February seabass

[Madcrab]

Originally Posted by bigal427

Nobody has turned one against one another. I would just like to point out the inshore fisherman gets the short end or the stick. You don't think we miss days because of weather. You don't think the majority of seabass fisherman fish inshore. Give us a break and don't take the best month for inshore seabass fishing away from us.

It's fair to say why open February when so many can't get to it, my 2 cents.

[BugEye Chris]

But it ok to take one of the best months away
From us in to offshore minority

[Gerry Zagorski]

No easy answers here and not going to be able to please everyone. IMHO it's not worth adding Feb to risk days or bag limits during the regular season when more people fish for them.

OK go ahead and hang me

[bulletbob]

Originally Posted by Gerry Zagorski

No easy answers here and not going to be able to please everyone. IMHO it's not worth adding Feb to risk days or bag limits during the regular season when more people fish for them.

OK go ahead and hang me

I agree.. Fare is probably $150-175, plus gas, many older guys, women, kids can't make that long trip comfortably, its really geared towards a select few.
Lots of big fish yes, but also a lot of fish dead that can't make it back down.. I dunno, I feel the majority of anglers would be better served if those days were allotted to the regular season when they are within easier reach of more fishermen... bob

[Honger]

Originally Posted by bulletbob

, plus gas, many older guys, women, kids can't make that long trip comfortably, its really geared towards a select few.

Believe it or not but not everybody drives 5000 miles to catch sea bass from nj. Most are within couple dozen miles.

[bulletbob]

Originally Posted by Honger

Believe it or not but not everybody drives 5000 miles to catch sea bass from nj. Most are within couple dozen miles.

irrelevant.. The fact remains that its expensive, cold, a very long day for many people that are very young, old, sick, or have other constraints... The warmer months when the sea bass are closer to shore, and residing in shallower water is the time when many more people are able to fish for them.

February offshore sea bass is a great fishery, no question. Wish it was open, every year

However, if we are going to get a few more piddling days of fishing in thanks to our generous and compassionate BIG BROTHER, many more people would be better served if those days were allotted when the fish are within easier reach to more fishermen..
Its not always about "serious" fishermen.. There are those of us that can't be as "serious" for various reasons, and they deserve a shot at catching a few fish as well... bob

[hammer4reel]

Less than 1% of the boats in NJ can utilize the FEBRUARY sea bass fishery.
So there is no reason to limit the other 99% for another portion of the year.

.

[RC.]

For many years I fished almost weekly for offshore sea bass. Once they lowered the limit from 25 to 15 fish, I stopped going. It just didn't seem worth the $200 to $300 in fare, tip, tackle, etc. and the 24 hour time commitment to go catch 15 sea bass, often while getting an ass-whoopin.

There were a lot of trips where the fishing was just stupid and you could catch 15 fish in the first hour. Then what do you do for the next 6 hours? Playing c&r makes little sense when so many die anyway. It's not so much about the meat you bring home but more the overall experience. For those reasons I'd prefer to have more of the catch available in the summer months. I do miss those trips though so I understand why others would disagree.

If I were hell bent on opening up the season in the winter, I'd argue for January when fishing is more consistent. Some years the fishing would slow by mid February or at least the average size of the fish became smaller.

RC

[torchee]

Man...

I get so stir crazy I'll fish for any thing in february, march and april.......
Whatever it costs, however far the ride... Whatever the consequence

[bigjamaica]

The way their calculations are made we would not get an extra week in the spring, summer, or fall. Our boats take people fishing all spring summer and fall and would love to have more than 10 fish or 2 fish.
Winter sea bass fishing was basically unlimited for years and did not hurt the stock at all.
Another note: if the evil party boat guys didn't go to these meetings for the last 30 years there probably wouldn't be any sea bass season at all. Did you ever attend any of those meetings Dan? Maybe you did, but I never had the pleasure of making your acquaintance.