UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE NJ BLACKFISH REGS-

926 Views 9 Replies 6 Participants Last post by TJL65, Mar 17, 2003

619627

Discussion Starter · Mar 13, 2003

I got a question from a board member who stated, how do the tighter blackfish limits effect him while he is on a party boat. Thats a good question.

First the regulations effect all fishing off the state of New Jersey to three miles off the beach. What this means is that the rule effects all inshore fishing for blackfishing during the late spring, and early fall season.
Second is that party boats are categorized and must obey recreational limits for all species unless specifically noted, (such as striped bass).

Now, if you are on a party boat, that stops and fishes offshore first then comes inshore to fish some wrecks, can the person have more then 4 fish in his possession during the spring, or 1 fish during the fall till Nov. 14?

As far as i know and understand the law, while fishing in ANY STATES waters, you must obey that states possession limits! Let me repeat, when you fish that states waters, no matter if the fish are caught in another states waters, or in federal waters, you must obey the limit on that given species.

So where does that leave the fishermen on a party boat that is blackfishing especially in the early fall when fishing spots off of Sandy Hook, the Highlands, and Sea Bright. Or when fishing the inshore portions of the Sandy Hook reef? I really do not know what to tell you after you catch your 1st keeper blackfish on a early fall blackfish trip.

Someone mentioned on another thread about culling fish throughout the day, and then choosing what ever size fish you want for dinner. This happens to be impratical on a party boat, especially a crowded one, which usually happens on the weekends. Fish handling is stressful to a fish, and 'culling' leads to tossing back fish that are sometimes to far gone to survive once tossed back.

I thought i would hear more protest about these limits, but i guess for many it has not sunk in how restrictive these limits are. Just be aware of this when you are fishing off New Jersey waters for blackfish this year.

EC NEWELL MAN*

(This post edited by EC NEWELL MAN on 03/12/2003)

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619627

Discussion Starter · #4 · Mar 14, 2003

What do the pinhookers say? Well not to upset Tunabab with any pinhooker stories, the few that i talked to will deal with it, like they have been dealing with these regs in the past. You just have to fish different areas now. The big concern is for operators of NY party boats out of Sheepshead Bay, which may have to fish for other species for a longer period of time.

By the way, i hear NY is proposing a zero bycatch from June 1 till Oct___.

EC NEWELL MAN*

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Discussion Starter · #7 · Mar 16, 2003

Hi Tuna Bab, you are 100 percent right on what you just said in your post. The days of the Wild West, "keep all you catch" are over, and like yourself i do miss them. I would imagine with New Jersey coming down with these regs, enforcement is going to be scaled up in certain areas.....word to the wise!

Zero bycatch just means that you cannot have in your possession any fish, in this case 1 blackfish for recreational. New York uptill last year allowed a one fish bycatch on blackfish for recreational fishermen during the summer. This is definitly going to put more pressure on the sea bass by the bottom party boats. Its going to be very interesting what we see going on around the inshore blackfish grounds off of New Jersey this year.

EC NEWELL MAN*

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