Fish and Game Mtg then Big Trout 1/20/17

[JDTuna]

Attended the NJFW Freshwater Fisheries Forum on Saturday with Chrisper, NJSquatch and thmyorke1. It was great to meet and speak with the staff, and I finally had the pleasure of meeting Mark B. I was happy to have the opportunity to discuss my displeasure of the new gear restrictions for trout. I spoke to all of the biologists present, and the take home message here was that we need to be organized and present at the meetings to make our voices heard. The new gear restrictions for the trout fishery were a result of pressure from an organized group of fishermen pushing an agenda contrary to science. We need to be present to prevent unnecessary regulations in the future. That being said, I don't foresee any issues with any other freshwater fisheries. The State does an exceptional job with NJ's freshwater fisheries, and the other stakeholder group is only concerned with pushing an agenda with regards to trout. But we need to keep our collective ears to the ground and have a strong, organized presence to prevent unnecessary changes in the future.

After the meeting, I headed to a stream to give the trout a shot. Cold, high water from the snow melt slowed the bite a little, but I got a beautiful 17 inch brown and a big fat 19 inch rainbow. The brown was either wild or a holdover, flawless fins and striking color.

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k320/JL1981/20180122_073741_zpsffge9g5k.jpg

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k320/JL1981/20180120_160428_zpsvkhlkkzm.jpg

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k320/JL1981/20180122_073719_zpsdim8tkn3.jpg

[akoop]

JD,
Awesome fish as always.

Glad to hear your take on the meeting. Sounds like we here at njfishing.com need to act as a group in order to preserve what we have.

[RyanMac14]

I understand we have to be present to make our voice heard on potential regulations. I just dont understand how these regulations make it to the table when it is something that was directly contrary to previous findings. I don't get how they didnt just respond "well our stance is that treble and barbed hooks do not effect the mortality rate of trout so we will not be considering your proposal." Our lack of direct opposition, while disappointing, should not have mattered in this case. These regulations won't effect me directly per se, but it just bothers me that it happened and I hope you are right that this isn't setting a precedent of satisfying the special interest groups

[JDTuna]

I understand we have to be present to make our voice heard on potential regulations. I just dont understand how these regulations make it to the table when it is something that was directly contrary to previous findings. I don't get how they didnt just respond "well our stance is that treble and barbed hooks do not effect the mortality rate of trout so we will not be considering your proposal." Our lack of direct opposition, while disappointing, should not have mattered in this case. These regulations won't effect me directly per se, but it just bothers me that it happened and I hope you are right that this isn't setting a precedent of satisfying the special interest groups

I absolutely agree. I believe regulations should be based on conservation benefit. Apparently the other group has been pushing for these regulations for some time. They attended meetings and filled the online surveys so they made their voice heard. NJFW will be the first to tell you tgese regs were just based on what these anglers wanted. We didnt make our voice heard, so lesson learned. We wont be silent in the future.

[Jigman13]

Gorgeous fish Justin. That brown looks awesome!

[NJSquatch]

What a great looking specimen. Congrats

[PeteyHD]

Beautiful brown!

[RWole]

Will they be stocking Browns and Brookies or still just Rainbows?

[JDTuna]

Will they be stocking Browns and Brookies or still just Rainbows?

Just rainbows for the foreseeable future.

[AndyS]

So many trout, so little time !

[Chrisper4694]

I understand we have to be present to make our voice heard on potential regulations. I just dont understand how these regulations make it to the table when it is something that was directly contrary to previous findings. I don't get how they didnt just respond "well our stance is that treble and barbed hooks do not effect the mortality rate of trout so we will not be considering your proposal." Our lack of direct opposition, while disappointing, should not have mattered in this case. These regulations won't effect me directly per se, but it just bothers me that it happened and I hope you are right that this isn't setting a precedent of satisfying the special interest groups

what we were basically told is that a bunch of cry babies kept showing up in force asking for the same thing and even though it's based on zero science they eventually got a part of what they wanted. so we basically showed up to let them know it isn't going to happen again even though it was too late to have these particular regs reversed.

if they ever try to pass bogus bs regulations again we'll find out sooner and all we have to do is get a couple of hundred guys to sign an online petition stating they'll boycot the trout stamp and see how fast they change their minds. in fact i'm thinking about starting it up for the current bs regulations they just passed.

[thmyorke1]

JD, it seems like we both picked up some magic big-rainbow karma at the meeting.

...guess I'll go again if that means big trout in return :D

[icebadger]

outstanding fish jd. the "FISH WHISPERER" does it again. thank you for taking the time to speak out on the issues that will affect us all.

[FASTEDDIE29]

A day well spent for sure. Meetings and breeder Trout! It doesn’t get any better. Way to go broski!!! Beautiful Trout!!!:D

[Rich196]

YIKES... Two beautiful fish right there. Every time you go fishing, you never disappoint. Good job.

[Mikey topaz]

That's a awesome pic of that brown! Love it tuna man!

[RWole]

When the Hatchery had issues they said only Rainbows for a few years.
That time frame is here and gone , maybe they should think about
updating the hatchery so they could produce browns and brookies.

[NJSquatch]

When the Hatchery had issues they said only Rainbows for a few years.
That time frame is here and gone , maybe they should think about
updating the hatchery so they could produce browns and brookies.

They are. It is all wrapped up in some solar project funding that will enclose the raceways and install solar panels on the enclosures. Like all things with the government we are talking glacial time tables.

Best cast scenario would be another few years.

[Dave B.]

Outstanding brown as always! Glad to see you gents were rewarded by the 'trout gods' for taking the time to get involved! Sorry we didn't get a chance to talk more at the forum, perhaps at the trout meeting in March.

As for these newly passed regs, it's not entirely out of the question to have them reversed or otherwise modified at some future time. Much will depend upon what the electro-fishing results show over the next several years as to whether they actually deliver the purported desired results of helping to increase the populations of wild trout, brookies in particular. Of course heavy angler involvement in the regulations process will also be a key factor, as Chrisper, JDTuna, and others have indicated.

Personally I was very pleased to see the turnout on Sat. Far better than the past many years. However I did miss Andy's presence and our annual chance to BS.