9/16 NJ Striped Bass Public Hearing 6-8PM

[Gerry Zagorski]

See below for those interested in attending the NJ meeting on September 9/16. This is an in person meeting only, not a webinar.

Also see below to submit public comments which are due by end of day on 10/3.


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, AUGUST 27, 2025
PRESS CONTACT, TINA BERGER, 703.842.0749

States Schedule Public Hearings on Atlantic Striped Bass Draft Addendum III

Arlington, VA – The Atlantic coastal states of Maine through Virginia have scheduled hearings to gather public input on Draft Addendum III to Amendment 7 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Striped Bass, which considers management measures to support rebuilding the stock by 2029. The Draft Addendum also addresses commercial tagging programs, a coastwide definition of total length for size limit regulations, and changes to the Maryland recreational season baseline.

Some hearings will be conducted in-person, and some hearings will be conducted via webinar, or in a hybrid format. If you are unable to participate in your state’s scheduled hearing, you are welcome to participate in any of the virtual or hybrid hearings. The public hearing details follow:

Tuesday, September 16

In-Person Hearing

6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

New Jersey Dept. of Environmental Protection



Hearing Location:

Stafford Township Fire Co.

133 Stafford Ave, Manahawkin, NJ

Joe Cimino

609.439.1681

Submitting Comments

The public is encouraged to submit comments at any time during the public comment period but no later than 11:59 PM (EST) on October 3, 2025. The Draft Addendum is available at
https://asmfc.org/resources/manageme...ublic-comment/ or via the Commission’s website at Atlantic Striped Bass Action Tracker.



There are four ways to submit comments:

Written comments via Atlantic Striped Bass Action Tracker or comments@asmfc.org
The public comment form, which was developed to facilitate the gathering of input on the Draft Addendum’s specific options
Mailed written comments addressed to Emilie Franke, FMP Coordinator, at 1050 N. Highland St., Suite 200 A-N, Arlington, Virginia 22201
Verbal comments provided at any of the scheduled public hearings


More info on this from NJDEP

NJ's Public Hearing
September 16
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) has issued a Press Release announcing public hearings on Draft Addendum III to Amendment 7 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Striped Bass.

The Draft Addendum considers changes to recreational and commercial management measures to support rebuilding the stock by 2029, as well as commercial tagging programs, a coastwide definition of total length for size limit regulations, and changes to the Maryland recreational season baseline.



New Jersey’s public hearing will be held in-person:

sbbp1
In addition, ASMFC will hold a General Public Hearing Webinar for those that cannot attend their state’s hearing:

sbbp2
If you are unable to attend New Jersey’s Public Hearing or the General Public Hearing Webinar, you are welcome to participate in any of the scheduled virtual or hybrid hearings.

Hearing Presentation Recording

For those who cannot attend any in-person or virtual hearings, ASMFC will also post a recording of the hearing presentation on ASMFC’s YouTube page so that stakeholders may watch the presentation and submit comment at any time during the comment process. This recording will be available by early September.

Submitting Comments

The public comment deadline is October 3, 2025. Public comment can be submitted via:

Written comments via Atlantic Striped Bass Action Tracker or comments@asmfc.org
Public comment form, which was developed to facilitate the gathering of input on the Draft Addendum’s specific options
Mailed written comments addressed to Emilie Franke, FMP Coordinator, at 1050 N. Highland St., Suite 200 A-N, Arlington, Virginia 22201
Verbal comments provided at any of the scheduled public hearings
Please contact Brendan Harrison with any questions about these public hearings.

[Gerry Zagorski]

Well it looks like from the lack of responses here and on Facebook, no one seems be interested or wants to get involved or have just given up. I have some fight left in me but not going to fight this by myself.

[AndyS]

I did 12 years of river clean ups and in those 12 years you know how many fishermen showed up, 3. Two showed up for one clean up and the only one still going is Luke.

[Gerry Zagorski]

Originally Posted by AndyS

I did 12 years of river clean ups and in those 12 years you know how many fishermen showed up, 3. Two showed up for one clean up and the only one still going in Luke.

Yep a lot more people complaining then actually doing something about it.

[AndyS]

I see posts on Social Media of guys striped bass fishing from the banks on the lower Delaware river and the places are trashed. I ask them if they spent 15 or 20 minutes picking up some trash, they get mad at me and ask "why would I want to do that !"

[Broad Bill]

Originally Posted by Gerry Zagorski

Well it looks like from the lack of responses here and on Facebook, no one seems be interested or wants to get involved or have just given up. I have some fight left in me but not going to fight this by myself.

Welcome to my world. It's a punch to the stomach, sad and lonely feeling when you fight for so many people's benefits, including the fisheries themselves, and get virtually zero support isn't it?

[bunker dunker]

well ill bet if the things we"fight" for went our way once in awhile,there would be more support.we have had our own elected officials lie right to our face.we try everything from fund raising,protests,marching on dc and more,just to be
lied and forgotten about.its really quite sad but lets face facts,its all about the monies and who is making it.the real sad part is that we only ask for"fair" regs.

[dales529]

Applaud your effort Gerry. I was always in it to win it for years now , no sense stopping now so let me know what you need!

[hammer4reel]

Originally Posted by bunker dunker

well ill bet if the things we"fight" for went our way once in awhile,there would be more support.we have had our own elected officials lie right to our face.we try everything from fund raising,protests,marching on dc and more,just to be
lied and forgotten about.its really quite sad but lets face facts,its all about the monies and who is making it.the real sad part is that we only ask for"fair" regs.

Because there has never been a united front demanding change .
The marches in Washington had better turn out from states thousands of miles away than it did from Nj .
We didn’t even fill 2 buses at the slowest time of the year for fishing either year
Would have thought we could fill 10 buses just with people from the NJ for hire fleet.

[AndyS]

All they care about is "limits" and "keepers"