Blackfish (Tautog) Regulations

By Mark Taylor

(from Jersey Coast Anglers Association February 2012 Newsletter)

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) mandated the states to reduce blackfish harvest coast wide by 56%. So the individual states were directed by ASMFC to develop new regulations and implement them so they will achieve this reduction. On January 5 the New Jersey Marine Fisheries Council (NJMFC) approved new size, bag and season limits on Blackfish (Tautog) at their meeting. If you thought the blackfish season was confusing last year take a look at this year’s.

Blackfish (Tautog) 2012 Regulations for NJ

January 1st to February 28th		15 inches / 4 fish
March 1st to 31st		Closed
April 1st to 30th		15 inches / 4 fish
May 1st to July 26th		Closed
July 27th to August 30th		15 inches / 1 fish
September 1st to October 17th		Closed
October 18th to November 15th		15 inches / 1 fish
November 16th to December 31st		15 inches / 4 fish

We as recreational fishermen all need to educate the public on the new regulation changes and all others that come along. There are still some issues in this fishery that are not being dealt with by the ASMFC. One of them is the illegal harvest of live blackfish and maybe someday this will be addressed.

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