The New Jersey Marine Fisheries Council met on 4/13 and set the sea bass regulations for this year. The season will open on 5/26 and extend through 6/18 with a ten fish bag limit at 12 ½”. The season will then be closed through 6/30. It will reopen on 7/1 and extend through 8/31 but with a two fish limit at 12 ½”. It will then be closed through 10/21. The season will then reopen on 10/22 and end on 12/31 with a 15 fish bag limit and a 12 ½” size limit. Last year during the fall season we had a 13” size limit but by shortening the season by just a few days we were allowed to reduce the size limit to 12 ½”. Though the regulations have been set, they are subject to change for better or worse depending on what is decided at the ASMFC/MAFMC joint meeting on 5/10.
