Striped bass anglers need to know two sets of rules along the Delaware River

Striped bass anglers need to know two sets of rules along the Delaware River

by Fred J. Aun Saturday April 04, 2009, 11:24 PM


New Jersey might someday join Pennsylvania in abandoning the current April and May closed season for striped bass on the Delaware River, but this year striper anglers are facing a river divided.

While New Jersey continues to disallow the harvesting of striped bass caught in the Delaware during April and May, Pennsylvania is now allowing the taking of two fish, between 20 inches and 26 inches, as long as they're caught between the Calhoun Street Bridge in Trenton and the Pennsylvania/Delaware state line.
Pennsylvania based its regulation change on a State of Delaware study that found the river had enough 20- to 26-inch stripers in April and May to warrant lifting of the catch-and-release rules that were in effect. That's good news for Pennsylvania anglers, but it might cause problems for those from New Jersey.

"Anglers fishing the Delaware River from the New Jersey shoreline, or returning to New Jersey by boat and/or car in April and May, must abide by New Jersey's striped bass regulations," said a state Division of Fish and Wildlife statement. "Possession of striped bass in New Jersey is illegal during this time period."
Fish and Wildlife biologist Mark Boriek acknowledged there is likely to be some confusion.

"If you're a Pennsylvania angler, you can keep two fish between 20 and 26 inches," Boriek said. "But if you're a New Jersey angler you have to abide by the rules wherever you land the fish. As soon as you bring it over the bridge to New Jersey, you'll be illegal."
Boriek joked that one way for New Jersey anglers to avoid a summons would be to "eat them on the shoreline in Pennsylvania" before driving home.

He said it is likely New Jersey will join Pennsylvania in allowing anglers to keep some striped bass, particularly because doing so might help improve the shad population. The number of shad moving up the Delaware has been declining, and while biologists aren't sure of a cause, they suspect the rebound in striped bass might be playing a part since the bass prey on young shad as they make their way to the Atlantic Ocean.

Speaking of regulations, the state Fish and Game Council just released proposed amendments to the state Game Code. The proposals include moving forward to the last Saturday in September the opening day of the rabbit and hare hunting season, reducing by three weeks the hunting season for ruffed grouse south of Route 70, allowing hunters to get a second bear permit (although bear hunting has yet to be reinstated) and reducing the spring turkey hunting season by one week.
Additionally, the council wants to add fishers to the list of fur-bearing animals that can't be hunted, allow the hunting of Canada geese from Aug. 1 to Aug. 31 on private farms if it complies with federal regulations, add king rail as a migratory game species that can't be hunted, add four weeks to the special permit hunting season for coyote, red fox and gray fox and remove the limit for coyote.

More proposed changes: Expanding the definition of "bow" by "removing the prohibition on all draw locking and draw holding devices" and by including crossbows and allowing bows to be used during the six-day firearm deer season by hunters with both firearm and archery licenses.

http://www.nj.com/sports/njsports/in...need_to_k.html