More pressure on bass

[finchaser]

New blackfish Regulations will put more pressure on stripers


Blackfish Regulations to Tighten in N.J.

Minimum sizes, open seasons affected


By Daniel Nee

Anglers targeting tautog, commonly known as "tog" or blackfish, will face more stringent regulations on the species following a decision made Thursday by the state Marine Fisheries Council.

Federal regulators ordered New Jersey officials to reduce the recreational harvest of the popular food and sport fish by 53 percent, and council members complied by reducing the length of the open season on the species, as well as upping the minimum size limit.

"There's no good option," said council member Dr. Patrick F. Donnelly, of Brick.

The council met in Galloway Township Thursday to vote on a plan to reduce the annual harvest.

"We cut out of every season, a little bit here, a little bit there," he said.

In the end, council members approved a relatively complicated slate of regulations for blackfish, which opens and closes the seasons multiple times per year. The size limit will remain at 15 inches all year long, up from the current minimum size of 14 inches. Anglers will also be able to take fewer fish home.

The regulations approved are:



Date/Season

Size Limit

Bag (Possession) Limit



Jan. 1 - Feb. 28

15 inches

4 fish



March

CLOSED



April

15 inches

4 fish



May 1 - July 26

CLOSED



July 27 - Aug. 30

15 inches

1 fish



Sept. 1 - Oct. 17

CLOSED



Oct. 18 - Nov. 15

15 inches

1 fish



Nov. 16 - Dec. 31

15 inches

4 fish

[DarkSkies]

[Federal regulators ordered New Jersey officials to reduce the recreational harvest of the popular food and sport fish by 53 percent, and council members complied by reducing the length of the open season on the species, as well as upping the minimum size limit.

"There's no good option," said council member Dr. Patrick F. Donnelly, of Brick.
"We cut out of every season, a little bit here, a little bit there," he said.



I see more pressure on all sides for striped bass as sea bass, blackfish, fluke, and cod limits are being cut back.
http://stripersandanglers.com/Forum/showthread.php?8169-Cod-Overfished-New-Quotas-proposed-Industry-shut-down



The sad thing is, other than the March on Washington 2 years ago, many fishermen will blindly accept this and won't protest. If you know of any PACS that are working to stand up for fishermen (like the RFA, etc) please support them...

Thanks for posting this, Fin.

[plugcrazy]

After this winter in North Carolina and the netters in Maryland, I think there wlll be a lot less bass coming up the coast in April.

[storminsteve]

Seems like we fisher-folks can't catch a break.