marcq
Member
- Joined
- Apr 21, 2009
- Messages
- 850
Something that I’ve seen on Facebook and think is probably the best thing I’ve heard yet on options for where the striped bass fisheries should go. Hope it’s ok me copy and pasting this.
“Comments & Letter being submitted to NJ marine fisheries council as per last nights meeting
My Name is Capt. Paul Eidman
I run a fly & light tackle fishing charter boat called Reel Therapy in Northern NJ. We fish in and around the Sandy Hook/ Raritan Bay area specializing in catching striped bass and other gamefish. There is ZERO harvest for striped bass onboard my charter boat since the species has been declared OVERFISHED beginning of 2019.
I feel that the state of New Jersey should amplify the ASMFC ruling that the Striped Bass stock has the red flag flying and that striped bass are currently overfished and that overfishing is occurring. The new regulations should remain in place until the stocks are rebuilt.
While some of these measures below may not qualify for the ASMFC’s mandated "conservation equivalency" measures, they would be good for NJDEP to implement since a few other states have already set them in motion.
Achieving coastwide uniformity: Same as the other states: 1 Bass per angler, per day from 28"-35" for two years, to be revised as per stock assessment
Hudson/Raritan striper breeding stock conservation initiative:
Cath & release fishery- with a delayed opening in Raritan Bay and mouth of the Hudson coastal waters until a tentative date of May 15. Mandatory Non-offset circle hooks (NO J hooks) are to be required when using natural bait of all kinds.
Bonus fish tag program:
Keep the existing program in place with the 24"-28" bass size limit but improve the angler data collection. It’s very important that we retain this program so that this poundage allocation is not given to other states for commercial fisheries to harvest.
Given the current effectiveness of new trolling methods and its relentless slaughtering of cow bass, I would like to see the state consider a “Trophy tag” for folks to utilize for bass over 45” instead of having to discard a badly injured fish or have a desire to retain a fish of a lifetime for personal reasons. These tags could be part of the bonus tag allocation and would help to fulfill the state’s conservation equivalency requirement.
Hot water/Hot air closure conservation initiative;
All state waters closed, and measure implemented to reduce mortality from tentative dates of July 1 thru August 25th
Charter/party boat operator voluntary conservation initiative
Captains agree to only take fish per the actual anglers onboard. No, add on fish to be taken for Captain or mates.
NJDEP state budget
More funding is needed for marine enforcement enhancement to offset this regulation change and projected increase in poaching.
Angler Involvement in data collection:
I would like to see an NJ fish & game phone app and or an old school reporting requirement for all state anglers to participate in data collection for all gamefish. Better data is key to better management.
Striped Bass handling for release education:
Correct catch and release handling procedure angler education programs north, central and south NJ locations live and virtually as a webinar so folks can view at home.
Personally speaking, I have to add that NONE of the options that the ASMFC has offered appeal to me and I for one feel that the continued emphasis on maximum sustainable yield, catch limits and size decisions should be thrown out the window as soon as the technical committee declares that a stock is experiencing overfishing and is failing to replenish itself.
The ASMFC should be progressive enough to shift gears and get more aggressive since they are the ones in charge of managing the stock for sustainability. Offering the recreational angling community options that have a 50% or less projected success rate is pathetic.
Since they have failed to do this, the NJ marine fisheries council should be advising anglers to go easy on the stripers and pick a sustainable fish (like Black Sea Bass) for the table until striper stock recovery. I would be in favor of easing up BSB regulations to help protect the striped bass stocks further.
Since we are forced to stay on the menu, if New Jersey doesn't adopt the coastwide slot, it significantly impacts the plan's chances of success.
Now that we have a coastwide slot, even if many of us didn't care for it, the most important thing is maintaining, to the greatest extent possible, coastwide rules, in order to maximize the effectiveness of the slot. Otherwise, we end up in a situation where the greatest benefit of the slot--protecting the older fish--will be frustrated if some states allow fish over 35" to be retained.
