Missing bluefish

[Abrasion]

I hope so. I know it's linking to another page but I can envision a future where this post substitutes the word "porgie" or "bluefish" for the word whiting.

http://www.stripersonline.com/surfta...iting-fishing/

[jmurr711]

Originally Posted by Abrasion

theres PROaction and REaction. Fishery managers are the kings of REaction. We need to be PROactive. Remember when whiting were the "bluefish of the sea"? So plentiful you could walk on them. Well, I've never seen it but my grandfather used to tell me about it.....

They don't come near nj but is that because we caught em all or is it climate? Bait? Obama? Because if you go up north you can fill sacks with baseball bats & hit the smokehouse

[FASTEDDIE29]

Just got home from walking the beaches in and around Princess Bay! My son and I had and awesome Bluefish Blitz all to ourselves for about 2 hours straight! Outgoing tide! They were smashing Peanuts! All the 2-7 lbers you can dream of! Just need to have the patience to wait for it to happen!

TIGHT LINEZ!

[dales529]

Abrasion and Bulletbob,
I respect both of your opinions. I am all for self control and after spending the last 8 years working with SSFFF and RFA-NJ I have learned that you really need to pick your battles. As a working member for both entities our mission statement is conservation while protecting recreational fishing jobs and rights from arbitrary landings data, unnecessary closures of fisheries and strict regulations on any species.

We as posters on the internet can unintentionally do a dis-service to all by throwing arbitrary fishing participation and overfishing comments out there especially on a species that is not in trouble and shows no signs of being in trouble. Even the faulty Government science landings not only show Blue fish NOT overfished recreationally but allow for some of the recreational pound quota to be transferred to the commercial sector as we don't come close to landing our 11 million pounds. Maybe if bluefish had a higher commercial value (table fare) we may have a different picture.

I understand your concerns that small fish have taken over and the bluefish in general seem not as abundant but please revisit that statement from Oct - Dec 2016 and next spring when the cycles come back as usual. I also respect and encourage your worries of past greed and waste coming back. We have to stay vigilant but my opinion is todays fishermen have learned from the past for the most part, are more conservational in general and practice more catch and release properly than ever before.

Bob I have to believe we fish the same ocean and maybe you hit the perfect storm persay with all those railed PB's and private boaters but from my perspective fishing from AH, Shark River and MI, talking with many PB and charter captains who sail light or not at all on weekdays it certainly is not the norm since Sandy. Even when not fishing a quick check of beach cams during peak Fluke season show small boat counts to the viewing screens.

Good fishing to all and lets be vigilant but not create a window of opportunity for over regulation.

[bassnblues]

I'm very concservation minded but honestly, PBs have been filling buckets and bags with bluefish and porgys since I started fishing in the late 70's/early 80's and I can't remember a time when both were not plentiful.

I can't speak to this year because I've been kept off the water with mobility issues.

[pectoralfin]

You don't have to worry about the availability of bluefish. The NMFS has adopted the policy that whatever the recreational fishermen do not catch from their quota is automatically transferred to the commercial sector. In other words if we practice catch and release, if, for example, we only catch 85% of our quota, 15% is given to the commercials and we don't get it back. And it happens every year until the commercial quota reaches about 10.5 million pounds. The percentage of the total allowable catch for the recreational now is about 80% and it will drop to about 50% when all is said and done. Forget about asking them how they get their data.

I have been corresponding with a representative of the NMFS regarding this and the more I read and attempt to analyze and understand their bulletins, the more pissed off I get. This isn't the only species that we are loosing. Its been over 13 years that winter flounder has been kept at a 2 fish limit. it should be recovered by now. We are being pushed out slowly but surely. Look whats happening with fluke, sea bass, blackfish, etc.

I apologize for my rant, but what I said above is true. Yes, I belong to several groups that are trying to advocate our behalf, but what is happening is a shame.

[Capt Joe]

Originally Posted by tjd24

If you are waiting for me to name the boats I mentioned in my Post, you'll be waiting a long time.

"Please identify the PBs. A little public shaming could be a good thing."

No I'm waiting for Mike1010 to explain this horseshit

" In a few years when the bluefish are gone and the party boat captains are complaining they'll have nobody to blame but themselves."

Matching DUMBNESS! :-)

[NoLimit]

Recreational fishing has never hurt a fishery

Stop passing around that Koolaid

[mike1010]

Originally Posted by Capt Joe

wtf ?

I meant that knowing the party boats that were misbehaving would be a good thing for the fishing community. Was I unclear, or do you disagree?

[reason162]

Originally Posted by Abrasion

theres PROaction and REaction. Fishery managers are the kings of REaction. We need to be PROactive. Remember when whiting were the "bluefish of the sea"? So plentiful you could walk on them. Well, I've never seen it but my grandfather used to tell me about it.....

I think proactive/preemptive limits should be placed on all species. If you have data then go off data; if you don't, go off "common sense." Slap a 20 fish limit on sea robins before Jmur's gospel start spreading!