Striped Bass - As most of you know, at their October meeting the Striped Bass Board of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) set the coastwide standard of one fish at 28”-35”. This was in spite of the fact that the clear majority of comments they received from individuals, clubs and organizations favored one fish at 35” or greater. However, conservationally equivalent proposals were allowed and states had until the end of November to submit them if they chose to do so. However, these proposals had to meet the 18% mandatory reduction and would have to be approved by the ASMFC’s technical committee. I do know that the New Jersey Bureau of Marine Fisheries (NJBMF) submitted proposals, though I am not privy to what they were or which ones were approved. Since adopting a 28’-35” slot in NJ would result in more than an 18% cut for our state, I am certain that our proposals will be slightly more liberal. I suspect that we may see a couple different proposals for slot limits with a broader range than the coastwide standard. We will probably also see a proposal with a minimum size a couple inches below the 35” size that was one of initial sub-options in the addendum. I am hopeful that we may see a proposal or two that would allow us to keep one fish at 28” or greater but with seasonal closures.
At any rate, once our proposals are approved, the New Jersey Marine Fisheries Council’s (NJMFC) striped bass committee will hold an advisors meeting sometime this winter. The committee will likely narrow the options down to about four that will eventually be released to the public. First, though, all the proposals from the various states will have to be given final approval by the ASMFS at their meeting in early February. Finally, the NJMFC will likely hold a special meeting later in February where the council will decide what our new 2020 regulations will be. This meeting will be open to the public and all those in attendance will be given an opportunity to comment on their preference prior to the council voting.
Bluefish – What a mess! At their joint meeting earlier this month the ASMFC and the Mid -Atlantic Marine Fisheries Council (MAFMC) voted for a coastwide standard of only a 3-fish bag limit for private anglers and a 5-fish bag limit for charter and party boats. Not only did they vote in favor of a draconian measure that drops the limit from 15 to 3 fish for most of us, but now they have created what is going to become a rift between the for-hire sector and private anglers. In the past NJ has always kept the same regulations for both sectors and by doing so we always worked together in seeking the best regulations for all of us. Now we may be fighting amongst ourselves for whatever quota we are given. Further allowing this would set a bad precedent as the next thing you know the for-hire sector will be asking for separate regs for fluke, sea bass and other species as well. We cannot allow this to happen.
Again, though, states may submit conservationally equivalent proposals. I don’t know what they will be but if our state does decide to submit any, they would likely include size limits or possibly seasonal closures. While a 3-fish bag limit would hurt the for-hire fleet, imagine what it will do to kids and sustenance fishermen fishing from shore who want to bring home some snappers to eat. Many kids are taught to fish on the docks of the bays for snappers and to bring them home to eat. These kids are our future fishermen but will their parents even bother taking them anymore? Imagine the harm that will be done to the various businesses that depend on fishermen. Also, what about fluke fishermen who want to use snappers for bait and what about shark fishermen who need to stock up their freezers with bait. Lastly, what about the fact that the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) allowed millions of pounds of bluefish that recreational fishermen had chosen to conserve by releasing them to instead be transferred to the commercial sector? This occurred over the last number of years and now because of this mis-management recreational fishermen will have to pay the price.
Fluke – A little better news here as ASMFC and MAFMC voted in favor of status quo. I suppose that is a good thing but since we underfished the quota the last couple of years a case could be made for a little liberalization. Therefore, NJ fluke regulations for the upcoming year will likely remain at 3 fish at 18” except in the Delaware Bay area where it will continue to be 3 fish at 17” and at Island Beach State Park where there is a 2 fish limit at 16”. The season length will remain the same but dates may change slightly.
I speculate that the season will begin in late May and end in late September as it has during the past couple of years.
Sea Bass – The ASMFC and MAFMC decided on status quo but it wasn’t easy. There was a lot of discussion on this and some favored cutbacks in the quota. However, since the stock is rebuilt to about 240% of its target, common sense prevailed and they let us have status quo. Therefore, our size limits, bag limits and season length are likely to remain the same. Season dates may be adjusted slightly.
Scup (Porgies) – The ASMFC and MAFMC also voted for status quo regulations for porgies but again there were some who were calling for cutbacks.
The regulations for blues, fluke, sea bass and porgies will likely be set at the NJMFC meeting in March. JCAA will keep you posted on all of this via our newsletter and on our Facebook page. Also be sure to read Tom Fote’s article that will explain in much more depth how the new MRIP numbers and poor management decisions are negatively affecting recreational fisheries.