Given the importance of the 2011- and 2015-year class fish to the fishery it’s important that we all become better stewards of the fishery, respect the stock until they get a chance to spawn at least once and the stock recovers to abundance.”
“Comments & Letter being submitted to NJ marine fisheries council as per last nights meeting
My Name is Capt. Paul Eidman
I run a fly & light tackle fishing charter boat called Reel Therapy in Northern NJ. We fish in and around the Sandy Hook/ Raritan Bay area specializing in catching striped bass and other gamefish. There is ZERO harvest for striped bass onboard my charter boat since the species has been declared OVERFISHED beginning of 2019.
I feel that the state of New Jersey should amplify the ASMFC ruling that the Striped Bass stock has the red flag flying and that striped bass are currently overfished and that overfishing is occurring. The new regulations should remain in place until the stocks are rebuilt.
While some of these measures below may not qualify for the ASMFC’s mandated "conservation equivalency" measures, they would be good for NJDEP to implement since a few other states have already set them in motion.
Achieving coastwide uniformity: Same as the other states: 1 Bass per angler, per day from 28"-35" for two years, to be revised as per stock assessment
Hudson/Raritan striper breeding stock conservation initiative:
Cath & release fishery- with a delayed opening in Raritan Bay and mouth of the Hudson coastal waters until a tentative date of May 15. Mandatory Non-offset circle hooks (NO J hooks) are to be required when using natural bait of all kinds.
Bonus fish tag program:
Keep the existing program in place with the 24"-28" bass size limit but improve the angler data collection. It’s very important that we retain this program so that this poundage allocation is not given to other states for commercial fisheries to harvest.
Given the current effectiveness of new trolling methods and its relentless slaughtering of cow bass, I would like to see the state consider a “Trophy tag” for folks to utilize for bass over 45” instead of having to discard a badly injured fish or have a desire to retain a fish of a lifetime for personal reasons. These tags could be part of the bonus tag allocation and would help to fulfill the state’s conservation equivalency requirement.
Hot water/Hot air closure conservation initiative;
All state waters closed, and measure implemented to reduce mortality from tentative dates of July 1 thru August 25th
Charter/party boat operator voluntary conservation initiative
Captains agree to only take fish per the actual anglers onboard. No, add on fish to be taken for Captain or mates.
NJDEP state budget
More funding is needed for marine enforcement enhancement to offset this regulation change and projected increase in poaching.
Angler Involvement in data collection:
I would like to see an NJ fish & game phone app and or an old school reporting requirement for all state anglers to participate in data collection for all gamefish. Better data is key to better management.
Striped Bass handling for release education:
Correct catch and release handling procedure angler education programs north, central and south NJ locations live and virtually as a webinar so folks can view at home.
Personally speaking, I have to add that NONE of the options that the ASMFC has offered appeal to me and I for one feel that the continued emphasis on maximum sustainable yield, catch limits and size decisions should be thrown out the window as soon as the technical committee declares that a stock is experiencing overfishing and is failing to replenish itself.
The ASMFC should be progressive enough to shift gears and get more aggressive since they are the ones in charge of managing the stock for sustainability. Offering the recreational angling community options that have a 50% or less projected success rate is pathetic.
Since they have failed to do this, the NJ marine fisheries council should be advising anglers to go easy on the stripers and pick a sustainable fish (like Black Sea Bass) for the table until striper stock recovery. I would be in favor of easing up BSB regulations to help protect the striped bass stocks further.
Since we are forced to stay on the menu, if New Jersey doesn't adopt the coastwide slot, it significantly impacts the plan's chances of success.
Now that we have a coastwide slot, even if many of us didn't care for it, the most important thing is maintaining, to the greatest extent possible, coastwide rules, in order to maximize the effectiveness of the slot. Otherwise, we end up in a situation where the greatest benefit of the slot--protecting the older fish--will be frustrated if some states allow fish over 35" to be retained.
Given the importance of the 2011- and 2015-year class fish to the fishery it’s important that we all become better stewards of the fishery, respect the stock until they get a chance to spawn at least once and the stock recovers to abundance.”
