Sea Bass Options Update and Survey

[Angler Paul]

JCAA ALERT - SEABASS REGULATORY UPDATE AND SURVEY
by Paul Haertel

The bad news is that although New Jersey expected to receive a 20% liberalization, regarding our sea bass regulations, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) decided to give a 27% increase to states to our north and a 16.5 % increase to states to our south, leaving NJ with what is left over. Depending on exactly what regulations the other states develop, that should allow us to liberalize by 15-17%.
The good news is that even a 15-17% increase will result in a very significant liberalization to our regulations. Our Bureau of Marine Fisheries (NJBMF) is working on a range of options that must first be approved by the ASMFC. Then they will be reviewed by the New Jersey Marine Fisheries Council’s (NJMFC) sea bass advisors committee, which will whittle the options down to just a few which will be made available to the public. Finally, the public will have a chance to comment on these options at the NJMFC’s meeting on March 26th. Upon conclusion of the public comment period, the council will vote on which option will become law for both 2026 and 2027. In the meantime, the NJDEP Fish & Wildlife and the NJMFC are interested in input from the public on possible sea bass measures for 2026. Those interested may take the survey below to provide general guidance regarding the regulations. The chart below includes samples of options that may be approved. However, they are likely to be tweaked or modified and a couple more similar options may be developed. Option 1A would allow the one fish limit to begin on 6/22 and run into September with the possibility of the ten fish bag limit season beginning later that month, perhaps even while fluke season is still open. That option would allow the season to be open for 43 more days than last year, 26 one fish days and 17 ten fish days. Option 2A would allow for a two fish limit from 7/1-9/15. There would be a ten-day closure at the end of June and a two-week closure at the end of September before the ten fish season opens on 10/1. Option 2B would allow for two fish from 6/22-9/6. There would be no closure in June but then the season would close for more than three weeks in September. Options 2A and 2 B would allow the season to be open 19 more days than last year. There is a comment section in the survey. You may want to state whether you prefer the one fish or two fish option and whether it is more important for you to extend the season further into June or extend it into September. You may simply indicate your preferred option number or make any other suggestions that you have.

Please complete the 2026 BSB Measures form only once.
Those without internet access may request a paper copy by calling the Marine Resources Administration at 609-748-2020.
Submissions must be received by 11:59 p.m. on March 11, 2026, in order to be considered.

The following chart includes SAMPLES of a couple of the options which will likely be tweaked or modified further. Additional options may be developed from these as well.

Run Name SEASON 1 SEASON 2 SEASON 3 SEASON 4 Total Extra Days Open
NJ Current Regulations Date 5/17-6/19 7/1-8/31 10/1-10/31 11/1-12/31
Bag 10 1 10 15
1.A Date 5/15-6/21 6/22-9/17 9/18-10/31 11/1-12/31 43
Bag 10 1 10 15
2.A Date 5/15-6/21 7/1-9/15 10/1-10/31 11/1-12/31 19
Bag 10 2 10 15
2.B Date 5/15-6/21 6/22-9/6 10/1-10/31 11/1-12/31 19
Bag 10 2 10 15

https://forms.office.com/Pages/Respo...ce=govdelivery