2015 Bass regulations: GET ON THE PHONE/WRITE AN EMAIL!

[Harpoon]

Originally Posted by JBird

I think it needs to be said that the rules are going to kill fish. Here's how.
Guy goes out on a party boat, catches a 32 inch bass and keeps it. Why wouldn't he? It's a really nice fish.
It's a good day and the guy catches another fish, 36 inches this time. Because he's clamming off a party boat it takes a bit of time to get the fish to the boat as they are anchored and the current is screaming. By the time the mate nets it it's mouth is hanging open from exhaustion.
Then it's in the boat.
Then it gets measured and the mate says, "It's not over 43" so you're supposed to release it."
Then the guy uses some extremely colorful language to describe the regulations he's supposed to follow. (Don't even get me started on how we are supposed to run a pool)
Then he figures he should take a picture with this big fish to prove to his buddies he's not full of s**t.
Then he throws it back. Dead or close to it because it's basically impossible to revive a fish when you can't hold it in the water. Maybe, just maybe, the mate has the time and inclination to attempt revival by lip gaffing the bass and holding it's head into the current until it perks up, but that's a big maybe.
The crabs are going to be happy.

The other instance, which I'm sure will happen, is that the guy catches the second fish early afternoon. The whole front of the boat has been skunked so far and since the boat limit has not been reached that guys second fish is going home. I believe this is more realistic, especially on a party boat. I'm not saying this because I have an issue with party boats, in fact I like them. Fish size and counting will get creative.

[hammer4reel]

Originally Posted by mccandrj

Where did you get your stats? Plus, your discussion is leaned towards a charter boat, and ignoring the head boat industry that doesn't harvest the big fish. They are totally different, neither will benefit from the law, but the charter industry will suffer less. So, now we know how you stand.

I will make it easier to understand how I stand, since you def have no clue about the fishery.

including the mere thought that Head boats dont catch big fish.
The bass are getting hammered 11 months out the year in many different states.
If changes are not made soon NO ONE will be catching fish .
I left the charter industry because I didnt want to be part of the problem. in that I was busting my butt to put guys on fish just to see them slaughtered.
I still take MANY guys out who are catch and release, and would rather be broke than see this great fishery destroyed because guys want to take a hundred pounds of fillets home from one trip.

Maybe if you even had a clue about how many fish are actually caught Daily up and down our coast you could actually make a reasonable choice of what actual changes need to be done.
but through your posts I can see you dont even know how many fish are caught on Party boats when the fishing is good let alone the whole rest of the fleet.

I have got to see how much pleasure guys get catching BIG bass, many their Personal best.
saw just as much pleasure those same guys releasing there biggest fish to fight another day.

I have yet to see 1/10 that pleasure from anyone eating one of those fish.
And yes striped bass are a good eating fish, But there is no reason to need to feed the whole neighborhood them after a single trip
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[JBird]

Well, I figured sooner or later this would turn into a pissing contest and sadly it has.

I won't wade completely into the piss pool but I can tell you the numbers I got were from the ASMFC website, so the same numbers used to make these rule changes.
This is the same ASMFC that says, and I quote "OVERFISHING IS NOT OCCURING".
Their concern is that reproductive productivity is declining. I've yet to find any info on why they think this is happening but I sure would like to know.

It seems like some guys here are kind of missing the point I'm trying to make.
It's in my best interest and my industries best interest to have a healthy bass stock.
I get that. Everybody in my business gets that. No fish, no work, no money. Got it. Understood. Fully comprehended. Roger. 10-4 good buddy. Yo comprendo. Capice.
The scientists tell us overfishing is not occurring (their words not mine) but to be safe a reduction is needed. Even if they are right, all I'm saying is why does NJ have to take such a huge hit when we have no commercial fishery? For all intents and purposes the way the rules are now we went from 3 fish to 1. No bonus tag until the Fall and the 2nd fish has to be 28 to 30 pounds or bigger. So, except on rare occasions, most anglers are going to MAYBE take home 1 fish instead of MAYBE taking home 3. That is a 66% reduction in potential harvest to achieve a 25% overall reduction. (until Sept. 1st) That's some kick in the teeth to a state that has recognized the value of eliminating the commercial catch.

[AndyS]

I think most of the states up and down the East coast went to 1 fish, no bonus tag.
I'm fine with one fish, JUST GIVE ME BACK MY WINTER OFFSHORE SEA BASS.

[Joey Dah Fish]

Every one pretty much complaining. There is only one solution STFU and go fishing. It's called fishing not killing. Some do some don't but just being out fishing is one of Gods greatest gifts to us. Enjoy and please try to do your part in conservation. More ans more people I know are catch and release guys so we are some what offsetting the guys who are taking there catch. Do it either way you like just enjoy yourself. Over and out good luck to all and catchem up

[JBird]

I think NJ is the only state with the bonus tag. Because we have no commercial harvest.

[fishguy]

You catch 35 bass that are 20-30+ pounds in one night???
I'll pay you $5000 for a night charter. Are you free next weekend?

Originally Posted by hammer4reel

take that 7 million pounds
divide it by 20 pounds ( since at current regs there are prop more 25+ pound fish taken than the 10 pounders , and all the fish bigger than that 30+
you get to catch 350,000 bass
divide that by 10000 boats ( which is way low when you add the coastal states)
that means each boat can catch just 35 bass for the season.

I catch that on 1 good night, what about the other 3 months of fishing I do for bass.

while big numbers look like alot of fish , it really isnt when you have the pressure these fish recieve

[hooks40]

NJ has always been greedy when it comes to regulations. Getting their "fair share" seems more important than anything else. I would support a 1 fish limit of 28+ until the stocks rebound. (I would support a moratorium). The bonus fish is a joke. Pay $2 and every angler gets to kill an extra fish every day?? huh?? I don't accept those who say they want a good fishery yet they support the current or past regs and bonus program...

[Gerry Zagorski]

Originally Posted by hooks40

NJ has always been greedy when it comes to regulations. Getting their "fair share" seems more important than anything else. I would support a 1 fish limit of 28+ until the stocks rebound. (I would support a moratorium). The bonus fish is a joke. Pay $2 and every angler gets to kill an extra fish every day?? huh?? I don't accept those who say they want a good fishery yet they support the current or past regs and bonus program...

The reason NJ recreational fishermen are allowed more Striped Bass then other states like NY is becuase NJ does not allow commercial fishing for them. So the quota we get in NJ does not have to be split between commercial and recreational, it all goes to recreational.

[hammer4reel]

Originally Posted by Gerry Zagorski

The reason NJ recreational fishermen are allowed more Striped Bass then other states like NY is becuase NJ does not allow commercial fishing for them. So the quota we get in NJ does not have to be split between commercial and recreational, it all goes to recreational.

which NJ claims has never been over used by the bonus tags.
I dont believe that as total landing on those tags are not supposed to go over
321,750 pounds.
divide that by 20 pounds and that is only an allocation of approx 16000 bass.
so that means about only 1/8 NJ saltwater fisherman would be able to use a tag .
IM betting that if ALL tags were reported we would crush that total landing .


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