Immediate Action Needed for 2022 Black Seabass

[Captain Rich]

Done

[togzilla]

Done

[PaBeerGuy]

According to Capt Monty it's a done deal. 24% reduction! Not sure what that actually boils down to for the average fisherman though.

[Gerry Zagorski]

Originally Posted by PaBeerGuy

According to Capt Monty it's a done deal. 24% reduction! Not sure what that actually boils down to for the average fisherman though.

There is still work being done to minimize the reduction but not sure if that will come to pass... As far as what that means to us, it's to be determined but suffices to say we could be looking at a shorter season, a lower bag limit, an increased size limit or a combination of all the above.

[Gerry Zagorski]

Originally Posted by Gerry Zagorski

There is still work being done to minimize the reduction but not sure if that will come to pass... As far as what that means to us, it's to be determined but suffices to say we could be looking at a shorter season, a lower bag limit, an increased size limit or a combination of all the above.

Update looks like ASMFC voted and approved a 20.7% reduction and the MAFMC still needs to vote.

BTW for those of you who submitted comments as suggested above, they made it to all the council members so mission accomplished, thank you!

[frugalfisherman]

Compare 2016 seabass regs to 2021. This will give you an idea of what's going to happen. 2021 seabass opened Oot 8 and seabass were offshore already. If fluke is liberalized and there's a stupid "slot fish" instead of bridging fluke to seabass closer that would be a serious mistake for all of us.

2016 NJ Black Sea Bass Regulations:
Black sea bass regulations include a three-part season

Open May 23 to June 19 with a bag limit of 10 fish at 12½ inches.
Open July 1 to Aug. 31 with two fish limit at 12½ inches.
Open Oct. 22 to Dec. 31 with a 15-fish bag limit at 13 inches.

[Gerry Zagorski]

Looks like we’ll get a 20% reduction instead of 28 and we’ll need to wait and see what it will do to our 2022 regs.

[Dclark2]

Done and thanks