The NJ Bureau of Marine Fisheries is working feverishly while trying to develop regulations that will best serve our fishermen....

By Paul Haertel - JCAA President

EDITOR'S NOTE: THE FOLLOWING IS AN UPDATE TO OUR ORIGINAL ARTICLE CONTAINING IMPORTANT UPDATE INFORMATION ON THE WINTER FLOUNDER, FLUKE AND SEA BASS REGULATIONS FROM PAUL HAERTEL:

At the New Jersey Marine Fisheries Council (NJMFC) meeting on March 6, the council voted in favor of a winter flounder season that will extend from March 1st - December 31st. However, the regulation has to be written, reviewed and then signed by the DEP Commissioner before it becomes law.

The winter flounder season is currently scheduled to open on March 23rd and it is doubtful that the Commissioner will sign the regulations concerning the earlier opening before that date. However, if the Commissioner does so, the NJBMF will promptly announce the earlier opening. The bag and size limits will remain the same, two fish at 12".

Regarding fluke, not much has changed since I last gave an update in the article below. Various options that I previously mentioned are being considered. However, there is a conference call scheduled for March 13, between representatives from the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) and each of the three states in our region. After that call, the final options are expected to become available for public comment.

In regards to sea bass, the option I suggested to have a split season bag limit was developed by the New Jersey Marine Fisheries Council (NJMFC) and approved by the ASMFC. Other options are being considered as well. However, the NJMFC has scheduled a special council meeting to finalize both our fluke and sea bass regulations for this year. The public is invited to attend and give input. The meeting will be held at 4 PM on April 3rd at the Stafford Township Municipal Building located at 260 Bay Avenue in Manahawkin.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE FROM MARCH 1, 2014:

The fluke and sea bass regulations are still up in the air but here is what I can report at this point. The NJ Bureau of Marine Fisheries (NJBMF)is working feverishly while trying to develop regulations that will best serve our fishermen. However, their hands are tied by the regionalization plan that was forced upon us by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC). The NJBMF is currently working with the ASMFC and the other states in our region to resolve this matter.

Regarding fluke, we know that Connecticut, New Jersey and New York are all in the same region and therefore must have the same size limit, bag limit and season length. However, each state is allowed to select the exact dates for their seasons. We also know that it is virtually certain that the size limit will be 18" but there is now a possibility that there could be either a 4 or 5 fish bag limit. Research has shown that the harvest for our region would not be too much different with either a 4 or 5 fish limit. Therefore, it seems possible that even with a 5 fish limit, our region would be projected to stay under the quota. Season length is another issue that is being discussed. Addendum XXV approved a 128 day season but there are other factors in play and a 119 day season is being considered as well.

Author Paul Haertel and fishing companion Jeff Crilly display a pair of nice fluke taken on the last day of fluke season last year. Fluke quotas are still unsettled for 2014.

However, at the advisors meeting on February 27, we received some clues as to what our fluke season might look like. A number of proposals were discussed and there was a consensus that we wanted to extend the season as far into September as possible. In part, that is due to the fact that sea bass season will be closed by September 18 or sooner. At that time of year we are only allowed to keep one blackfish, so if the fluke season is also closed there will be little for inshore fishermen to fish for. Options that were favored by the advisors would have the season open on May 17 or May 23 and extend through either September 21 or September 27. Another option in play would have the season beginning on May 23 and end on September 18. Traditionally, our fluke regulations are set at the New Jersey Marine Fisheries Council meeting in March, but we do not know if this will be resolved by then. There may have to be a special council meeting in April if the proposed regulations are not ready to be voted on by their March 6th meeting.

Regarding sea bass, the news is not good. We are in a region with Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York and Rhode Island. The region over fished its quota last year and depending on which data is used, the entire region will have to cut back by either 3% or 7%. Each region is given a quota and each state within the region is given a target quota to assist in developing their regulations. In 2013, New York harvested 125% of their target and Connecticut harvested 150% of their target...but New Jersey harvested only 61% of its target. New Jersey did its job in setting stringent regulations so that we did not exceed our quota but we still have to cut back by either 3 or 7%! It is unfair and hard to believe but that is the way it is under this regional plan...the states that exceed their targets are rewarded, while the states that under fish their target are penalized! I can only imagine how the regional fluke plan is going to work out.

At the advisors meeting a number of options regarding sea bass were considered and a couple of new ones were suggested. It looks as if the NJBMF will try to develop and receive approval for those options from the ASMFC. It seems certain that we will have a sea bass season that begins on May 19 with a 12 ½” size limit. We also know that the season will be closed from September 18 or sooner through October 17 or later. There is a strong possibility that the season could be closed by early to mid –August if the bag limit remains high. The options that were on the table at the meeting included those with 12, 15 or 20 fish bag limits. I personally suggested that the bag limit be reduced to 3-5 fish in July so that the season could be further extended into August or even September. The majority of advisors agreed with me on this as it would enable fluke fishermen to spice their catch with sea bass during the late season. The NJMFB agreed to develop this proposal but it is uncertain if the ASMFC will approve it.

The next meeting of the NJMFC will be held at 4 PM on March 6th at the Galloway Twp. Branch of the Atlantic County Library. The library is located at 306 Jimmie Leeds Rd., in Galloway, NJ 08205. It is uncertain if the fluke and sea bass regulations will be voted on at this meeting. However, a proposal to open the winter flounder season year round is expected to be considered. The size limit and bag limit will remain the same...two fish at 12”. So I wish I could tell you that the fluke and sea bass issues were resolved, but as for now, it's still up in the air. I will try to keep you posted on any decisions that are upcoming. You can also find updates through the Jersey Coast Anglers Association Facebook page. I post a lot of information there regarding fisheries issues.