NJ Marine Fisheries Council Report and Bluefin Tuna Meeting Report

(from Jersey Coast Anglers Association April 2006 Newsletter)

The NJ Marine Fisheries Council met on March 2.  They voted on the season for summer flounder and again took the conservative approach.  I asked that they consider lengthening the season to help the South Jersey anglers who would like an earlier opening and the surf fishermen who would like the season extended in the fall.  Instead of taking advantage of the opportunity to increase the season by a few weeks and using some of the 9.73% underage, they set the season at May 6 to October 9.  We can all be happy that they kept the size limit at 16 ½” and the bag limit at 8 fish.  This insures consistency for another year and avoids more confusion on the part of anglers who only have the opportunity to fish occasionally. 

The meeting was very well attended by the commercial crabbers.  They are very concerned about the impending moratorium on the harvest of horseshoe crabs.  In the February 6 issue of the NJ register there was a notice that there would be a moratorium.  The Fisheries Council will meet on March 30 and the only item on the agenda will be horseshoe crabs.  It promises to be a very contentious meeting.  While this seems to be a commercial issue it also has implications for Striped Bass fishermen.  The horseshoe crabs are used as bait in the eel fishery.  If there are no crabs there will be a very limited supply of eels for bait and that means higher prices.  The Council will vote on their position at this meeting.  There will be a lot of comments from the audience on both sides of the issue.  There is also the opportunity to provide comments to the state based on the register notice.

I have attended a couple of meetings with the RFA, other groups and charter boats captains on the bluefin tuna regulations.  To say it is complicated is an understatement, but unless something is done there will be no season on 27” – 47” tuna this year.  John Koegler is the chairman of the JCAA HMS Committee which deals with tuna and you can send any comments or suggestions to him at <jtkoegler@juno.com>.  John is always looking for people to work on the JCAA HMS Committee so email him if you would like to help.

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