2018 NJ Sea Bass Regs

[Gerry Zagorski]

Well, it looks we dodged a bullet with the whole northern region's appeal and managed to keep the NJ regs that were originally proposed. Here are the new NJ 2018 regulations

- 12.5" 10 fish 5/15 - 6/22
- 12.5" 2 fish 7/1 - 8/31
- 12.5" 10 fish 10/8 - 10/31
- 13" 15 fish 11/1 - 12/31

It's also a nice improvement over what we had in 2017
- 12.5" 10 fish 5/26 - 6/18
- 12.5" 2 fish 7/1 - 8/31
- 12.5" 15 fish 10/22 - 12/31

[hartattack]

ME 13" 10 fish May 19–Sep 21; Oct 18–Dec 31
NH 13" 10 fish Jan 1–Dec 31
MA 15" 5 fish May 19–Sep 12
RI 15"
3 fish Jun 24–Aug 31
7 fish Sep 1–Dec 31
CT, Private/Shore 15" 5 fish May 19–Dec 31
CT, Authorized
Party/Charter 15"
5 fish May 19–Aug 31
7 fish Sep 1–Dec 31
NY 15"
3 fish Jun 23–Aug 31
7 fish Sep 1–Dec 31
NJ
12.5" 10 fish May 15–Jun 22
12.5" 2 fish Jul 1–Aug 31
12.5" 10 fish Oct 8–Oct 31
13" 15 fish Nov 1–Dec 31
DE, MD, VA, & NC (North
of Cape Hatteras) 12.5" 15 fish May 15–Dec 31

http://www.asmfc.org/uploads/file/5aeb3eeapr15BlackSeaBassRecreationalMeasures.pdf

[Joey Dah Fish]

Great news for N.J. but for NY nit good.

[Blackfish Doug]

Do they catch any Sea Bass up in ME & NH? I don't ever remember seeing any Sea Bass reports for that area.

[tuna john]

shame the states are so divided. NY really got screwed, worst part fishery is fully recovered. I fish in NJ but feel bad for NY fisherman could be us next. 3 fish they may as well have just closed it.

[Gerry Zagorski]

shame the states are so divided. NY really got screwed, worst part fishery is fully recovered. I fish in NJ but feel bad for NY fisherman could be us next. 3 fish they may as well have just closed it.
Agreed. They were unfortuneatly in the northern region and when they spun the landings wheel Mass way was over so NY suffered since they are in the same region.

Sometimes being in a certain region works in your favor and sometimes it doesn’t. It’s a game of chance just like the landings number.

A pretty tangled web the feds have weaved here...

[tautog]

Do they catch any Sea Bass up in ME & NH? I don't ever remember seeing any Sea Bass reports for that area.

A few now that the biomass is expanding

[hammer4reel]

Just curious where the better part is ?
they gave you 12 days in the earlier season , then took them from the later season . AND increased the size limit.

[dales529]

Just curious where the better part is ?
they gave you 12 days in the earlier season , then took them from the later season . AND increased the size limit.

Hey Dan
2017 Seabass regs:
May 26-June 18 10 fish @12.5"
July 1- Aug 31 2 fish @12.5"
Oct 22 - Dec 31 15 fish @ 12.5"

2018 Seabass regs:
May 15- June 22 10 fish @ 12.5" - 15 fishing day increase from 2017
July 1 - Aug 31 2 fish @ 12.5" - Same as 2017
Oct 8- Oct 31 10 fish @ 12.5 - 14 fishing days increase from 2017
Nov 1- Dec31 15 fish@ 13" - Same days and bag as 2017 but we give up 1/2"

Is it not "better" to get 29 more fishing days and only give up 1/2" on offshore season?? Plus its only 2 weeks between Fluke closing and seabass reopening vs 6+ weeks in 2017.
Still not the best but definitley BETTER in my opinion.

[Gremlin2009]

better than nothing. i live in new york and fish in new jersey

[hammer4reel]

Hey Dan
2017 Seabass regs:
May 26-June 18 10 fish @12.5"
July 1- Aug 31 2 fish @12.5"
Oct 22 - Dec 31 15 fish @ 12.5"

2018 Seabass regs:
May 15- June 22 10 fish @ 12.5" - 15 fishing day increase from 2017
July 1 - Aug 31 2 fish @ 12.5" - Same as 2017
Oct 8- Oct 31 10 fish @ 12.5 - 14 fishing days increase from 2017
Nov 1- Dec31 15 fish@ 13" - Same days and bag as 2017 but we give up 1/2"

Is it not "better" to get 29 more fishing days and only give up 1/2" on offshore season?? Plus its only 2 weeks between Fluke closing and seabass reopening vs 6+ weeks in 2017.
Still not the best but definitley BETTER in my opinion.

Looks like I missed line 3 in the new regs.
Saw the fourth line and thought what we gained in the beginning we lost in the end season .
so yes its a little better, yet a reduction on a totally rebuilt fishery is still BS

[dales529]

Looks like I missed line 3 in the new regs.
Saw the fourth line and thought what we gained in the beginning we lost in the end season .
so yes its a little better, yet a reduction on a totally rebuilt fishery is still BS

Thanks Dan for the honest reply. AGREED its scraps on a rebuilt fishery and have to admit a little skeptical on 2019 based on the North region appeal. For now small steps forward will work.
Have a great season and hope to see you at some Fluke tournaments

[frugalfisherman]

The biggest improvement is the 2 weeks middle of October. That's the best time for inshore sea bass. Last few years with October 22 opening the sea bass were moving out already.