choose to ignore the regs, but you risk personal state and federal fines, imprisonment or getting your permits taken away....

Either are risky scenarios, especially for the for hires.

I'm up for a Tea Party for sure, I'd be happy to pay some fines or get arrested in order to protest and make a statement but fishing isn't my livelihood like the for hires. Much more risky for them and a lot more at stake.

In the mean time we should all be working together on getting the laws and methods changed and this is not a spectator sport. People need to get involved. It's a 4 legged stool of people, money, persistence and unity. If any one of those legs are missing or weak, the stool falls.

Sorry for the rant here and I really feel for you Chris... A lot of people are with you trying to do what they can and yet others who are angry, point fingers of blame or just give up and sit on the sidelines.

Yes we have a long steep hill in front of us but my love for our sport and all the friends and business associates I have in it are worth fighting for.

People need to lead, follow or get out of the way....

Chelsea-Sea · #6 08-30-2017, 08:03 PM

It's time to clog the courts! If everyone continues to fish for fluke what happens? Sure a few get caught and fined. If that happens then we all need to stand behind them. The courts can't handle the over flow. Time to take a stand. LETS TAKE BACK OUR FAVORITE PAST TIME!

Gerry Zagorski · #7 08-31-2017, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chelsea-Sea

It's time to clog the courts! If everyone continues to fish for fluke what happens? Sure a few get caught and fined. If that happens then we all need to stand behind them. The courts can't handle the over flow. Time to take a stand. LETS TAKE BACK OUR FAVORITE PAST TIME!

I'm game but lets be clear here..... I don't want to fish illegally and hope I don't get caught, I want to do it in protest to gain attention to what's happening here.

Hell, everyone else seems to be getting ink and on the news by protesting, why don't we??

Capt. Debbie · #8 08-31-2017, 10:23 AM

Need a NY main stream TV media connection. Anyone got a hook to speak our party boat guys to.

TV embarrasses these politicos and makes their appointed lackys do things.

ANY ONE KNOW A NYC or PHILLY TV Connection?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gerry Zagorski

I'm game but lets be clear here..... I don't want to fish illegally and hope I don't get caught, I want to do it in protest to gain attention to what's happening here.

Hell, everyone else seems to be getting ink and on the news by protesting, why don't we??

bhackemup · #9 08-31-2017, 11:36 AM

I keep sending e-mails and letters to our two Senators but they both seem to be a little busy now either trying to remove statues or defending themselves in court on corruption charges!

Gerry Zagorski · #10 08-31-2017, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bhackemup

I keep sending e-mails and letters to our two Senators but they both seem to be a little busy now either trying to remove statues or defending themselves in court on corruption charges!

Politicians and more importantly their staff who reads these letters and have their attention, put most of their energy into one thing, getting re elected.

Be sure when you write them let them know your vote will be decided by who supports fishermen...