Sea Bass Update 3/5/13

[Angler Paul]

Doug, I suppose we are both partially correct and it is confusing. I was referring to the sea bass season set by our NJMFC which is for state waters. You are correct in what you said about the season being shut down in federal waters. State waters remained open for sea bass during the seasons I had mentioned. State waters were also closed to party and charter boats who had been issued a federal charter/party boat permit. This year the federal regualtions are supposed to be as follows:
20 fish bag limit at 12.5" with a seasons of January 1 through February 28, May 19 through October 14, and November 1 through December 31.
Our state has to reduce it's catch by 32% so our regulations will have to be much more stringent than those. However, the NJMFC needs to develop regulations that will allow us to fish for sea bass during the times federal waters are open. This way we can fish in federal or state waters for sea bass during the same time. For instance if we choose to have our state waters open between 10/15 and 10/31 we won't be able to keep any sea bass from outside the 3 mile limit. Also those with a federal charter/party boat permit won't even be able to fish for them in state waters. Yes, we got screwed by the federal shut down last year and it could happen again. Still the NJMFC has to develop the best regulations they can based on the information they have at the time.
Lastly at the NJMFC meeting tonight they informed us that they are still working on options for this year. The regulations are now expected to be set at their meeting on 5/2.