Nwe Blackfish and Sea Bass Regulations Imminent

[Angler Paul]

New Blackfish and Sea Bass Regulations Imminent


At the advisors meeting of the NJMFC on 4/17 we learned that the 2012 regulations for blackfish and sea bass will be changed at the May meeting of the NJMF. The next meeting of the New Jersey Marine Fisheries Council will be held on the 2nd Thursday, May 10, 2012 at 4:00 p.m. at the Galloway Township Library, Jimmie Leeds Road, Absecon, NJ.

There is some good news for blackfish. The one option on the table at the meeting will be to liberalize our blackfish season. The change will now allow us to keep one blackfish from July 17th – November 15th and 6 fish from November 16th to December 31st. The size limit will remain at 15”.

The sea bass situation is not so good. There will be several different options presented to the public prior to the May 10th meeting. All will require about a 3 week cut in the season from what was previously approved. However,
even with the cut, we should end up with a season that that is about 3 weeks longer than the last year’s. Our state developed 10 different options but only a few of them will be presented at the meeting. While I do not know for certain it seemed that the following two will be among those considered.
May 19th – September 25th and November 1st – December 31st. This was the option that was favored by law enforcement personnel as it is the least confusing. However, another option was favored by some of the advisors. That option would allow us to have something to fish for after fluke season ends but also be open when fish can also be kept in federal waters. This option would allow a season from May 19th – September 3rd, September 23rd – October 14th and November 1st – December 31st. Other options that may be considered would cut time from June or varying parts of September while some would allow us to fish later into October even though federal waters will be closed from 10/15 – 10/31.

With all the options, the size limit will remain at 12.5” and the bag limit will remain at 25. I encourage those interested in fishing for sea bass to attend the meeting and voice their opinions.

Paul Haertel
2nd VP JCAA

[Islander II]

Why wouldn't they cut the bag limit in half, at least, and give us more time to fish for them. Very fustrating!

[captadamnj]

Cutting the bag limit in half has no impact on conservation since the average harvest per angler is calculated to be around 5 fish per person. Thus, the bag limit would have to be less than 5 to start seeing a realized conservation benefit. That's how the math works.

[GOTCHA1224]

where do you come up with an average of 5 seabass? you have obviosoly never fished for seabass they are like catching sunnies we catch triple headers every drop down talk about flawed numbers we need a winter season .not only for the few party boats that rely on like my favorite boat the big j.but for us fisherman who want to go out in the cold and catch knuckleheads.how does someone come up with an average of five seabass per person per trip? sounds like a bunch of bs to me.

Gotcha - I think you owe Captain Adam an appology. Maybe next time you should think a bit more, give people the benefit of the doubt or be more informed on subjects before you start typing and calling people out.

Gerry

[shrimpman steve]

capt. adam fights for our rights, lets not come down on him!

he does not come up with these numbers.

[Capt. Lou]

Precisely , Capt. Adam has to work within these numbers , he sure as he'll doesn't come up with them!
You ought to be thanking him & others who man the ftont lines so that we have a season at all! Nobody likes it , so come down on the parties that actually make these at times absurd rrgs'

[CaptTB]

Originally Posted by GOTCHA1224

where do you come up with an average of 5 seabass? you have obviosoly never fished for seabass they are like catching sunnies we catch triple headers every drop down talk about flawed numbers we need a winter season .not only for the few party boats that rely on like my favorite boat the big j.but for us fisherman who want to go out in the cold and catch knuckleheads.how does someone come up with an average of five seabass per person per trip? sounds like a bunch of bs to me.

The federal government comes up with these numbers, not a charterboat captain from south jersey.

The simple fact of the matter is they calculate that the average catch per person (fish taken home) from ALL trips by ALL fishermen from ALL states equals less than 10 keepers per person per trip. Whether you believe that or not is irrelevant, those are the numbers they use and therefore those are the numbers we are forced to work with.

So, when you go from 25 to 12, according to the governments math, you save 0%. Since the average person does not catch twelve keepers anyway they give you no credit for reducing the bag limit until you drop it below the number that the average angler catches. Then you START getting savings, but until you go well below the average number you still get little.

Wanna sea bass for 4 fish?

If the answer is yes then go to the meetings and state your case.

[Perfect Drift]

Originally Posted by CaptTB

The federal government comes up with these numbers, not a charterboat captain from south jersey.

The simple fact of the matter is they calculate that the average catch per person (fish taken home) from ALL trips by ALL fishermen from ALL states equals less than 10 keepers per person per trip. Whether you believe that or not is irrelevant, those are the numbers they use and therefore those are the numbers we are forced to work with.

So, when you go from 25 to 12, according to the governments math, you save 0%. Since the average person does not catch twelve keepers anyway they give you no credit for reducing the bag limit until you drop it below the number that the average angler catches. Then you START getting savings, but until you go well below the average number you still get little.

Wanna sea bass for 4 fish?

If the answer is yes then go to the meetings and state your case.

Thanks for the clarification TB. I have never heard of anything so stupid in my life.

[snowbank104]

how many party boats in jersey go for sea bass in the summer just wondering

[Madman9132]

i thought there where talks of a longer season in the winter. Dec-Feb. What happened to that??? i know the offshore knuckle heads get better Jan and Feb.. Not trying to start anything.... Just curious what happened to that proposal.. And thank you for taking the time to go to these meetings as well as keeping us up to date.